OCD Action

Zara112
Member

Hi,

I really have never properly talked about it with anyone in person as its very embarrassing.

How do you suffer with it, what do you do and how do you feel once you have done it, and how do you feel if you cant do it?

Zara

Fri Oct 14 2011 8:48:49 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Zara. What is CSP?
wannabe

Fri Oct 14 2011 11:27:20 #
Zara112
Member

Conpulsive skin picking

Fri Oct 14 2011 11:50:07 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Zara, sorry to be so long in replying...
I don't know what to suggest... I wish I did...
It appears anxiety drives this... I used to pick my fingers and thumbs, biting them, fingernails too... My worst time is just after I've trimmed my nails, I don't know why I do it... Anyone else on here got any suggestions?
I'm really sorry,
wannabe

Sun Oct 16 2011 14:29:01 #
Zara112
Member

Thanks for your reply wannabe.. i thoguh more people suffered with it, but know onw on here seems to

Mon Oct 17 2011 8:59:22 #
Tess
Member

Zara, there have been quite a lot of posts about it in the past so it might help you to use the Forum Topic Search on the right and look through some previous threads.

Mon Oct 17 2011 9:21:37 #
Zara112
Member

I have done ,but couldnt really find much

Mon Oct 17 2011 9:32:54 #
Tess
Member

I put in 'skin picking' and quite a lot of threads came up. I find when using the search box that putting in a very general term seems to work best.

Mon Oct 17 2011 10:00:29 #
Zara112
Member

Thanks, i did that and found more threads ,but found most are very old, so not as easy to contact the peopole, plus alot of them dont have it in the way i have it.

Thanks for yout help though

Mon Oct 17 2011 10:30:12 #
tordyjo
Member

I've just found this site and think i actually suffer with this. I have several scars on my face where i've picked spots, scabs etc, everyday i have to check my face for a new spot and use my 'special' tweezers to get rid of it, i then continually pick the scabs until the area has actually healed. I'm also obsessed with checking my chin for hairs and if i find one i have to pull it out straight away, if i'm out and can't get to my tweezers and mirror i can't stop touching the hair until its pulled out. I've been prescribed antibiotic cream for skin infections where i've pulled the top layers of skin off.

Also the top of my arms are scarred from picking spots that appear, they then scab and i pick the scabs. I'm also a nail biter and chew the skin around my nails.

Sun Oct 23 2011 20:15:08 #
Zara112
Member

Tordyjo... do you actually enjoy doing it, or do it becuase you cant stop thinking about it if you dont

Mon Oct 24 2011 11:08:57 #
tordyjo
Member

I don't know if i enjoy doing it, don't think i do, its more of a sub-concious thing and before i realise what i'm doing its too late, i've caused the skin trauma. Although if i'm touching my face/head etc and find a rough area of skin or a lose scab i can't stop till its been picked.

what about you?

Mon Oct 24 2011 13:32:05 #
Zara112
Member

I enjoy it, aswell as needing to do it.. if i dont i cant stop thinking about it

Wed Oct 26 2011 9:07:51 #
JL
Member

I can relate to what you and tordyjo have written. I do find it gratifying, and I'm ashamed of this as well as being ashamed of the results. I run my hand over my skin, and if I find a spot, however neglible, I have to try and pick it.

Sun Nov 20 2011 17:34:07 #
angelfire
Member

Yes!
I have only just cleaned up yet another bloodied finger that I have picked and chewed skin off. I have wounds on almost every finger right now but I am used to the pain and discomfort. Often though it really hurts/throbs if I am picking particularly badly. I also have a pair of special tweezers and scan my chin for hairs each night and pluck them out, I have had 2 skin infections this year despite sterilising the tweezers. I do the fingerpicking when anxious and it relieves it a little, it's also comforting. If my husband tries to stop me by holding my hand (gently/lovingly) I get frustrated.

Tue Nov 22 2011 9:42:06 #
JL
Member

Chin hairs - if I find one, if have to pluck it ASAP.

Tue Nov 22 2011 18:43:40 #
panda
Member

I bite my fingernails all the time, i can't not do it but i do also enjoy doing it. While i'm biting my fingernails i don't have to count something so it's like a mental relief.

Wed Mar 7 2012 3:32:07 #
chaschas
Member

I didn't even know that other people had this - I'm terrible for spending ages in front of the mirror scanning for chin hairs...I also pluck my eyebrows so much that i tear the skin and yes, if I find a spot it has to go! I have lots of pock marks on my face now but I can't help it? And scabs have to be picked so I'm a bit scarred unfortunately it's difficult to stop!!

Fri Mar 30 2012 21:50:55 #