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Fidgety in general?
First I want to say that I just discovered this site and it is incredibly heartening to know that I'm not the only one struggling with this. I don't know anyone in person who does so until I met a girl in college who pulls out her hair and made the connection between the two, it had never occurred to me that there might be others. It's not something I've ever mentioned to anyone in person so it's very liberating to finally be open.
Anyway, I know that I'm a "fidgety" person in general. My hands always have to be playing with (read: destroying) something, so it it's not my skin then I'm ripping up a paper napkin or bending a plastic spoon etc. Has anyone else noticed a similar trend in themselves? Has anyone had success deliberately substituting these behaviors in place of picking? I've started thinking that maybe I should always have napkins on my person; little mini paper balls everywhere are far preferable to holes on my face...
May 05, 2011
Hey not_alone. I seriously feel so much better knowing that I am not alone either. Luckily my picking isn't horrible like some but I had to respond to your post when you mentioned being fidgety! I am THE most fidgety person I know. I always wondered if being fidgety and picking were related. I am an extreme Type A personality. I fidget all the time. I can't sit through a class in one position like some can!
Also, I have never mentioned my 'picking' to another person I know, just like you. This is the first time I am talking about it and realizing I need more than will power to overcome it.
I have also thought that I need to start carrying around something to distract my hands. I tried putting a rubber band on my wrist once, that worked for about a day is all.