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Picking in multiple areas.
Hello, I am a 21 year old girl living in Australia. Skin picking has always been an issue for me, since I can remember. As a little girl I used to pick callouses on my hands and bite my lips when they were dry. I have no idea what set off the picking habit, but I suppose I was an anxious child. I pick my skin in different places at different times, and I think this allows me to hide it better. For me, the most pleasurable places to pick include my nails, skin around my nails, heels of my feet and my lips. Over time I have caused much damage to the skin, including being unable to walk on my feet without pain because I have ripped so much skin off my heals that they are raw and bleeding. If my lips are ever dry for any reason I pick at them until they bleed and look like cold sores. It can be very embarrassing, and people must just think I'm a complete nutcase. But after I have done enough damage to the area I have been picking for a few weeks I will move to another area, and once the old area has healed I will go back to picking there, and so on.
I suffered much abuse and neglect at the hands of both of my parents, as both of my parents suffer from mental illnesses and substance abuse issues, but I still cannot see the origin of the skin picking. I do suffer from daily anxiety and monthly depression, and have been on anti-depressants (which didn't put a dent in my skin picking issues). At certain times in my life I have been able to not pick, but I always eventually go back to skin picking.
I have been doing research recently into this strange habit and found this forum. I am relieved that I'm not the only person with this detrimental habit and I would really like to know how other people deal with skin picking.
Thank you for reading.
August 31, 2012
Hello, thanks for sharing your story! I'm also new here and every story I read gives me hope that I can quit picking too. I am so sorry to hear about your childhood, I think you are a brave person to have made it through. I live in the States and work with mentally ill adults, a lot of whom have children they never cared for with the love and devotion their children deserved. It is something that should never happen. You have a place in my heart. Take care of yourself, and find someone in your local area who will support you and help you recover from your picking. I've found a lot of comfort in a particular blog I've found, called zenhabits.net . Check it out, if you like to read. You might find some solace in his simple approach to life. Good luck to you in life. Be tenacious.
September 03, 2012
Hi there, I am from Australia too, Adelaide. I have had the same issues with my feet, I sort of go through phases where I focus more on particular areas. Have you found any good Australia specific resources?