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Calla , 02 Sep 2012

I didn't know it was out of the ordinary

I have to say, I'm 23. I literally found out that people picking their skin was unhealthy, 30 minutes ago. This is my first time seeing all of this information. All my life, I've done weird things that have broken my skin. As a young child, I remember pushing paper in between my fingers. The sharp edge of the pages of my book. I would comb in between my fingers. I have Googled this and been curious about this my whole life, as I never knew anyone else to do it. I can't resist doing it when I have a new book or magazine. Sometimes it would break the skin and leave me bloody. All I can say is that it felt good. It felt good to me, in a way I can't explain. So there's that. When I was around 10 or so, I start picking my scalp. This is so weird to type, I'm gonna sound gross. But I would get so much pleasure out of making my scalp bleed, waiting a couple days, then picking the scabs off. I love how it felt. I still do this, on and off. I can go months without it, then a few days I'll need to do it so bad I'll do it in public. There's really no rhyme or reason to the timing. Now, about six months ago, I start picking my foot. My foot was dry and I noticed a random patch of skin flaking off. I pulled this. This went on and on until most of the skin on my foot was new and pink. There's an open sore. I still pick everyday. Right now I'm frustrated because the sore has a scab I want to pick. I try to everyday, but its too deep. It hurts too bad. Does this sound like skin picking or am I an absolute nut? I have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and prescribed Klonopin, but I quit taking it. I have had a hard life. My mother died when I was a child, and my father died a few years ago. I struggle with that but I've never associated that with the picking. Thanks. :)
2 Answers
liveunbridled
September 02, 2012
I just learned this was a big deal a few days ago, I understand where you are coming from. I don't really have any advice, but I see our situations being kinda paralell. I also am on Klonopin, and my mom died when I was 3. I have struggled with depression and anxiety for years. Obviously you now know this, but you are not alone....I felt comforted to find others with the same obsession. I just think it's interesting that we come from similar situations and have similar issues.
cutispurgare
September 06, 2012
Hi, man. I thought it was totally normal too. I thought that everybody did it, and I was just very slow to heal. I'm no expert, but I think that anybody who keeps themselves from healing, or who is over-interested in "cleaning" or "fixing" their bodies by picking or peeling, is doing something psychologically dangerous. I guess I'd look at what happens to you immediately before you begin to pick. My life changed the day I realized that I only picked immediately after recalling an embarrassing moment.

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