so glad im not alone

hello, i just want to say that this site is really good and im so glad that i found it. Does anyone else pick at their feet? I'm 17 and i just can't stop, i never used to realise i was doing it but now its got to the point that my feet would bleed, their a complete mess and it really hurts to walk. my fingers are the same and people often ask me what is wrong with my hands. It is so embarassing to say that i pick the skin off! i told my mum that i think i have this illness and she then told me that when she was younger she used to have trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling), are these illnesses genetic? has anyone hadd any treatment, how did you find it?