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Scab Pickers--Do you save your scabs?
I can place the time that I started collecting my scabs. I was ten. I thought it looked really cool so I taped it to a sheet of black paper and hid it. I don't know what happened to it. My mom probably found it and didn't reconize what it was.
Now I save as many as I can. I occasionaly look through them, especially the ones I really like. Yes, I like some scabs more than others. Does anyone else here do this, or is that specific to me?
In reply to So, I'm guessing I'm the by picks9876
I save my scabs for a short time. I get upset if I lose one before I get to look at it. I like to see how many I can collect each time I pick them. I was trying to get information on why but have not been able to get the answers. It could be worse. I could be doing something illegal.
You're not the only one... I used to do this when I was younger. I liked to see scabs that are larger or thicker, and I would get upset if I lost them before actually observing them. I'm sure many people out there has this habit as well.
Hello all! Happy to see someone has posted on this thread recently! I've read this thread a few times over the past couple of years but was afraid to comment... so first of all, good on us for being brave enough to reach out! I hope you all patted yourselves on the back after posting because I know I'm going to.
So I've struggled with not just picking but picking and collecting on and off for as long as I can remember. I want to stop so bad. It's gotten a lot worse lately, probably because I'm struggling more with anxiety and depression.
Does anyone have tips to quit? I'm in a long-term relationship and my partner knows about and accepts my picking disorder and it doesn't really bother them. They do it sometimes too, is what they told me :) but they do not know about the collecting and I do not feel ready to be out to anyone about it... and I'm afraid of being found out. I'm tired of hiding this really really difficult to fight compulsion, but also I gross even myself out and I want to quit before anyone finds out...
Know what I mean? Tips? Am I thinking about this wrong?
I just recently started saving and I’m 45!!!!! And the picking has gotten so severe that my scalp and head ache because it’s so bloody and raw. It’s awful. My depression has definitely gotten worse. You are not alone. Even tho I know how that feeling just hurts like a mthr
I do not, but looking through this forum I'm glad there's support for people who do :)
I have been doing this for years. It started as a joke with my girlfriend but it became a natural extension of my already raging obsession with picking scabs. I get upset if one won't come off completely or if I lose one. I have a small plastic jar full of larger scabs I have picked. While I don't really think about it anytime other than while I am picking a scab, I would be upset if it was to disappear. I tend to keep picking at a wound to keep having scabs to pick and wounds last much longer than they should because of this behavior. Obviously I know this is not healthy, but I really can't help myself. It takes me a great deal of effort and discipline to ignore a wound and allow it to finally heal. I am glad to have found this site and found that I am not alone.
Yes, I do that too. I am born with a skin allergy but my scab picking disorder started not a long time ago. I don't know why but it satisfies me even if I knew it can irritate more. It gives me pleasure every time I can peel some dry scabs and I recently collect it. I'm embarrassed for others to know so I secretly kept in a container. It became like a habit even though it hurts sometimes and even there is blood sometimes. I thought that it was just me doing it but now I read that there is really this kind of disorder. It is also true for me that I can get lack of sleep at night because of this.
Wow, thank you everyone for posting. My heart is racing while I type this. Like saying it out loud for the first time ever.
I'm 54, female. I have picked off and collected scabs and dandruff off my scalp for years... maybe 40 years!! I feel deeply ashamed. But I don't want to stop. I would hate if anyone knew I did this. My horrible secret.
I have kept the same spots going on my scalp for several years. I look over them several times a day, with a mixture of revulsion, shame and delight. On my laptop. Then when there is too many, I'll put them in an envelope and start again.
I feel there is something seriously wrong with me. My hairdresser knows I pick at the scabs. She has talked about her own self harm, so I guess she thinks it's the same kind of thing. Maybe it is.
I have suffered from depression in the past, but don't seem to have any other mental illnesses. I find it comforting.