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Lip Picking
Am I the only one? I am 35 years old and I can say I'm almost certain that's how long I've suffered from this. I can't remember a time when I didn't pick the skin from my lips, mostly the bottom one. The sad part? I draw blood. The burning, shock like pain I get when I pick too deep is like a drug in some way. This isn't just a habit; it's an addiction. I've laid awake many nights sucking on ice cubes, popsicles, and ice cream to soothe the lips when I take it too far. My middle and thumb fingernails are always sore and usually bloody from hours of picking. I've found that having acrylic nails does help with the picking, but I quickly discovered I could still push my lips in and use my teeth so I'm still picking, but with extra work. Lipstick only makes the chapped skin more visible and dries it out. Is this self-harm? Why do I enjoy this so much? I'm always self conscious about my lips because of how raw and chapped they are, but that only gives me even more reason to pick. Please tell me I'm not alone.
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