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New here. I can't stop picking
Hey , I'm 16 and i pick at my scalp, scabs, ingrown hairs and at bumps anywhere i can find them. I have been picking scabs since i can remember, and my scalp since i was 8 years old. I didn't start picking at bumps and acne until i moved, about 2 years ago. At most I've gone about 3 days without picking my face and maybe 2 without picking my scalp. I used to have bald spots when i was younger from picking, but although i still pick my scalp, it's not nearly as bad i would say. I pick at the bumps on my face, chest, back and at ingrown hairs on my legs and arms. I have bad scars, I'm not comfortable with my skin anymore because of the scars and scabs i make. I try to stop picking as much as possible but i feel like it's uncontrollable. Sometimes, once i get in front of the mirror i start just making up stories in my head while i try popping bumps on my face, or anywhere else i find them, for an hour. The random stories seem to distract me from what I'm doing to myself. Ever since I've moved i have lost all of my friends and i feel like i have changed completely. I used to be confident in myself, now i have lower self esteem than anyone I've known. I try to be more confident but the most it lasts for is a few hours. My family knows i pick from the scabs i get on my face and scars on my body, my mom tries to help me but it feels impossible for me to change. I've covered most of the mirrors with sheets, but i can't cover all of them because of my family. I find cutting my nails very short helps, but i still find a way. I think it's stress, and to me it's just fun. I feel so relieved after popping a zit, even if the skin around it is raw. I'll cry the next day but i still feel relieved. I want to stop picking, I need help. If anyone has any advice please help me. Thank you so much.
-Alex
In reply to I completely understand what by chibidots