Christiana.

Ah another thing in common.

These are new words to me but the actions are not. Sometimes I can hardly wait till summer so I can sit in the sun and have the bumps on my arms and shoulders dissipate so that I no longer feel complelled to scratch them. They are worse because of what I eat too (a little too much butter at times (:duh: when will I ever learn? ).

I used to bite the skin around my fingernails too, but with a few tricks I have been able to stop. Thankfully I haven't pulled my hair out except for a few unruly greys and of course the facial stuff as necessary. I guess I would have a mild form of one or both of 'the 'D' conditions'.

The self injury component doesn't really exist in the way that I think is common in youth today. Perhaps falling down, leg shaving cuts, in youth, face picking as a youth, burns from taking items out of oven, more common as an adult etc. so no, not really. As I say, I probably considered those more an accident than a condition.

The picking of shoulders and back did get a bit worse this year through the winter and through some times of very low self esteem (and inactivity).

As for my hands, many years ago I decided I would always keep my hands moisturized. I mean I didn't smoke (anymore) or have other vices (except overeating), so I decided that it would be okay to treat myself with s hand creame. I have used, for many years, 'Vaseline Intensive Care, Healthy Hand & Nail Lotion (in the pink container). I put it on daily and have had lots of compliments on my hands over the years! : . I intentionally rub the cream into my fingernails and cuticles because when they are soft, I bite the skin less. I still bite the cuticles the odd time but never again to where it actually hurts. This is usually around the time I have run out of the cream.

I have about 4 bottles of cream going at any time now. One in almost every room of the house and in my car. it is essential or back I go. The cream feels so nice and isn't oily. Whatever is in the creame seems to help the nails very much too. Over the years I've tried different ones but keep going back to this one.

In the sun my back has cleared up almost completely. Still more sun required. It sure feels better. So for me, diet, boredom, esteem, dryness vs moisturized all seem to play a part.

Hope this might help somewhat.

H