Sophia,

I am glad that you found out about this destructive behavior when you did. I was almost 30 before it was diagnosed. I had even been treated for about 4 years at a major university medical center for my depression and anxiety, but no one seemed to catch on to what was happening. I think my picking started about the time I was 10 years old. It also sounds like you are lucky to have limited your picking to your face. I pretty much have picked at just about every part of my body.

I primarily use my finger nails also, but when I get really obessessed, I do get in these fit where I insist on trying to pull out all my facial hair w/ a tweezers. Actually, my only hospitalization was about a year ago, when I went into a trance like state and and was lancing some "bumps" on my ear lobe with a sewing needle. I snapped out of it when I felt blood running down my neck. It scared me so much I didn't even stop to pack for the hospital, I just drove myself there and asked to be admitted. (Had I stopped to pack, I probably would have talked myself out of going.)

I was lucky that my out patient psychiatrist was around because he could see that was so much more distressed than usual. I also knew that I needed to keep this behavior under control @ my next job when I traveled to a major research facility, so when I noticed the pick marks on my face, I called back to my doc and we developed a plan to access a psychiatrist in the area where I was at. It never did happen because the job ended early. (It seems to be that I subconsiously knew something was going to happen.)

I still don't have the habit licked, but at least for right now, I am not so stressed out that I am picking.

I just want to wish you healing.