Hi everyone, I’m struggling with skin picking yet again. I’m middle aged. I’ve always picked my nails, lips, & random scabs. In my teenage years I also started picking my skin. I’ve been able to stop for short periods of time, but it never lasts.

Luckily, at my job I can wear latex gloves to hide my fingers, but the mask mandate will be ending soon. I’m not looking forward to that, since my picking is out of control right now & I can hide some of the damage with a mask.

So I want to start a picking diary to have a place to keep myself accountable. I’m a book person, so I looked at my local library system for help—77 libraries across 15 counties in my state & there is nothing about dermatillomania.

Okay. I remembered, from one of my many attempts to stop picking my skin, a woman I came across on YouTube: Annette Pasternak, Ph.D. She calls herself the “Stop Picking Coach”. I’m going to watch her videos & make some notes.