[eeyore1978]

I have recently been diagnosed with a form of OCD. I will continually pick at scabs on my body. Once I get one it usually takes about a month for them to heal because I cannot leave them alone. My arms are all scared up because of my issue.

I talked to my Dr and she upped my medication but it still has not helped to stop this problem. A friend told me to get acrylic nails and it helped as long as I had them on.

I noticed I do this when I have nothing else to do with my hands. I try to find somethng to do with them but sometimes it is next to impossible to stop the urge to pick. Does anyone have any tips they can give me?

Wear mittens.

[Moreta]

Originally Posted by TheByzantine

Wear mittens.

If only it was that easy. Maybe I should super glue the mittens on?

I've tried the acrylic nails and I just end up picking at them instead.

[Perna]

What are you doing with scabs? I would cover them with gauze (so they can breathe/heal) but attach the gauze with painful adhesive so you wouldn't like taking it off.

If I'm bored/have nothing to do, I get into trouble probably because I don't want to think about certain subjects. Go looking for what you don't want to know/think about? That might stop the picking in its tracks. Make the choice of what you get to do if you catch yourself picking something you really don't want to do.

[leah0306]

Originally Posted by eeyore1978

I have recently been diagnosed with a form of OCD. I will continually pick at scabs on my body. Once I get one it usually takes about a month for them to heal because I cannot leave them alone. My arms are all scared up because of my issue.

I talked to my Dr and she upped my medication but it still has not helped to stop this problem. A friend told me to get acrylic nails and it helped as long as I had them on.

I noticed I do this when I have nothing else to do with my hands. I try to find somethng to do with them but sometimes it is next to impossible to stop the urge to pick. Does anyone have any tips they can give me?

hi, i have had this problem since i was fifteen, and the scars are on most parts of my body...limits what i can wear ect. i too am on several meds. but they dont stop me from picking at myself. im disgusted i continue this, not but every few hours can go by without picking... well my pdr. said its mind over matter-like its that easy-i sometimes will wake in the night and find myself scratching at them, with my hand bloody from it..sorry i know thats disgusting to others who may not understand this ... i too have tried keeping nails short,acrylic nails, all of that..but nothing has helped, my ocd is also complicated by being bipolar,and anxiety disorder so...i do wonder if i will ever stop ..my mother begs me to stop the scars and the idea bothers her, and my husband will bring it to my attention if he notices im doing it, so im sorry this isnt really helpful, but know your not alone, feel free to pm anytime if youd liketo talk, maybe we can help each other? or at least lend a ear and a shoulder,, take care

[romanjames2004]

I constantly pick at scabs and freckles and stuff. I can;t stand them.

[brainclutter]

I do the same. I pick at scabs, skin tags, moles or lose pieces of skin around my finger nails and toe nails and cause myself to bleed. I have never been able to stop myself. I never tried acrylic nails but I did try keeping my nails so short that I could not grasp the skin to pick with them and so I would resort to tweezers. I guess the mind does what it chooses. I haven't tried meds in about ten or more years as I didn't have good results back then and the behavioral therapy I tried sucked so I gave up but I am considering giving both a go again. Hopefully, we can all find resolution to this annoying problem.

I don't know of any real advice to give you. You said you do it when you have nothing to do with your hands so maybe if you can find something that occupies yourself it might help. It could be anything from squeezing one of those cheezy therapy balls to snapping a rubber band. It sounds corny but I guess anything that occupies your hand might help. I guess, I do it for the same reason, because my hands are free so maybe I should do the same. Good luck. I'll be thinking about you.