[shezbut]

I feel guilty and shameful to admit these bad habits, but I'm not the only one so I hope no one reads my words and thinks, "ewwww!".

I am obsessive about picking at my hair. No other words accurately describe it. I search for split ends, methodically, and try to pull them off cleanly. I've been fighting this tendency for 10-15 years now. It still takes all of my might to get myself to stop. Half of the time, I can't give in to my logical mind & keep picking anyway!

Another real strong tendency is skin picking. Shame comes right with it, yet it isn't enough to get myself to stop already. I literally bawl myself out, calling myself all sorts of names, to get the motivation to stop. But it doesn't work.

A couple of years ago, I made the mistake of tweezing my eyebrows too , and now I'm fighting strong impulses to tweeze. Ughhh!

I have noticed that these tendencies are stronger when I'm under a lot of stress. A lot harder to make myself STOP! But, when day to day life is filled with a lot of stress, that means I'm being pretty obsessive compulsive. Are there easier, healthier ways to avoid going with techniques that need to be avoided?

[Cnytroxy1973]

(((((((((((((SHEZ)))))))))))))) Thinking of you..... I know how you feel... I do it too. When I am stressed and when I need to relax..........

[Astridetal]

I don't do the exact same thing as you, put I pick at and pull my hair too, so somewhat similar. I've done it since I was a teenager, but I don't'see it as a major problem for myself. Most people don't find it too annoying either, although I don't have a job or anything and I wouldn't think a boos would like it. My parents used to insist I quit it and even used to hit my hand for doing it, until I told them I'm an adult now and they can't touch me without asking. I hope you find comfort in the fact that you are not alone.

[Flooded]

I pick my skin too. I have huge craters on my legs and lower back. I can't seem to stop either

[Starchild3]

I pick at my split ends terribly also.... I had to cut my hair so I would stop obsessing. I also pull at my eyelashes and eyebrows. you are not alone

[unaluna]

I had a class where the woman instructor had the most beautifully shaped graceful white arms - not muscular, more like an old-time painting - and just SPOTLESS translucent skin. I burned my right arm in second grade, so it always had a little dark patch around the wrist, then with my picking - but this woman's beauty actually motivated me to stop. The REST of her wasn't that remarkable, I mean, you wouldn't kick her out of bed, as they say! But those arms. So now I like mine when they are tan in the summer from swimming, it hides the pick marks.

[OneRedRose]

I am the same, im ashamed to undress because I pick my skin so badly on my chest and my legs, it started for me as part of my skin condition, my skin bubbles up and it hurts sooo much, (im on meds for it now) but I would scratch and my doctors didnt blame me for it, but the scratching meant i broke my skin, i had holes, and scars, when i got put onto the meds, i didnt stop scratching, i pick, and pick, always got an infected spot somewhere, what i try and do is the moment i catch myself doing it, atm im trying to force a less hurtful urge, so everytime i go to pick or catch myself doing it, i start tapping the place instead, sometimes it helps sometimes not so much...

[shezbut]

"...what i try and do is the moment i catch myself doing it, atm im trying to force a less hurtful urge, so everytime i go to pick or catch myself doing it, i start tapping the place instead, sometimes it helps sometimes not so much..."

Thanks for the idea, OneRedRose

I assume that it is hard to get a new technique into your mind. I'll have to work on replacing my impulses into a gentle tap, tap, tap.