[Squirrel1983]

So I posted this summer about this in another part of this forum (SI, I think because I thought it might be that, but now I am thinking it is more of an obsession and here would be a better place for this).

So I have a problem of picking my scabs. When they eventually heal and I have very few to pick, I will scratch myself until I bleed just to have another scab to pick. It is mostly on my legs and arms (though right now I have 2 on my face too). Sores the size of a pen tip will turn into sores the size of a quarter. They will take months to heal. I have had this problem since I was a teenager (13 or 14) in junior high school, though it has progressively gotten worse over the years (I am 29 now).

I started seeing a pdoc in October 2008 for other issues (paranoia and auditory hallucinations) and was too embarrassed to admit this problem. Finally last June 2011, I wanted a professional to know, but was afraid my pdoc would want to give me another med and I didn't want that, so I sought out a psychologist and admitted it to her. I have been seeing her ever since and she does have suggestions, but encourages me ever visit to let my pdoc know. I recently switched pdocs because I got tired of driving to the old one (I moved and kept the same one for a while), so I have a new pdoc now. I wrote him a letter last night about my picking problem and delivered it to his office this morning. So, I assume he knows now (or will as soon as he reads the letter). I am willing to try meds at this point if he feels it would help. I just want to stop as I don't like having to wear pants and sweaters all the time to cover my legs and arms.

Any advice from anyone here?

[Squirrel1983]

Saw my psychologist this morning. She said she was proud of me for writing and delivering the letter. I don't know what my pdoc's policy is on letters. I don't know if he read them the day they come in or if they are stuck in the patient's file and read at the next visit. I didn't hear from his office, so I assumed that he either doesn't think it is a problem or the letter is stuck in my file to be read at my next visit.

This afternoon though I decided I didn't want to wait till June to discuss it with him. So I called his office myself and asked if I could get in sooner. The first thing they had was April 24th. I took it. A month is better than 2 and a half months to wait to discuss this issue. They also said they would put me on a waiting list if they had a cancellation for something earlier. So, now it's just the waiting game. I'm nervous about what he will say.