[ventevanillacoffee]

Let me put a disclaimer that I love my mom and just want to help her. She's gotten so far away from herself that it's causing serious issues for everyone and I don't know how to help her. I'm going to summarize this due to being on my phone. I'd appreciate any advice of any form... For the last 20 + years she's been a skin picker, just as her great grandmother was. She's covered in scars head to toe. She's picked every inch on her body. Every night she sneaks downstairs and picks with her fingers, scissors, tweezers, anything.. She's convinced she has parasites inside of her and has even went as far as pouring bleach and Windex on her open "sores" as she calls them. She's been to over 25 doctors trying to convince them that she has lupus (she saw lupus causes skin pigment issues and she says that's what has caused her scars). She's on any antidepressant she can get her hands on.. she takes any medication in the pill cabinet..she baths in antibiotic cream.. She's constantly self prescribing herself treatments. She's almost killed herself twice by taking other people's medicine. Her constant battles with me start with her saying "you males need to step up" .. which makes me think she has an abandonment issue .. she grew up with no father. She claims her mother is crazy and calls anyone she doesn't like "her mom". She's a habitual liar now.. we can have her on video doing something and she will deny it then cry and say she's being attacked when confronted. She's even tried to convince a friend to take an antidepressant after they complained of a headache. We miss what she used to be. There's so many more issues going on and we don't know where to turn to. How can I convince her were here to help ? I've tried explain I'm offering her my help so many times.. what does this even boil down to? What would this be classified as? How can I help her?

[jelly-bean]

It sounds like the best thing you can do for your mother is put her in a hospital ward for treatment for a while. From what you say, she has some serious problems that need immediate treatment. I am not sure exactly how you can do that unless you can talk her into admitting herself but you should try to find a way to get her in a place where there are people who can help her.

[BlessedRhiannon]

I'm so sorry you're struggling with this.

In regards to your Mom's skin picking, it sounds more like symptoms of Morgellon's Disease than typical dermatillomania. Might research that, and even show your Mom what you've found and maybe that will convince her to get some help.

The reality is that unless you can convince her to seek treatment, there's not a whole lot you can do. Be understanding of her issues, don't shame her for them. Maybe you can look up therapists in your area that might be able to help her, so that you could give her a list of choices.