[Shaly78]

Hi. I'm new at learning about skin picking. My story is I have this habit of picking my scalp and eating the skin under my finger nails from the scars from my scalp. I'm not sure what triggers it but I don't want to leave any stone unturned in unraveling what may have happened to me as a kid. I have ptsd, did, anxiety, psychosis, and depression. I read about psychosis and the tie in there in the forum from here. This is really embarrassing to talk about mainly because it seems like a kids anxious habit. I wondered if this fits with SI/ptsd, but there seems to be a distinction when I started reading this forum. A long time ago, I used to be enamored at picking other parts of my body. This doesn't seem to be a thrill or a necessity just a habit. As far as I can remember it may have started with permanents left in head too long and the need to pick my scalp became a habit. Thanks for reading

I'm sorry to hear that you are struggling with this habit. I personally don't know a lot of about skin picking, but I do believe that is does fall in the SH category as well. You might post a thread in the SH forum here: Self Injury - Forums at Psych Central There are likely many members that have struggled with something similar that can give you advice on how to break the habit. Sorry I coulndnt be more help to you. I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

[OneInBillions]

I've been a picker since I was about 8 years old. I think I've always been prone to anxiety, and for me, picking calms me better than anything else. Whenever I get anxious or upset, I get a very strong urge to pick. I usually spend an hour or more every night after I go to bed but before I can sleep, picking.

In my case I always pick at sores or blemishes on my arms or hands. Now both of my hands and much of my forearms are spotted with scars. I'll start by worrying at a tiny pimple or ingrown hair or whatever, and eventually open it up into a little crater in the skin. For some reason I really like the crater, and the feel of pushing the pads of my fingers into it... I know it sounds gross. And I, too, tend to "eat" the skin that I pick off. And I like licking at the blood or plasma that comes out.

It's an embarrassing habit to have, for sure. I always hated having to explain to friends, acquaintances and even strangers as to why I have an open wound on my hand or arm. I managed to stop for several years in high school but started again in college. It's a bad habit that I can't seem to shake.

And just FYI for ChaoticInsanity, this forum is designated for dermatillomania as well as OCD and trichotillomania. So newday7121 posted in the right place. It's not quite the same thing as self-injury, to my mind... It's more of a coping mechanism. Although some have argued that it's more akin to a substance abuse disorder, strangely enough!

[Shaly78]

I think both post are relevant in my mind, because I have ptsd and anxiety and depression and wondered if possible the skin picking could also be a peiece to the puzzle to something that was done during abuse, maybe not the exactly things but a reminder like blood or something. I'm kind of a very symbolic person that hids stuff in these ways since I also have D.I.D. I thnk the post was relevant here because maybe its not just purely a OCD trichotillomania thing this was my starting place. Also, I pick at bruises, nails, and ingrown nails as well, but decided to not put it in my initial thread post. Thanks for the advice!