Can't stop picking, what has helped you?

Hi everyone.
I've been having a lot of problems with eyebrow and face skin picking lately.
The earliest episode I can remember was in about 5th grade during a test, and I find tests are when I am most likely to pick at my eyebrows or my face. (particularly my forehead)
I've tried a lot of different stims, slime and twisty things are my favorites, but they are still nothing compared to the satisfaction I get from picking.

What I've noticed that really worries me, however, is the fact that my picking gets noticeably worse when I am on my ADD medication. I sometimes skip it over the weekend, and never have any episodes. But the second I go back to school and take it I'm picking like crazy again.

My guess is it has something to do with a combination of stress and anxiety at school, and the jittery feeling the medication gives me. Right now, as I'm writing, I am shaking like crazy and typing very hard and fast- which only happens when I am on Ritalin (and I've tried other medications too, to no avail.)

Anyone else have this experience? If so, what did you do/are you doing to help it? I really love my eyebrows, and I wish I would stop picking but sometimes the urge is just too much to resist...
I'm really worried especially about my AP tests coming up, as the picking is the worst when I am writing. I can't even look at what I'm writing, I'm too concerned with picking. At this rate, timed essays are simply impossible to finish...

Thanks so much in advance for your help. I look forward to hearing your suggestions.

Hello Nartrof: I first read your post a couple of days ago when you first posted it. I didn't think I probably had much to offer so I didn't reply. But I see that, unfortunately, you still have received no replies, so I thought I would do so. I don't really know what to suggest here. I've had a lot of these sorts of problems over the years. Mostly the way I've managed to break these habits has been through sheer force of will. Unfortunately, what my experience has been is that once I would manage to break myself of one habit, I'd find another one to take its place.

When I was growing up, I bit my fingernails. As a young adult I became determined to break myself of the habit. I kept my nails trimmed very short & always carried a nail clipper so that if one of my nails became ragged, I could immediately trim it & smooth it over. It worked! But then... I discovered hair pulling... & I'm still doing it... not to the extent that it is a problem... but I'm always still pulling hairs from some area of my body or other.

The best thing I can suggest, as far as your eyebrow picking goes is to try to figure out some way to make it not possible to do, such as wearing gloves. But I would presume this would be difficult to do while taking a test. From my perspective, it all really boils down to stress. And unless you can find some way to relieve the stress, I'm afraid it is going to be difficult to stop picking. I wish you well...

I'm not sure if this will be helpful, but YouTube has picking and popping videos. Some people find them helpful in keeping their hands off themselves but still get the same "release of stress". For some it could possibly be triggering, but others really find it helpful.

Most people find the videos gross, but I think they are cool. Body stuff is trippy.

Either way, I can tell this is stressful for you and I hope you find some resolution. ((((Hugs))))

I have a similar skin picking problem, which becomes worse especially when I am involved in school-related, stressful situations ( so yes, exams are just as problematic for me ) . I am not able to give you proper advice because I am still searching for tips and tricks myself, but I can tell you what things work for me most of the time. Keep in mind that I am not on any type of medication.

I usually chew bubblegum during exam papers; it helps me concentrate as I put my whole jittery feeling in the simple action of chewing rhythmically. Then, I always play with anything I can get my hands on, from pens to little balls and rubber bands that I keep in my pencil case for such situations. I always wear bracelets that I can grab in my other hand as I am writing. I usually try my best to give my hands something to do at all times. I'd also suggest tying up your hair because, while writing, it might fall in your face and you'll want to push it away, and therefore, touch your face and trigger yourself to pick.

These are all the ideas that came to me on the spot. I do hope you will find them useful. Good luck with your exams!