[SandyZee]

I have been a picker all of my life. I know it's due to my anxiousness, but I can't seem to stop doing it. My doctor will not prescribe benzos, so that is not an option. Has anyone overcome this embarrassing habit, and if so, how?

[Skeezyks]

I'm sorry I'm not able to be of help with regard to this. However I noticed no one had yet replied to your post. So I thought I would. Here are links to 2 articles, from PC's archives, written by a person who has battled dermatillomania. I should mention there are pictures that are somewhat graphic & the author does offer a warning at the beginning of the articles. Hopefully though, if you're up to reading the articles, some of what she has to say can be of help or at least interest:

Picking Myself Apart (Pt. 1)

Picking Myself Apart (Pt. 2)

[LaraR4444]

Hi, I have been doing this for as long as I can remember too and, coincidentally, just found something that really helps.

I was thinking several things,
first, how just doing any activity with my hands wasn't enough, I'd stop doing whatever it was and pick at something instead,

then, about how people compare skin picking to an addiction and the whole dopamine and reward thing,

and I thought, I need some kind of hand puzzle, or something that does something when I touch it,

so I bought a Rubik's cube and it helps a lot! As long as I use it, it keeps me from picking. I don't have to always try to solve it either, just moving it around also works.

[autonoe]

I don't know if this will be helpful, but it's what worked for me. I picked my fingers for most of my life, to the point they would look bloodied and raw. When someone finally said something at work (and loudly) a couple of years ago was the day I stopped doing it as often because it was so humiliating to know that people noticed. Now, if I start to feel the urge to pick a lot, I think about how I want my hands to look and I even get occasional manicures now. They make my hands look nice and they also make it harder to pick, since the manicurist will cut off any dry or loose skin. There are times when I still pick when the urge is uncontrollable, but keeping my hands nice makes it a lot harder.

Like Lara said, keeping your hands busy is a good idea, too. It'll keep you occupied and burn off some of the fidgety energy that picking normally releases.

Cheek, Lip and Hand biting. Does anyone else do this? Probably unrelated, but I also wash my hands frequently. For some reason this bothers my neighbors to the point where they get very angry, but is something I have done my whole life. Recently this has become a problem causing hang-nails and finger picking, but this is rare for me bc I keep my hands as busy as possible. What kind of treatment is there for this type of behavior?

[Rose76]

I pick at the calluses on my feet, while watching TV. My habit is mild. Covering spots that bleed with bandaids or bandage tape helps.

[Lilly2]

I pick thumbs to pick on, and bite. I also pick at hangnails. I also scratch my head to see if there are any sores, which only makes them worse. Once in a while I bite my insides of my cheeks. I tend to clench and grind my teeth, too.

Manicures, now nail clippers, and keeping my hands busy helps. But sometimes I do it automatically, without thinking. It is hard.

[love2run4ever]

I've had this problem since I was little. I usually pick my pores on my face and I get red spots everywhere as a result. I can't go out until the next day when the spots fade, and I have to wear makeup to cover the damage. I wish I could stop.