[Squirrel1983]

So a month or so ago I posted to the SI forum asking if something I was doing (skin/scab-picking) was SI. A got mixed responses back. Some encouraged me to seek T, so I did. My T convinved me that I needed to tell my pdoc. That was a scary thing to do. I worte a letter and mailed/emailed it because I didn't think I would be able to bring it up during an appointment.

Last appointment with him (about a week ago) he mentioned he got my letter and called my behavior self-mutilation. That caught me a little off-guard. He went on to compare it to tattooing or ear piercing. Since I don't consider those to be "bad" things, I thought he was trying to tell me that my behavior was not "wrong". Yet...he called it self-mutiliation, so I questioned him about that. Turns out he thinks tattooing and ear piercing to be "harmful" behaviors. I left it at that since I didn't want to get into a moral debate with him.

Anyways, concerning my behavior...he mentioned that there was a medication to stop such behaviors. Not wanting more meds, I stopped him right there and said "NO". Now I wish I would have let him talk long enough to say what that med was, so I could look it up on my own.

Anyone have any idea what it could have been?

I'm sure it will come up again next month, as when I said no, he said if the behavior continues next time he'll need to prescribe it. So far the behavior has not stopped. I'm wondering if I should have allowed the prescription for the med last time, as when he saw me I only had/was down to 3 sores...and now I am up to 11 again. The number fluctuates a lot depending how much I pick. I'm starting to think that I do need it to stop. I thought T would help, but it hasn't yet (though it's only been a month, so it could be too early to tell yet).

Argh! So frustrating.

[SoupDragon]

Hi, I remember your thread,so thanks for the update. Sorry I don't know what the medication is. SD

[kaliope]

its probably an antidepressant or whatever meds they use for OCD.

[Indie'sOK]

Originally Posted by Squirrel1983

He went on to compare it to tattooing or ear piercing.

No, no, no. Not that I'm an expert, but seriously, this is wrong. Tattooing and other forms of body modification are done for a variety of reasons, admittedly self-destructive in nature for a few people, but for the vast majority it serves as a means of self-expression. Assuming that SI the only cause is wrong. Sounds like you know deep down that what he's saying is false, and that's great. No offense, but your pdoc saying this really ticks me off

Just my two cents - you've got some great replies here

[splitimage]

The med he could have been talking about is Revia (Naltrexone). I'm guessing. It's an opiate antagonist that's used in a number of addiction treatments. It's used as an anti-craving med for alcoholism, and is given to problem gamblers as it seems to interfere with the pleasure / reward pathway in the brain and reduce impulses to gamble. I've heard of it being prescribed for SI but don't know how successful it's been.

splitimage

[elliemay]

I would go see a *gasp* dermatologist. There are a lot of underlying conditions that promote this kind of excoriation that aren't necessarily psychogenic in origin.