[Samanthagreene]

I pick my cuticles until my fingers bleed. I do this a LOT. But I don't do it with any specific reason in mind; my fingers just do it. That's not self-harm, just habit, right?
-Sam

[Switch]

That sounds like skin picking to me. Check out the OCD/Trich forum, you might find something similar.

Though for the record, I know what that's like. I bite my tongue till it bleeds, almost uncontrollably and without thinking about it. For me I've been told I have an Impulse Control Disorder (on the OCD spectrum, specifically the C) because of how much I do it.

[beloiseau]

I do that all the time, and I have done it since I was a little kid...I've always liked the blood? The leader of my DBT group called me out on it one day, when I didn't even realize I was doing it and said that it could be triggering to other people and that they consider it self-harm in some cases. I'm not sure if it is SI for me...but I notice I do it WAY MORE when I am stressed or anxious.

[reesecups]

Just what I was told, FWIW. Any type of action including bleeding nails and even taking too many of the recommended dose of pills as well as what's considered the usual type of SI, is a form of self harm.

I guess I sort of agree with it as it seems to be some kind of coping mechanism for you and you are harming yourself, even though it might not be considered by most to be serious.

[GirlOfManyFaces]

Yeah I've been doing that since I was little. I've always been a nail biter and I guess it just kinda grew into that. I can't help it though. I just do it and don't know.
If I have clear nail polish I don't mess with my fingers as much. And I don't wear rings because that makes me look at my hands.

[reesecups]

Originally Posted by GirlOfManyFaces

Yeah I've been doing that since I was little. I've always been a nail biter and I guess it just kinda grew into that. I can't help it though. I just do it and don't know.
If I have clear nail polish I don't mess with my fingers as much. And I don't wear rings because that makes me look at my hands.

Actually, I have a friend who does that too. My sister does that as well. I know how frustrated they get at it. They both do it as a way to cope with stress for different reasons..one used acrylic nails that helped her to stop, but couldn't afford it after being disabled.

[lrt1978]

I have this problem too but not just my finger nails and the skin surrounding that I will keep picking until it bleeds, this is disgusting but I also pick the skin on the bottom of feet til it bleeds, sometimes it's really sore to walk and I tend to pick at bottom lip again until it bleeds, it gets worse when I am stressed of having a blip with the eating disorder, I hate it as my hands and lip can look awful at times x

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[reesecups]

I'm not sure of the self-harm aspect of two things that I do:

When I'm asleep or curled up in bed, I actually grab onto the top of my arms to 'hold' myself. But when I wake up the next day, I normally have small dark bruises from it.

Also, I used to have untreated allergies when I was a kid and I remember my skin itching so badly, I would actually take opened scissors to the part that would have the intense itching. Now that doesn't happen to that extreme, but, if, say, my foot itches quite a bit, it doesn't enter my head to get something to put on it to stop the itching. I seem to be focussing on something else, like TV and will scratch my skin open and raw! Not good when it's the feet and I'm diabetic.

But I don't know how to make myself aware of these two things? Self harm - maybe, but not intentional.

Anyone else do this?

[nycgal448]

My best friend used to do the same thing, she bit and bit until
they bled and were nubs. I, myself suffer from trichitilla?? I
pull out my hair. Done it as a kid too; eyebrows and eyelashes,
I looked retarded. I got made fun of and questioned why? never
knew the answers.. til Pc. needless to say, my bestie has nice,
healthy nails now... and I resume pulling. I guess it's OCD??
idk. Check out that page, it will def give u input and perspective.
Best Wishes