[SweetCrusader]

k so i have the wierdest habit. i compulsively run my fingers along, or scratch my scalp, and not because it necessarily itches. i feel along the surface of my scalp, under my (long) hair to see if there are any uneven places. if there are, i scratch them. i try to get all of the dry skin off of my scalp (which i know is impossible), and i end up giving myself dandruff. my favorite thing is if i can find a place where i've scratched before and have a good scab going. i pick off the scab then. i know picking scabs can be si. i don't know. maybe this is a compulsion. i've never heard of anyone else doing this, but i admit it sounds similar to trichtillomania in ways. i've seen trichtillomania called si or a compulsion. what's everyone's take on this? and do you think it's worth talking about with my T or is it just a quirk i have that doesn't necessarily need to be addressed?

comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable

[jetblackaura]

I do that too, but most of the time i'm not aware that i'm doing it...but i dunno what it's classed as sosrry

[collegefriend]

you know i do that too, i will just rub my fingers on my scalp i am always doing that!!! i don't know if thats SI or not but i find myself doing it with out knowing but then sometimes i do it cause im nervous but other time i full out notice that i am doing and i dont stop myself.

<font color=red> It's hard being a snowflake in a world of Cheerios!</font color=red>

[darkeyes]

This kind of sounds more like a habit/OCD, I do not know what to say, perhaps talking to a therapist, maybe he or she can help you find something healthy to replace this habit or teach you how to distract from the urge to do this.
I once went through something similar but it was more of trying to scrape any zits that use to form on my scalp during the hot weather after I had been out doing yard work, perspiration use to really triger the zits, I honestly do not know how I stopped this, I think it was when my mother-in-law brought this to my attention, by asking me if I had "cooties", she made me aware that I was fiddling with my scalp and gave her the impression I had something itching me, it wasn't the itchies I explained, I just didn't like having the zits on my scalp and felt the need to scrape them off. . . I know there are many things that may be weird that compell us to doing this stuff, I still would talk to a therapist if you find you can't stop cause it can lead to infection if the tear in the scalp from picking the scabs gets deep, it can happen doesn't mean it definately will but who wants to risk it, right?
I wish you luck in your effort to stop this compulsion, give therapy a try, if it doesn't subside.
Take care,

DE

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON

[Zenobia]

I wouldn't think that it would be SI but something else. And Yes I think it would be a good idea to bring it up in a therapy session. It has you wondering enough to bring it up here so it would be of benefit to bring up with your therapist.
Carrie

<font color=blue>If you have two dollars, spend one on bread and the other on flowers. The bread will feed your body and the flowers will feed your soul."--Arabic Saying

[SweetCrusader]

thanks for the input, everybody. After giving it more thought, I think it's a nervous habit that I do to calm myself. I do think it gets self-injurious sometimes when I dig too much at my scalp, especially since it doesn't itch. But I don't think it's always self-injurious.

I appreciate you guys sharing your thoughts. And it's also good to know I'm not the only one who does it!

SweetCrusader

comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable

[Rapunzel]

I do that too! Never thought of it as SI, but I like picking the scabs off. Interesting question. Maybe it depends on why you do it, and what your intent is. If you are using it as a coping mechanism maybe it has an SI component, but if it is just a nervous habit, then probably not. What does it mean to you?

<font color=orange>"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill "</font color=orange>

[SweetCrusader]

i think it's sometimes si, and sometimes just a nervous habit for me. i've decided that, given the other forms of si that are out there and that i've engaged in, it's not a huge concern to me. maybe something i will work on a little later down the line, but i don't think it's any big issue.

angela

comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable

[SS8282]

I agree with DE. Sounds more like OCD than SI, and it's definately something you should talk to your T about. I think it's OCD mostly because of your 'reasons' for doing it.

[SweetCrusader]

OCD, huh? I don't know if I would go far enough to say I could be diagnosed with OCD. Now I'm really curious. I am going to ask my T about this sometime.

comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable

[Butterfly_Faerie]

I scratch at my scalp as well... I think for me it's a nervous thing, sometimes it bleeds. I've had to sit on my hands before to stop myself from scratching.
I don't know if it's a form of SI.... but I know for me it's a nervous thing.

<font color=red>~</font color=red><font color=blue>S</font color=blue><font color=green>u</font color=green><font color=blue>n</font color=blue><font color=green>d</font color=green><font color=blue>a</font color=blue><font color=green>n</font color=green><font color=blue>c</font color=blue><font color=green>e</font color=green><font color=red>~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

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