[Ssigros]

I've been bulimic for almost 15 years. It's a constant struggle for me. I've cut myself a few times, but I wouldn't consider myself someone who cuts themselves. I make myself bleed by constantly picking. Whether a bump, pimple, or scab. I will mess with it until it bleeds. If I can't get it with using my hands I will use a needle, tweezers, or a scalpel. Over and over, every single day. I've done it for years. I have marks from doing this for years over my back, bottom, legs, and some on my face. I'm not proud of them. I've tried to stop, but always end up going right back to it. Just like with bulimia. I posted this to see if this is considered the same as self injury?

[childofchaos831]

Originally Posted by Ssigros

I've been bulimic for almost 15 years. It's a constant struggle for me. I've cut myself a few times, but I wouldn't consider myself someone who cuts themselves. I make myself bleed by constantly picking. Whether a bump, pimple, or scab. I will mess with it until it bleeds. If I can't get it with using my hands I will use a needle, tweezers, or a scalpel. Over and over, every single day. I've done it for years. I have marks from doing this for years over my back, bottom, legs, and some on my face. I'm not proud of them. I've tried to stop, but always end up going right back to it. Just like with bulimia. I posted this to see if this is considered the same as self injury?

We do this to. We also self injure. We always wonder if the picking counts. Skin picking is actually a disorder called dermotillomania. It is closely related to OCD from what I've found. We would say look at the reasons you're picking. Do you do it because it calms you down? Or just because it's a habit? We self injure because it does something for the way we feel (helpful or not), so if the picking does something for you, it might be considered self injury. Another way to look at it is, if it bleeds, it's self injury. As simple as that. We have used that mindset for a while in the past. We hope this makes sense and is helpful in some way.