Other Self Mutilation - skin picking

[AngelKeeperJ]

I am making a little progress with my sore gums. Along with making a consistent commitment to keeping my hands DOWN or have something in them to fidget with. I am using a "worry stone" to keep my hands busy and I pop the rubber band on my wrist a few times to stop the urge to pick at my head. (That's hard to admit...)

It's IMPERATIVE that I stop doing it! I am VERY lucky that I don't have any bald spots nor have I gotten any infections. I can keep a sore active/semi-active for months, So I feel like it's a matter of when and not if I will get one. I read about a man getting ONE scratch on his head and it turned septic (blood poisoning) almost overnight. The wrong bacteria and I will be in trouble...

My natural nails are sharper, even though they are super short right now because they are still recovering from the acrylic nails I wore for 10+years. They looked good but along with being expensive, I got tired of the whole thing...

I think it helped me to post here??????

 

[Changing4Best]

OK, I bought a swimsuit, made arrangements to go to the pool tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous, but I know once I get into the water, that will dissipate! My hands are OK. I have been careful not to mess with them, so they are all healed now.

 

[blackemerald1]

OK, I bought a swimsuit, made arrangements to go to the pool tomorrow.

Well done you!! I was nervous too when I started swimming too but that goes away after a few sessions. :hug:

 

[Changing4Best]

I went swimming and it was WONDERFUL. I will most certainly go again, even though it is a bit of a hassle getting there (by bus) and using their locker room, which has no official changing rooms, just toilet stalls. I love the feeling of floating. I love that every muscle in my body gets exercise, unlike with most other sports, and I even met someone nice enough to smile at me and say HI.

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

Congratulations? @Changing4Best on your successful trip to the pool!!! ? I think that floating completely relaxed in a pool is one of the BEST feelings there is! (I wish I could get past my issues enough to go back to a pool) Swimming is a GREAT thing for you to be doing for yourself!!!

A side note...As a Christian, I feel like God intends for us trust, and "rest in Him", just like we can rest on the water with NO tension in our bodies...the sense of trusting the water...and/or him. That metaphor came to me while I was floating on my back for the first time in DECADES. I am still a work of faith in progress...

 

[Friday]

but it's gotten worse since I stopped wearing acrylic nails. It really helped with the picking because the nails aren't as sharp as natural nails, and the tips of my fingers weren't able to feel areas to fidget with. After wearing them for 10+ years, I will have to keep my nails super short for a long time. ...

Have you tried gel/shellac? They aren’t as thick as acrylic, but they’re still thick and rounded and smooth compared to normal sharp-sharp nails or painted nails. Because they aren’t as thick, if you get a pale color (shell, light pink, peach, etc.) you can just get them done once a month, and taking them off at home (get it done professionally once, to get the trick of it, but tinfoil, cotton balls, and acetone are easy) saves $5 or $10 of the end cost. (Still less than getting a fill, even at full cost). And you can get gel/shellac done on the shortest nails, just like nail polish. Except it doesn’t chip or have to dry. And of course, is extra thick / rounded smooth. Might be a good transition for you.

 

[Sideways]

@Changing4Best - party hands in the air for you! Keep it stored in your mind what it was like floating in the water when you have a bad day, and how much going for a swim can change things.

My headspace changes completely when I’m immersed in water. Something about it, and the quietness as soon as your head goes under. Crazy peaceful. Knowing that? I now find that just sitting by flowing water can bring me back from the brink when I’m seriously panicked, and on a super-bad day, I literally just fill up the bath and immerse because of how effective it is.

If you’re a water-person like that? This is totally a crazy-helpful soother to have in the toolbox:)

 

[Changing4Best]

Speaking of water, I have a 10 gallon fish tank too. It is making water fall sounds 24/7 for me. It helps too, and I love my fishies!

 

[blackemerald1]

Well done @Changing4Best :) I am so pleased you enjoyed the swimming. It's got to do you good as well as feel good too. I hope you continue to go and yes... there are some lovely people who go to the pool so there is the social aspect too.?

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

Have you tried gel/shellac? polish...Might be a good transition for you.

???????????
Thank you for the suggestion! I've never known the difference, and I think I might not mind doing it once a month. I just need to find the right place. Some (many) places have the atmosphere of "I don't give a sh*t", and I got fed up. It's hard to find the right person. The good ones seem to never stay...

I'm making progress in my mouth. I found the anesthetic gel that dentists use on Amazon, and it's really helping the soreness go away a little at a time. I have more hope about getting this irritating and painful habit under control. If I could just wear my dentures and ignore them. Constantly trying to not clench my teeth got old a LONG time ago...snapping rubber band a couple times does help me refocus and stop the behavior...

 

[TruthSeeker]

That makes more sense than my idea. I just wonder how hurting ourselves makes us feel soothed, but somehow it does. It must be some kind of reverse psychology. It's weird.

It’s not soothing to me-it redirects unwanted thoughts, emotions, pain in my case -is quite distracting in the moment and sometimes numbing- depending on the situation. The results are embarrassing in summer months when I’m sleeveless.

Ive tried to replace skin picking when triggered or upset with another more appropriate behavior-using hand lotion. That has helped some. Wish you luck.

 

[Changing4Best]

It’s not soothing to me-it redirects unwanted thoughts, emotions, pain in my case -is quite distracting in the moment and sometimes numbing- depending on the situation. The results are embarrassing in summer months when I’m sleeveless.

Ive tried to replace skin picking when triggered or upset with another more appropriate behavior-using hand lotion. That has helped some. Wish you luck.

I am doing MUCH better with it. My hands and scalp are clear now that I have made a decision to stop doing it. As I mentioned above too, I even went swimming and adored it!