Pick Pick Pick

[Chincho]

I do the same thing with the heels of my feet and the skin of my lips. My Therapist (T) isn't worried about it either, she says it's anxiety at work.

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

I have to add that I bite at the inside of my mouth and my lip too when I'm anxious too. I'm writing it now because someone triggered my anxiety and I'm sitting here almost frantically biting at my mouth :facepalm:.

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

My anxiety continued through the evening and into tonight. Eventually I stopped biting at my mouth. All I can say is.. my poor thumb now. It's all red and raw and was bleeding in one area. I hate anxiety.

 

[Finding Shawna]

have a tendency to pick at my cuticles and fingers

Same here, it just started getting bad lately, I hate it because I like keeping my nail pretty, but my cuticle are so nasty looking.

 

[Spiderallis]

Another area I would mess with is the heels of my feet. Not so much anymore but I used to cut up and peel away all the tough skin, seldom would I bleed from it but walking on it would be painful for days.

Up until I read that, I'd not heard of anyone else self-harming like I did. I know I choose my feet because no one ever saw them. The lasting pain was my goal, so I think it was an attempt to get rid of guilty feelings by punishing myself. It's been a few years since I've taken my feelings out on my feet, not exactly sure how I stopped. Home spa night was part of it, I soak in a bubble bath and pumice the heck out of my feet. If I don't see a 'starter' to pick at I don't get as tempted.

I've had a few fingernail picking relapses when I've been really stressed out. It's easier to resist if I grow my nails a little longer and keep them painted nicely. When someone has to ask if they're fake nails, I know I've been handling my anxiety well.

 

[safenow]

Last night I must have really scratched at my face. When I woke up , my forehead was really red and raw. I've been putting lotion on it all morning.

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

When I woke up , my forehead was really red and raw.

That sounds painful :(. My anxiety must be going up and down. I not only picked my thumb raw on Thursday.. I also chewed my mouth and lip and started picking at other fingers in the past few days. I pulled one cuticle tonight until it was bleeding :oops:.

 

[safenow]

My anxiety must be going up and down.

I"m sorry you are going through this as well. I hope it lightens up for you soon.

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

I hope it lightens up for you soon.

Thank you. My poor fingers today.. I really have had a tough couple of days and my fingers are really showing it :oops:

 

[Finding Shawna]

I just got a new piercing on my ear -the tragus - to be exact. Well it's trying to heal, but I can't stop messing with it and from all my stress my body and immune system suck right now. Had to take antibiotics, ugh!

 

[Spiderallis]

Ooh, I like tragus piercings, they look fabulous. Be careful though, that spot is a bit slower to heal than other ear piercings. The Bactine spray for first aid works quite well on piercings- smells a little funny but a professional piercer advised me to use it on my belly ring. I'm diabetic, so my immune system sucks and I'm slow to heal.

 

[Finding Shawna]

I like tragus piercings, they look fabulous

Thanks, I think so too!