Self injury or passive compulsion?

[scout86]

Once I got past "Wait? Doesn't EVERYONE do that??????" ......

Neutrogena (sp?) hand cream (Created by and for Norwegian fishermen.) I don't know what's in it.but It's the only thing I've ever found that works on my hands (and I tried Lotramin :() and it works on feet too.

I'd second the "finding something to do instead" idea, but those things aren't so easy to come by.

Congratulations to your son!

 

[Spiderallis]

I'm in remission from foot-picking, it's been a few years and I can't really remember how and why I quit. Be very careful with what you try until those sore spots have healed! One of my urge-replacement tricks was white glue, the kind kids use in schools, I'd smear some on my hands and peel that off instead of dry skin. I've got no clue if that's good or bad, just that it didn't result in blood stains on my socks. It's awesome that you've got such a great reason to want to change, congrats to your son and soon to be daughter-in-law.

 

[shimmerz]

I'd smear some on my hands and peel that off instead of dry skin.

OMG, I had completely forgotten that I used to do this as a kid as well. I also used to put pins in the upper layer of my skin. I wouldn't draw blood or self harm but it was something I was almost driven to do.

 

[Spiderallis]

I had a bit of a sunburn peeling-picking problem too, glue also works for that. Just be sure it's nontoxic and only a 'sometimes' thing, I really don't think it's all that healthy for skin.

 

[ihateusernames]

I'd show you a picture of my heels now, but nobody wants to see that. I've been told that my paternal grandfather did the same thing. He died before I was born so I didn't know him. I have no idea if it counts as a form of self harm. I used to think I had never hurt myself intentionally, but I pick, a lot, especially my fingers, I chew my nails down until there's something I can get a hold of and then pick at it until they bleed and hurt for a few days. I've done this for as long as I can remember. Same with cuts and bites. I pick them over and over until they scar. And I also spent some time with bulimia. So I was wrong. Maybe peeling your feet counts, too. I don't know. I know I'm less inclined to do it if I've been taking care of them, though. Maybe just doing soaks and moisturizing treatments will encourage you to stop- or be distracting enough to stop you.

That said, I second the ACV. I use it in my kid's for baths for eczema. It's awesome. Then a heavy, neutral moisturizer under socks. I buy eucerin for him so that's what I use, too, but there are other options.

 

[The Albatross]

I had a friend in RN school who USED to chew her nails... til at lab they swabbed them and she looked at it under a microscope and then her "homework" was to isolate and identify everything. She was pretty much cured after that college class.

 

[KwanYingirl]

@The Albatross I gave up chewing my fingernails when I started training as an x-ray tech. We were shown slides of swabs of tables, stretchers, fingernails, etc. I am a compulsive hand washer. So this business with my foot is all compulsion and SI. I hate having open wounds. The hot wax soak sounds intriguing. I'll price them out. Since I started this thread I have left my feet alone.

@ihateusernames i have read and been told by therapists that interfering with wound healing is technically SI. Our skin is our largest organ and it protects us from invasions of germs. Sometimes I like to think that it's just a habit I do while watching TV but they end up bleeding. That is SI.

 

[The Albatross]

The hot wax thing is also useful for arthritis (which I have, both thumbs and a big toe).

 

[KwanYingirl]

Well, damnit, if a nice vacation on a Caribbean resort can't be incentive enough, then I'm crazier than I thought. Many good advice here.

 

[Sammyiam]

When you go to bed put heaps of cream on your feet ( whatever you use eg coconut oil etc ) wrap foot in glad wrap and then put a sock over top to keep glad wrap on. Within a few days they will be so soft and then you won't have hard skin at all. It can take maybe a week or so, just do it every night. It sweats all the coconut oil into your skin and works a treat. I did it for years when I worked on my feet all day long. Never had any problems for years now.

 

[KwanYingirl]

@Sammyiam I had a massage therapist that would oil my feet, wrap them in warm towels and put a plastic bag over them. Then she'd give me a massage. It was glorious. I was just looking on Amazon at foot soaking basins that keep the heat on. I might treat myself to one. In the meantime, I'm going to wrap my feet like you suggested because my socks always absorb the creams I put on. Also I've started drinking more water. I am determined to get my feet ready for the Carinbean!!!

 

[Sammyiam]

@KwanYingirl
I know it sounds silly but it really does work. As you said if you just put socks on the cream goes into the socks, but with glad wrap ( I'm hoping its called that over there or cling wrap maybe) it just lets the cream sweat into your feet and you will feel a difference just after a couple of nights. Let me know how it goes

Sammy