Other Self Mutilation - skin picking

[Changing4Best]

I don't know, my boss is the Director of an entire research laboratory and he uses one constantly. Do you really think it would be an issue to your bosses and coworkers?

Hmmmm.... I don't know. I have a squeezy ball that I suppose I could share with my clients, saying that it is healthy and helps to ease our arthritis. Maybe that might suffice.

 

[Kubash16]

If they’ve noticed, they probably understand. Don’t underestimate them ?. I really don’t think they would mind a fidget spinner/stress ball/whatever. I have hair ties I fidget with all the time and T is really the only one that’s been obvious in noticing. Most anyone won’t care, if anything they will want one themselves.

 

[Changing4Best]

OK, I bought a fidget spinner and have the squeezy balls in my bag I take to work now. So far I have not used the spinner at work, but the balls are understandable, because they aid in arthritis treatment. I shared them with my friends at work and we all had a good time with them.

 

[Kubash16]

See ?

 

[Experience]

I have a self harming problem as well I have done since I was 17 I have not done it for a year in some odd ways it's a form of self soothing a sense of release for me it goes back to being severely bullied and release from trauma flashsbaxks I miss it a lot and have huge urges all the time I take hot baths use rubber bands sometimes the feeling is better regardless of what you use but also the seeing it on your skin is easing enough and to know what you have been through or whatever. Anyways don't know if that helps but that's my experience
Love and blessings

 

[Muttly]

It sounds like you are making some good steps. Becoming aware of what you are doing is important. After that, try figuring out what you were feeling just before you started. If you get better at identifying the feelings, you'll be better at catching yourself before you pick.

As far as what it can do for us, it can actually release endorphins. So there is an immediate positive result that your body seeks out.

 

[Sideways]

Seems counter intuitive, but the thing that stopped me chewing my nails and picking at hangnails? Was learning how to self-manicure and keeping my nails painted.

Once a week, I’d sit down for some quality time cleaning up and painting my nails. Made me aware of how I treated them the rest of the week. Stopped me messing them up absent-mindedly, because I was no longer absent-minded about my nails.

Half an hour a week, and it can be clear lacquer or a coloured polish. Even getting them done at a cheap salon would probably have the same effect.

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

I will finally have the courage to admit that I self-mutilate in a couple ways. I pick my head, and have for many years, 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. I got SO tired of going every 2 weeks or so to get the nails filled, and I couldn't find anyone who consistently did a good job. I am loving NOT having to do that. (I do know that at some point, there will be an infection. That's why I have to get a grip on it.) I am using a rubber band and am thinking of buying ice to chew on.

The other thing I do...has to do with my gums and dentures. I grind my teeth, which is what partially led to losing my teeth in the first place. The gums where my front teeth used to be have been swollen and painful for at least a year. I finally got new dentures last year, but am still working on the gums which are better. The problem? I press and rub that area raw when my anxiety is high, and it keeps the front area looking like a blister. I have to take out my teeth to stop the clenching. I just want to get to the point where it feels normal to wear the dentures. I have heard that it is possible...

 

[Changing4Best]

Yes, I have a partial and it is in the front of my mouth and I fidget with it with my tongue and my lower teeth too. I broke the previous one, I think, by doing this, although it was food that did the final blow to it. My dentist repaired it, bless his soul, but I am so careful with it now, but still catch myself playing with it and toying and fidgeting with it now and then. I so hate this. I wish I could just leave it alone. I take it out as often as I can so I cannot play with it. I cannot damage the gums where it is normally, because some of my teeth that still exist prevent me from doing so. Thankfully! Otherwise, I might well be where you are, @AngelkeeperJ

 

[Still Standing]

Well I'll be danged!!! It never occurred to me that picking at the quick around my nails, like @Changing4Best described and showed was self-mutilation. I have picked at myself as far back as I can remember. I picked scabs until they left scars...and I still can be distracted with a tiny scab occasionally...the big ones I am able to leave alone now. The one thing that I still do until they bleed is pulling the skin off my lips. I will both use my fingernails to pull skin or my teeth. That sounds terrible, but most people don't notice anything "off" because I wear lipstick. It is a habit I have not been able to stop. I only recently read that pulling skin off the lips is a type of mutilation, too. I am assuming this is associated in a small way with cutting. I used to cut, years ago, but was also doing these other things, too. I used to bite my nails until they were bloody but have been able to control that urge, about 90% of the time.

Interesting post. Am gonna have to ponder this for awhile.

 

[Druidcat]

I used to have that habit VERY badly as a kid, so did my sister because my mom abused us. I had it so bad that I wore band aids around my fingers and one week I had six band aids on my hands and my teacher asked me what happened. i had to lie and say I fell on the sidewalk. Now I have problems if I get super anxious, but when I struggled with an ed, I learned bleeding fingers don't mix with that. I would use scented hand lotion on them to discourage me, or sometimes I would just wear gloves. Even though I don't pick at them so much anymore, I still have scars on my fingers from it.

 

[Changing4Best]

Yup, I have done the lip picking too, and biting as well. I used to do it so badly that my lips would bleed. My parents used to give me chapstick, thinking it was the cold weather or something that was causing it. Little did they know that my father picking on me all the time, as well as the kids in school doing so, "inspired" me to pick on myself in that way and on my fingers, etc. too. I'm sure the CSA from my father's father did not help me either, in further contributing to this as well.