Other Self Mutilation - skin picking

[Changing4Best]

My wife bought me a fidget toy and now I have something to play with instead of picking my nails. You might look into something like that. Many of them are very small and cheap.

OK, I have 2 new fidget toys now to play with. I already kind of broke one of them, so this newest one is made of metal, less breakable! (It just arrived today, thanks for the idea).

 

[Sanctuary]

To the original poster, I can empathize as I'm still picking out mirror glass left in my skin.
Also stitches, clear sutures left in my ankle when my ex smashed a mirror over me.
Was in my body for 5 years, until they cut it out in hospital.
He did it because I was leaving him and I didn't want a kicking in the back down the stairs like before, so I locked myself
in the bathroom.
He kicked the bathroom door down which had A 2foot by a 2-foot mirror on the back of it, that smashed into my body.
I ran into my neighbor house bleeding.
That ended a 12-year relationship. People still blame me for this, which is beyond my understanding.
I cleared up the glass as I didn't want my cat getting mirror glass in her feet

What I would say if you do it, be safe first.
Make sure everything is clean. I use a needle then push the embedded glass out. Tiny shards poke out and I get relief that they
are out of my body.
You can get a thing called gravel plasters, ( like a second skin ) that protect the wound from infection.
They also draw out anything under the skin.

I did watch a wonderful TED talk about a lady who was skin picking.
She then started to draw on newspapers left on the tube and gave them away to people free to keep her hands busy.
A wonderful inspirational lady who has been there and found an alternative way to deal with the issue.
Please look it up on u-tube.
I believe if someone has walked in similar shoes and has found an answer then so can you.
Best wishes. You're not alone. you're releasing the pain inside to feel alive.

 

[Sanctuary]

Changing for the best - some ideas that may help?

You said you want to go to the pool but can't because of wounds
The hospital gave me extra thin HYDRCOLLOID DRESSING .
It's like a second skin, that you cut to size and place over the wound, to let it heal.
You can use it in water, the bath etc and it won't come off. It's skin colored so less noticeable.
You can buy online. It's brilliant like a second skin.

Also, I use a seam stitch ripper for sewing to unpick the threads of a garment.
I have sat waiting at a hospital appointment for an hour and unpicked a whole garment.
If people ask what I'm doing I just say I'm going to re-hand sew the lining of a jacket.
Vinnie Westwood learned her craft by unpicking garments to see how they were put together.
So it's about transforming into a positive thing.
Again you can buy a seam stitch ripper for 3 pounds online.
I can't knit, so I sew, it keeps my hands busy.

1 in 25 people has this compulsion to skin pick.
You're not alone.

I looked up the name of the lady artist for you who has the most positive ideas for this:
LIZ ATKIN
RE-imaging compulsive Picking.
Art for Recovery.

She picked up some charcoal and started to draw on newspaper.
She gives the picture away free to raise awareness for mental health and anxiety.
LIZ ATKIN now has a gallery that helps thousands of people.

Her words where she now does this as "acts of kindness"

Wanting to send kindness your way to help, even in a small way.
Best wishes for you changing for the best.

PS. Please excuse my spelling and grammar I'm dyslexic but highly creative.

Transform instead

 

[Nessa7]

I had some relief through taking NAC supplements, which a psychiatrist I was seeing recommended to patients that pick. Ultimately, my stomach couldn't handle the amount I needed to take every day, but they gave my skin time to heal and me time to develop better methods of dealing with it.

 

[Freemartin]

I only recently read that pulling skin off the lips is a type of mutilation, too.

It is?? Damn, I need to add that to my list of sh-behaviours.

 

[Kubash16]

I pull skin off my lips allll the time. . . ?

 

[Freemartin]

Me too, until they bleed. I also pick my scalp. Didn’t think of it as self harm, either. Oh, man... my head seems to be really far up my arse...here I was, thinking I’m mostly clean of sh... :rolleyes:

 

[Kubash16]

Ummm I pick at everything lol. I can’t not pick at everything. I thought it was just a random nervous habit. Lol.

 

[Changing4Best]

I have been picking MUCH less now since I started this thread. Consciousness is half the battle, because I was doing it without thinking for the most part.

 

[Sanctuary]

That's so positive, lovely to hear.
Sending peace and comfort.

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

Thank you @Changing4Best for starting this thread!
I am wearing a rubber band on my wrist now and when I find myself reaching for my head, I snap it maybe a time or 2 then try to get my mind occupied with something else. It works for a few minutes... Then I do it again.

I saw the video of the lady that sketches pictures to keep her hands busy, and gives them away. What a great way to turn something around!

I LOVE reading success stories!

 

[whiteraven]

I've ALWAYS picked the skin around my cuticles, but I never considered it self-harm. I also used to pull at my earlobes; I get the same emotional feeling from both. My fingers look way worse than yours (not diminishing the act and upset about it, just sharing) and I pretty much do whatever I want. I have several open wounds most of the time and I just use band aids. I second the use of the liquid bandage for going in the water.