I have had this “habit” my entire life. When I was little, people told me I would outgrow it. Well, I’m an adult and it’s worse than ever. My biggest problems are my thumbs. I use my index finger to pick at them almost constantly until they bleed and I have to wear bandages. They are scarred so badly that even when they “heal,” there is no pigment to the skin. I used to just pick at the skin around my nails, but now the scarring goes all the way down below my knuckles and around to the pad of my thumb. If I’m wearing a bandage, I pick at that. I guess that’s better than making myself bleed, though.
I can sometimes control myself, like the month leading up to my wedding. But it was a constant battle and I thought about it nonstop. It seems like the only time I’m NOT thinking about picking my fingers is when I’m actually picking them. t’s worse when I’m stressed or mad or anxious. I’m anxious a lot.
I’ve bought a book called “The Habit Change Workbook.” I’m going to give myself a month with this to actually change this on my own. If this doesn’t work, I may try meds. I’ve heard that SSRI’s have been successful with some compulsive skin pickers.
