Skin Picking

[GameSlasher]

I've been having problems with self harm, well... It's not the same sort of self harm that most people are struggling with here, but it's still pretty bad for my health. Is there really anything I could do to stop that? I heard that this kind of self harm happens because of anxiety. Is there anything I could do to lower my anxiety and stop doing that to my skin?

[CharlieHorse]

Are there any areas in particular that you harm yourself?
Edit:
God, that sounds like a dumb question...
I'm only asking this because I scratch and pick at my face constantly. My face specifically.
Like is there a specific area for you?

[Blood]

I used to struggle with this a couple of years ago. I would go crazy picking at my skin and any scabs or pimples I had. It's known as Dermatillomania.

It's difficult to stop it but it's not impossible. You just have to catch yourself doing it and make yourself stop. I know my biggest issue was that I would be subconsciously doing it and by the time I realized it, the damage would be done. So I just started keeping serious tabs on myself and when I noticed I was going to do it I would start doing something else, anything else, that would distract me. Also, if you pick at your face, taking down/covering up the mirrors in your house can help. Hope this helps.

[GameSlasher]

Are there any areas in particular that you harm yourself?
Edit:
God, that sounds like a dumb question...
I'm only asking this because I scratch and pick at my face constantly. My face specifically.
Like is there a specific area for you?

Don't worry, your question is not stupid at all.
I harm my face, arms and my head, my head is the one I mostly hurt, but since I have a good amount of hair it's very hard to notice the wounds.
You have this problem too then, have you already tried to stop? Is there anything you do to not hurt yourself with much frequency?

I used to struggle with this a couple of years ago. I would go crazy picking at my skin and any scabs or pimples I had. It's known as Dermatillomania.

It's difficult to stop it but it's not impossible. You just have to catch yourself doing it and make yourself stop. I know my biggest issue was that I would be subconsciously doing it and by the time I realized it, the damage would be done. So I just started keeping serious tabs on myself and when I noticed I was going to do it I would start doing something else, anything else, that would distract me. Also, if you pick at your face, taking down/covering up the mirrors in your house can help. Hope this helps.

Not looking myself in the mirror don't works so good for me since I do touch my face looking for something to scratch. Hm... Maybe I should stop myself for touching my skin them.
My biggest problem is not even noticing what I'm doing, it's stoping myself. Though damaging my skin without noticing already happened before, I'm fully aware of what I'm doing right now so I think that's a progress. Thanks for the tips, I'll try to follow then and hope it helps.

[CharlieHorse]

Don't worry, your question is not stupid at all.
I harm my face, arms and my head, my head is the one I mostly hurt, but since I have a good amount of hair it's very hard to notice the wounds.
You have this problem too then, have you already tried to stop? Is there anything you do to not hurt yourself with much frequency?

I think in my situation, it's mostly acne, and I hate acne so much, and so i want it gone from my face. Which led to picking at it.
I've been left with bad scars from it. I regret doing it.
Now I'm on a drug that minimizes acne on my face, and basically makes my pores stop freaking out.
And slowly, i just have to realize that I'm not going to touch my face, and it gets healed and better.

I think reasons why are what separate our situations. Why do you think you do this?

[Desuetude]

I mean if it's due to anxiety I wouldn't necessarily call it self harm. I bite my nails until they're raw and bloody when I'm anxious, plus it's become a habit but just because I'm harming myself the fact that it isn't intentional means that I don't count it as self harm. I think it's mostly about self control, give yourself an insentive to stop picking. When you notice you're doing it and stop then do something small like buy yourself a chocolate bar etc. that rewards you. I know it's hard when you're doing it subconsciously, at least I can put the disgusting tasting stuff on my nails but even then I bite through it and that's where the self control comes in for both of us. Maybe if you're around some people a lot like family or close friends then tell them to stop you if they notice you picking at your skin. Giving your hands something else to do when they're not being used might also help like playing with a rubber band you keep on your wrist. Just anything to distract you or at least help you refrain from picking. It'll be hard, as it is to break out of any habit, but if you're dedicated to stopping then eventually you'll get past it.

[dame]

I found that telling people who are around you a lot about your habits can be quite beneficial. Whenever you're doing something subconsciously, they can notice it & tell you to stop. I have a friend who has a bad habit of biting her nails & hangnails. All of her friends know, so whenever we see her going to bite her nails we tell her to stop & she doesn't even know she's doing it. Since we've been doing that she has stopped doing it as frequently. I hope you find a way to break you habit, I wish you the best of luck!