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Dermatillomania

Bambooshoot

Bambooshoot

Bluelighter
Joined
Apr 23, 2012
Messages
438
Hi guys, for those of you who don't know what this disorder is; it's when a person cannot stop picking spots, scabs, anything really. I suffer from this, borderline personality disorder, PTSD, and depression with depersonalization and derealization.
I'm not really sure what I'm getting at. All I know is that my face, arms, my whole body is becoming a mess. It's usually triggered by stress. Was just wondering if there is anyone else that suffers any of these conditions and how you manage them.
Thanks guys <3

EDIT; I should also add that I am a daily IV heroin user.
 
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Yeah, I catch myself 'picking' all the time, but it's usually too late. I've scarred myself already.
 
Woman =) but yeah lets hope we can get some insightful views from our fellow BLers on how we can try to combat this.
 
Yes, I see a doctor for my depression, borderline, and PTSD.

It never seemed to important before to mention this as my other conditions overwhelmed me more.
But yeah I get what your getting at, tell my doctor, who will tell me I need counseling which I will not attend.
 
I never knew it was a condition, but I cannot let any cut heal without picking at it. I have so many horrible looking scars from silly little things like bug bites or minor cuts that were not let heal completely...
 
Exactly This is exactly what I am talking about.

addictivepersona said:
I never knew it was a condition, but I cannot let any cut heal without picking at it. I have so many horrible looking scars from silly little things like bug bites or minor cuts that were not let heal completely...
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Why won't you go to counseling? I think it would help you. I don't have any of those conditions, by the way, but I empathize with you.
 
I won't go to counseling because talking about things makes me worse. I've talked and talked and talked and I'm still in the same boat. I think something like CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) would benefit me more.
 
^ I've never spoken with a therapist about the scab picking I do, but I've found that thinking about how much better my skin looks without scars has helped immensely.
 
^ Have you tried resisting the urge to pick/scratch? As I said, I've found it works if I remind myself how nice my skin looks when it's not full of purpleish scars... I still scratch/pick, but not nearly as much as years ago. And I leave my face and arms alone for the most part.
 
addictivepersona said:
^ Have you tried resisting the urge to pick/scratch? As I said, I've found it works if I remind myself how nice my skin looks when it's not full of purpleish scars... I still scratch/pick, but not nearly as much as years ago. And I leave my face and arms alone for the most part.
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Addictivepersona, yeah your right it does work for the time I'm thinking about it. But then when I've forgotten about reminding myself I find myself subconsciously doing it. See I'm also a cutter so it's a bit of a double edge sword for me as picking is less psychically harmful but more mentally. So it kinda goes like this cut, pick, cut, pick...you get the idea...
 
Yes, I do, since I still have some self destructive tendencies that feed into the a cycle similar to yours... All I can say is that over the years that I've become aware that it's not normal to pick at scabs (eh, the past decade or so), reminding myself not to do it consciously has greatly cut down on the amount of times I unconsciously do it. It's tough and I have issues with it a lot, but meh. There are worse habits out there... :-/
 
addictivepersona said:
Yes, I do, since I still have some self destructive tendencies that feed into the a cycle similar to yours... All I can say is that over the years that I've become aware that it's not normal to pick at scabs (eh, the past decade or so), reminding myself not to do it consciously has greatly cut down on the amount of times I unconsciously do it. It's tough and I have issues with it a lot, but meh. There are worse habits out there... :-/
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True dat! I think the conclusion we are coming to here is that all we can is just try and remind ourselves as much as possible how bad it looks (even if it is a wee bitty vein(sp?) and make a conscious effort not to do it. You are right though it is defiantly not normal. I always thought as kid though that it was... :/
 
*Vain.

I always thought it was normal, too... And like I said a few posts ago, I certainly didn't know it was a disorder. Egads, everything's a disorder now. 8(
 
addictivepersona said:
*Vain.

I always thought it was normal, too... And like I said a few posts ago, I certainly didn't know it was a disorder. Egads, everything's a disorder now. 8(
Click to expand...

I knew it was the wrong spelling but I had a complete mental block!! *feel a bit stupid now*.... I also just recently found out it was a disorder. I just thought everyone picked their scabs :|
I'm a bit disappointed with the lack of input from anyone else with some ideas as to what we could do...
 
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