Picking at my skin?? Help?

[skybluebird]

Background info: I believe I have had pretty bad problems with anxiety and depression ever since I became a teenager. I have had issues with getting the urge to cut myself every since. I had been able to control the urges well enough until last year. Then I was just too weak to hold back. I do it on my legs where no one can see them, even if I'm in a bikini. I clean the cuts and everything, so me dying is not an issue. Since I met my recent boyfriend of one year, I have been trying to get better for him, but so far I have just been able to be consistent. It seems that my urges are coming less often, but every two months my body just gets flooded with emotions every time I am not doing something to distract me. It makes me nuts and it happens even when I should have NOTHING to worry about. That is when I cut, and then my body is relieved and I can go to sleep and be stress free for a while. Just last year I tried therapy and it didn't help me at all. I realized I can talk all I want but it doesn't make me feel better once I'm back home, and I kept getting a new therapist each time so I either had to tell everything all over again or skip over big things, which was really annoying. So I just now recently started an anti-anxiety/depression medication that starts with "cita." but I don't know the full name. Obviously it hasn't started working yet because I'm at a very low dosage and I'm only one week in of using it. Anyways, I will get to the main reason of this post now... Main problem: ever since I have been trying to slow down on the cutting, I have seemed to start up a different odd habit. I don't even know if I do it because of stress, but if I feel any bumps at all by my hairline or past my hairline (under my hair) I have a horrible need to pick at them. I have longish nails so it isn't hard for me to scratch at them enough to make them bleed and scab over. I will also pick at any dead skin I feel at all on my face or in/by my hair (even dandruff-type stuff). I don't know if I subconsciously do it because I have a need to be clean and those things mess that up or if I'm trying to compensate for not cutting... I usually pick whenever I'm watching tv and not eating something (another thing I do in spare time when I'm bored or stressed). And it's getting to the point where I will do it for 30 minutes or so at al time and I realize that I'm doing it and I say to myself that I should stop but I just keep doing it. And now I have little red spots all by my hairline where I pick at bumps and scabs and it hurts when I brush or wash my hair or wash my face. It is starting to look pretty bad and I don't want scars there. What can I do to help me stop? I've tried so many things, and half the time I just don't FEEL like doing them, like drawing or reading. And I hate deep breathing. Do you have any other advice for me?

[sadclownbadsummer]

Hi, I have this problem too, but with pulling out my hair when I'm stressed/anxious instead of bits of skin. Two things have helped me: when I realize I'm pulling hair, I pull out the threads in a blanket or a shirt instead. As opposed to reading or eating which doesn't feel the same, pulling thread makes me feel like I'm doing the same motion as pulling out hair and it's a little more "satisfying," like a placebo for my brain. Maybe you can try scratching something like a piece of foam or a board or something with a lot of bumps on it? You could also try doing this for cutting, like cut pieces of cardboard instead of your skin, etc.
Also, do you have anybody who can tell you to stop when they see you doing it? My girlfriend knows that I have this issue, so when she sees me doing it she keeps me from it and it helps to have someone reminding me. And it may help to try therapy again, cognitive behavioral therapy apparently helps with this kind of thing.

[stellaclark25]

Hi, I have been picking at my skin on my hands ever since the age of about 11 (I am now 29). I don't know exactly what caused that onset, but I believe I have suffered from a combination of anxiety and depression since that age or earlier, so almost 20 years now. Dermatillomania is not a fun thing at all, it affects my life, and I wish I could not do it. I too do it when I am watching tv, working at the computer. I am thinking of going to a doctor and see if anti-anxiety medication may work at all.

[Kirk]

I am really not sure how to tell you to stop the habit. Maybe a therapist can assist you in this regard as I am sure not qualified to do so and
you said that your efforts to stop are not working either. I knew of someone a number of years ago who did this and she saw a therapist and
was on medication. I hope you get better soon!

[Nowuccas]

Hey skybluebird,

I suggest that you view my previous post about DERMATILLOMANIA / SKIN PICKING at http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?35248-Anxiety-and-Depression-Have-You-Experienced-These-Symptoms&p=230565#post230565

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citalopram, Celexa: Drug Facts, Side Effects and Dosing - MedicineNet
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Dec 26, 2014 - Information about citalopram (Celexa) an antidepressant drug prescribed for depression, anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD, and ...

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I'll provide my usual post on self harm/cutting, and you could try out the techniques shown, but if they are insufficient, you may well require residential treatment. One form of self help is to learn, and employ emotional distress tolerance techniques; read: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, & Distress Tolerance (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) by Matthew McKay, Jeffrey C. Wood, and Jeffrey Brantley. Self harm produces opiate like endORPHINs, which, like true opiates such as heroin (diacetyl mORPHINe), make you feel better, but are just as addictive, and you develop tolerance to them, needing to cut more, and deeper, later on, just to get the same effect. Practice a relaxation method, daily, and when needed, such as: (free) http://www.drcoxconsulting.com/managing-stress.html or http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/mindbody/a/Meditation.htm

Consider taking up amateur abstract, impressionist, or surrealist art, clay modelling, designing and/or making fashion, or jewellery. Journalling those thoughts, and feelings, poetry, or story writing are some more options.No-one ever has to see them, but you may well surprise yourself at how good you become, with experience. Even if not, and you are totally dissatisfied with every single effort, it will still have served its purpose. No-one ever has to see them, but you may well surprise yourself at how good you become, with experience. Even if not, and you are totally dissatisfied with every single effort, it will still have served its purpose. Use that emotional energy, and allow it expression, through an activity other than self harm. Keep occupied; multitask, like listening to music while surfing the 'net. Join a support group, such as http://dailystrength.org and go there when you feel the urge to self harm. Books: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, & Distress Tolerance (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) by Matthew McKay, Jeffrey C. Wood, and Jeffrey Brantley, & Self-Harm: A Psychotherapeutic Approach by Fiona Gardner, & Alive and Cutting: A teenager's journey in therapy to understanding her self-harm by Richard Bryant-Jefferies, & Scars That Wound, Scars That Heal: A Journey Out of Self Injury (Live Free) & Stopping the Pain: A Workbook for Teens Who Cut & Self-Injure by Lawrence E. Shapiro & Understanding Self-Injury: A Workbook for Adults by Robin Connors and Kristy Trautmann, from your bookstore, or enter "self harm" at Amazon.com for more media. Because of the association between Borderline Personality Disorder and self harm, view http://www.essortment.com/all/borderlineperso_rnmc.htm and pages G & X at Weebly, below.

It is a good idea to have an accountability partner; someone you trust and is available anytime, so when you feel like you want to self harm, you call them and talk about why. Join a support group, such as http://dailystrength.org and go there when you feel the urge to self harm. Advice from an experienced psychotherapist is here: http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApJxmFKJU10eaPMH4ZfeYX7g5gt.;_ylv=3?qid =20070801184649AA9iH1b&show=7#profile-info-iUKGAgRjaa (on page 2, by Opester*) 85% of people are suggestible, to some degree, so you could either preferably seek professional hypnotherapy, or, if not an option, more along such lines are at http://your-mental-health.weebly.com/a.html with alternatives, self harm hotlines, chat sites & forums. If self harming from depression, see pages 3, and B, at Weebly.

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Previous relevant post/s:

GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER: http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?33964-New-to-the-site-and-looking-for-help&p=223989#post223989

DEPRESSION: http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?32707-has-this-happend-to-you&p=216510#post216510

DEPRESSION; FEMALE: http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?35164-Psychology-Advice

DEPRESSION;TEEN: http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?33915-Hopefully-you-will-listen&p=223785#post223785

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"Do you have any other advice for me?" - If you don't like mindfulness breathing meditation, and can make a voice recording and follow simple verbal instructions, try Yoga Nidra (no bodily flexibility required) at http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?34171-Questions-relating-to-troubles-with-meditation&p=224951#post224951

Opester* also provided some suggestions.