[ SECRET POST #2666 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2666 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 00 pages, 000 secrets from Secret Submission Post #381.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 1 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Advice please?

[(Anonymous)]

In collapsed comment due to blood/cuts

Re: Advice please?

[(Anonymous)]

Whenever I have a scab, I feel compelled to pick it, if I can reach it. I just can't leave them alone. The more stressed out I am, the more likely I am to pick at it.

It's only scabs over cuts and spots I already have. I don't hurt myself just to make a scab.

Thing is, I know this is unhealthy. The cuts eventually heal into scars, and I think I've got at least one infected cut atm from picking at it. I can't see it properly due to where it is (on my hip, towards my back, I find it by feel), but I got clearish liquid with a white tinge, rather than blood, last time I took the scab off that one, and it's feeling pretty burny and painful atm.

Does anyone know if there's any help for this kind of behaviour? I'm in the UK, so whether I have insurance or not isn't an issue.

Re: Advice please?

[(Anonymous)]

I am pretty much the same. My arms are constantly covered in scabs of various ages.
Sometimes I find that picking at the plastic inside bottlecaps (the metal ones that you need a bottle opener for) helps, but how much it helps depends on you.

You can also try covering your scabs in plasters and pick at that, sometimes that helps.

Re: Advice please?

[comma_chameleon]

Sometimes I do this without actively thinking about it, I don't know why. A lot of the time if I'm 'tempted' by the scabs I'll put bandaids on or something so that it's an 'out of sight, out of mind' situation, but to be honest, from what I've heard it's usually stress related or related to some other deeper issue that's just manifesting itself in the skin-picking.

I would suggest maybe keeping track of your moods/situations when you find yourself doing it to see if you can identify things that are setting you off/making it worse if you don't want to go see a therapist or doctor right off the bat.

Re: Advice please?

[(Anonymous)]

I do that, too. I can't stand having rough spots on my skin, and I feel compelled to get them off, even if the cut starts bleeding again. It's so satisfying, too.

You could start putting something sticky on your cuts, like vaseline, so your hands get gooey when you pick. Or use a liquid skin product so you can peel that off instead of the scab.

Re: Advice please?

[herpymcderp]

I would seek therapy for this one, to be honest. Sounds suspiciously like a form of dermatillomania.

Seek out a referral to a psychiatrist from your primary care physician.

Re: Advice please?

[(Anonymous)]

Speaking as someone with trichotillomania - yeah, this sounds pretty similar. Not fun to live with. :(

Re: Advice please?

[(Anonymous)]

I have the same sort of problem and what helps for me are 'spot' bandaids. (I suppose regular ones would help too, but they cover so much unnecessary area that it would be overkill.) If it's infected (or one that I'm concerned about getting infected), I use a bit of antibiotic ointment. Touching or scratching at the bandage is usually enough to make me leave it alone for a little while, and even when that fails I'm still picking at the bandaid itself rather than the scab/wound. As long as I remember to keep changing them out until it heals, it's usually enough to keep me from re-opening anything.

Re: Advice please?

[diet_poison]

I don't do this with scabs but I do with popping zits. :/ my face probably looks way worse than it could because I haaaate just leaving them there.

Re: Advice please?

[(Anonymous)]

I'm fairly sure there is, probably some combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and low dosage antidepressants-- similar to managing OCD.

Your picked-at scab is likely leaking lymph, like a blister would because the skin underneath hasn't healed properly. It's going to be tender, but not sure if it's infected. Be on the lookout for the area feeling warmer to the touch than usual, swollen/puffy and painful not just on the skin surface but all round it. I suggest washing it with a mild soap and smearing on some antibiotic cream and a bandage to discourage yourself from picking at it.

In the meantime, when you get the urge to pick, channel it immediately into doing something else with your hands. This sounds dumb, but have you considered embroidery/cross-stitch? I'm somewhat prone to repetitive behaviors (though not scab picking) and it kind of helps.

Re: Advice please?

[nyxelestia]

First thing is that while you still are picking at the scabs, make sure your hands are clean - that will drastically cut down on chances of infection. Carrying around one of those little clip-on bottles of hand sanitizer if needs be.

As for preventing the picking behavior, the best advice I can give right now is a.) using liquid bandages over cuts, and b.) putting band-aids over them even when one isn't necessary, to make the cut 'difficult to reach'. Or hell, do both. Put a bunch of layers between yourself and the cut, so you're picking at less harmful things when you get agitated. If picking at these doesn't help, get some non-toxic school glue, put some dashes of it on your arm, and pick at those - nothing close to picking at a scab, but the motion might be enough to ease the need to pick at scabs at least a little bit (kind of like how people often recommend quitting smokers do something like chew gum or suck on lollipops, occupy their hand or mouth with a familiar action to ease the need to 'fill in the gap' of their habit).

If you can access therapy, I would suggest looking into professional help. If it's a minor behavior, then they can give you better advice than us, and if it's more serious, then they can refer you to actual therapy and help. Either way, you'll probably need to get the infected cuts treated by a doctor, or at least see about some anti-biotics.