You might not have heard about this condition if you don’t like the psychological roleplay plots. This is a type of obsessive behavior in which a person will continue to scrape away skin layers from the hands, feet, the corners of the nose and mouth, and primarily the scalp. Skin picking as a habit can reach such a point that you realize the skin is being bruised, remaining inflamed throughout the day, or even bleeding, and even then, you cannot stop yourself. Even recently, I saw this where a lady in marriage counseling would pick on the skin just along the base of her nails to the extent that the skin would bruise and bleed. This type of skin picking is more than just self-obsession or some type of OCD. It is like a means to handle anxiety and stress in a manner where the pain perhaps gives way to some type of engagement to the mind, taking away the attention from the actual cause or the stimulus causing the anxiety.
Some healthcare agencies believe that skin picking is closely connected to obsessive behavior symptoms. Such folks might have a concurrent running or previously existing condition that makes them perform the same activity repeatedly. This can be some form of OCD, too - if you have read my discussion about stress management and anxiety control measures, you will realize that when you are bogged down by thoughts that make you squeamish, there is a big chance that you will indulge in activities that you realize are counter-productive, but still, stopping yourself seems impossible!
How common is this? A lot, beyond what you can imagine, but most people don’t count it as a mental health condition.
You have this rather good, almost accurate test for skin picking syndrome on this link - the link has not been used much but it seems to get the job done, i.e. makes you realize whether you are overboard with scratching the plaques on your head or is this due to anxiety and stress
ReplyDeletehttps://www.skinpick.com/honest-conversation-about-skin-picking
One of the best discussions, more of information actually, about skin picking - testing to find out if you have it, to notice it, the usual and not so evident symptoms #skinpickblogs
ReplyDeletehttps://www.skinpick.com/pain-and-skin-picking
I will also be sharing some insight into how I have struggled with this problem. How it often leads to a sudden flare-up of rashes. How I now want to control it by using a hand gripper every time I have idle minutes to manage or the internal stress is building up - please stay tuned for the short, hand-gripper story - not blowing my own trumpet but yes, this will be brutally honest
ReplyDeleteThere is another scientific name for the skin picking disorder and yes, it sounds rather confusing unless you break-up the words like a small Maths problem:
ReplyDeleteDermatillomania
where Derma means skin
tillo means digging
mania...you know it!
Seems like there are medically certified professionals who offer some sort of coaching to cope-up with this problem
ReplyDeletehttps://www.stopskinpickingcoach.com/
the coaching is actually about diverting your mind away from this maddening urge to scrape or touch those sore spots that emerge when you have been at the patch for some weeks.
One thing I can share with all potential and already aggressive skin pickers is that if you are doing it on your head, in and around the scalp region, this might cause hair fall. I did not believe it for the longest time and now, it seems like some damage has already been done.
ReplyDeleteJust when I thought I had read all about the diagnosis and support for skin picking sufferers, I found this link:
ReplyDeletewww.skinpickingsupport.com/for-partners/
- this talks about how your partner can help you through this problem, creating some sort of defense mechanisms - this makes some sense too since Moha has literally had to slap-off my hand off my scalp many times!!
Another skin picking forum that talks rather openly about the subject - https://www.saneforums.org/t5/Our-experience-stories/skin-picking/m-p/130855
ReplyDeleteSome brilliant tips about how to keep your fingers and the head occupied when you feel you are going down the rabbit hole. https://www.buzzfeed.com/annaborges/skin-picking-tips?bffbhealth&utm_term=.ylwx3YA52#.tjwAg4NV0
ReplyDelete