Some people cut themself because of stress........what about picking at parts of skin and they bleed?

Question

For more than a year I have been picking at my feet in anxiety. I have picked off skin to the bare tissue. I can barely walk. I am a logical person and don't understand this. Why can't I stop?
I have been to doctors and psychritis and they say it is extention of the pain in my life. Anyone understand this?

Thank you all so much hfor anwering. I am sobbing just reading that I am not alone. I am smart and talented and most people think I am very strong. But, I am crumbling.
Healthwise and emotionally.

I know better than to pick. but I can't stop myself. Yes, hours go by and I tell myself this will be so painful, but my complusion is to pick and I just need to get rid of that one little piece of skin and I will do done. I go to touch my feet "just to check it out" and tell myself I won't pick, But I do.
I am college educated. Had jobs that help people with problems like I have. So, I am so stressed that I can't find a way to deal with this. The death of my son really pushed me over the edge. Then when my health started to fail I couldn't exercise and thus went my coping ability.

Thanks for letting me know I am NOT alone. I won't give up. thanks

Answer 1

Try wearing shoes all the time. Really. Find something else to pick at (not on your body) get a very small piece of old carpet and pick the "fuzz" off of it for example. There are many other things to do with yours hands. Be creative until you can solve your worries.

Answer 2

I, too, had this problem, except I was picking at my fingers. It was a manifestation of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), a by-product of depression, without me even realizing I was depressed. I understand what they mean when they tell you that it's an "extension of the pain in your life." It's almost as if you subconsciously want your physical self to feel the same level of pain that your psychological and emotional selves feel. Also, the physical pain distracts you from your internal pain. Not to mention that compulsive behaviors usually stem from a lack of ability to control one's interior world, so you control the external world as much as you can.

After going on anti-depressants and seeking counseling, I no longer picked at my fingers, although I do still do it a little sometimes now when I am nervous or stressed. There were, of course, many other benefits to the medication and counseling as well.

My recommendation is that you seek professional help, as this is not a problem that will go away on its own. I wish you all the best and for healing.

Answer 3

Picking scabs, picking at skin are all a form of self-injury (some believe). I used to be a cutter, and I also pick. I pick at my skin, I pick at the skin around my fingernails, toenails etc. It's a compulsion you can not control. I tell myself to stop and i continue only to look at the clock and see that an hour or even 2 have gone by. I too am intelligent and logical and know what I am doing is harmful, and inappropriate- but I can not stop. I tell myself- I just have to "even it out" before I stop. But it is neer even and it goes on until layers of skin are gone, I am bloody and My hands are cramped.

I do understand what you are feeling. The anxiety that causes you to start picking, the embarassment of what you have done to yourself,and the inability to control yourself even with the level-headed argument you have with yourself that it must stop. I can't explain it except to say it's an Obsessive/Compulsive tendency with Self-injury implications. I derive some sick sense of pleasure from trying to rid my body of what I perceive to be blemishes and enevenness. Even though I am mutilating my skin to the point I am covered with scars and cannot wear shorts, go swimming, or even wear a tank top. You are not the only one to suffer from this. I try to keep my hands busy when I am feeling anxious to prevnent myslef from being able to pick and scratch. I have a hand-held tetris game that I often play to occupy my hands and mind. Good luck to you, and know you are not alone.

Answer 4

No you are not alone I've done that for years and it has subsided with many years of therapy and medication. Still, when I am stressed, I notice I go back to this behavior. I don't even want to get my ears pierced (I'm 36) for fear I'll pick at the holes until I am completely disfigured. Not every therapist is skilled to deal with this, so you may have to look around... and cut your fingernails down to nothing. That helped me a little in the beginning.

Answer 5

Skin picking is a very common form of self-injury. Skin-picking manifests itself in different ways in people-- some pick their cuticles compulsively, others pick at ingrown hairs. However it manifests itself, it is self-injury and it's something to take seriously.

I cut for many years as a way to deal with stress and anger. The thing that people who don't self-injure have difficulty understanding is that self-injury is incredibly effective in the short term for dealing with stress. From what I understand (and this is only from my own research and therapy) when we self-injure we get immediate relief from a release endorphins in the brain. Because that relief is so immediate and so effective, self-injury can become extremely addictive-- even for intelligent, logical folks like us.

I'm glad that you've been talking with a therapist about this. In the meantime, you can do some internet searches on skin-picking and self-injury. Here's a site I pulled up: . You'll see how very common self-injury is. If that is all that you take from this comment-- please know that you are not alone.

Answer 6

hullo
this is called self mutilation,it could be a part of OCD or personality disorder,all the same you should start seeking help from psychiatric facility.

Dr solo

Answer 7

you cant stop because it is your way of coping with problems it makes you feel better or at least until you try to walk

Answer 8

ouch.
I don't know what your problems are but that sounds extreem.
I hope you are getting counseling.
Maybe you can get some medication.