Self-Injury Support Group

Do any of you struggle with "skin picking"?

I did as a child. But not as adult. I know that it is considered to be a SI tendency.

SI tendency? What is that?

Never mind - dud - stands for Self Injury.

Self Injury characteristic. Something like a checklist for SI. That's one of the symptoms. Like scratching till one bleeds or actual cutting. Banging your head, pulling out hair, etc. Anything that inflicts pain.

i do that ALOT. i used to cut simply so i would have a wound to pick at. it takes me weeks for the smallest cut or wound to heal because i am constantly picking at it.

DX,

I am sorry for your pain. I hope you are controlling the urge somewhat at least. Do you have any advice for me? I have never been a cutter, but it seems like when I am stressed I will scratch my skin till I make sores, the the picking cycle begins. Like you, it takes my wounds forever to heal up.

honestly, for me the skin picking is the least of my worries. haha. i dont mean that in a bad way or demeaning way just for me it is the least damaging coping skill i have. its something i just DO sometimes i dont even realize it and didnt even acknowledge it as true SI until recently...and then my mother said something to me because i had tiny sores that were infected all over (she's an EMT and was trying to "treat" them, even though i would rather them stay as is) and then i realized the reason iwas doing it and knew this was just another way i try to cope and self harm.

as for advice...its hard because im still struggling with this stuff and skin picking (at least to me) is not as deliberate and somewhat "planned" (just meaning you need to prepare/get your tool) as some other self harm behaviors. if you find yourself doing it or wanting to do it and feel an urge coming on the best thing i have found is to just try to distract yourself. even come up with a distraction "box." i took an old shoe box and put all sorts of my favorite things in there that during a "crisis" or urge i wouldnt think to grab...my favorite book, a funny movie, my favorite cd, my art notebook, anything that would hold your attention and maybe distract you until the urge passes. for me, thats the only thing that has ever helped. i believe there is a thread on distractions to maybe give you some more ideas if my distractions wouldnt work for you.

good luck to you and if you ever wanna talk im only a PM away