First Time Poster....need some feedback

Posted October 24th, 2012 by highlander1592
Hello fellow suffers and overcomers in this damn thing called Dermatillomania. This past weekend was the one of the worst my picking and scratching of my skin has been. I really thought I was going to commit suicide. I was so anxious and nervous that my ingrown hairs and bumps are making me go catatonic. I have been a picker for as long as I can remember, on and off, but the last 2 years have been the worst due to a horrible PTSD car-wreck, my gf of 6 years leaving me in 2010, and dealing with nervous breakdowns, homelessness, joblessness, and the uncertainty of it all. Skin picking makes me feel like I am very disabled and unable to do certain things because of the nature of the thing. I have severe OCD and anxiety too. I have tried Meds, but nothing works And this weekend I reached a breaking point in that I am really trying to find a therapist who specializes in skin and hair picking. I think if I had a ton of money all my problems would vanish because I only really pick at certain problem areas of my body which produce bumps, acne, KP and other shit. It does not help that I have excessive and unsightly amounts of coarse body fucking hair that I got from genetic garbage being doled out from my biological father either. That's enough for the first post now I guess....
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On December 26th, 2012 highlander1592 said:
Have been going through a relapse and body issues again. I picked at small bump on my face..and places on body. I noticed a few ingrown hairs (wish I could get laser hair removal). I noticed that there are others too, but I am not sure if they are pimples or some kind of wart or some shit...they don't seem to get bigger, but they are white/pink colored, but they have been pissing me off for months. I feel like I want to rip them off, but don't want, I am afraid of scarring. I remember taking a needle to my face to get out a white "thing" (as I call them) 8 years ago or so, and I still have the scar from it. I have not done that since then (except to pop things) I am sick of my brain feeling like it cannot deal with imperfections and of course it does not help my skin picking to be in a body I hate and all. Has anyone has success with a supplement called NAC? I was reading about at the TLC center. I just tired from this...I have had always it, but it seems really bad the last 2 years since my car accident.
On November 9th, 2012 highlander1592 said:
I am really working on my skin picking..some days are better than others, but I am fully conscious that I do it in nerve wracking situation and when i feel like my skin is "icky" and needs to be picked to get out that shit! Lately, I have not been doing it so much because my depression makes me not have the energy to do it. Plus, I believe I have been finally overwhelmed by my own body problems, that it is does not make much sense to pick and dig ingrown hairs out with needles. I threw away my needles to do that. I am trying a roll-on solution instead. Plus I do not have a lot of privacy and it makes skin picking and shit inconvenient. I still pick small patches on my face if I feel stuff, but I just feel in the end I don't have much energy to keep on the skin picking cycle...I think it if I was just left alone and did not have to be around people, I would be better. People piss me because I have to be around them so much on the bus, and most of those people are vulgar, crude, boorish, and loud. When people do not know how to be quiet or respectful of other people and that makes me more nervous, so sometimes I pick when I am around that. Enough rant I guess.....I have found that Eastern modalities such as Qigong can help calm the mind....but I believe that if I had tons of money and more of my own freedom and could have peace of mind..my skin picking would be to a minimal state.....
On October 31st, 2012 saja8484 said:
I am very sorry to hear about your issue and I hope you are able to find some help. I can't imagine going through what you have. Good on you for seeking help for this.
On October 28th, 2012 Jlhutch82 said:
I can sympathize with your battle. I would like to make a suggestion, and this is just my 2 cents. I would skip the St. Ives scrub. I have several friends who are in the beauty and/or medical field and have told me that this product actually acts like shards of glass against the delicate facial skin. It is far too rough for the skin on our faces. Something that I have discovered that works for me, given my sensitive and dry skin, is a mix of ground up oatmeal (steel cut oats) and almond meal. I grind both in the coffee grinder and add water until it forms a paste. I do small circular motions on the face OR I sometimes let it sit as a mask. It is 100% natural, moisturizing and not rough on skin. I find that this softens scabs and reduces redness. I also use a zinc/emu oil/oatmeal bar soap and add a drop of 100% grade A emu oil into the lather before I wash my face. If it is dry weather (winter) I will do the emu oil after the wash when my skin is still wet. This is a wonderful product because it does NOT clog pores and it reduces lines and redness FAST. You can find this at most health food stores or on Amazon of Vitacost. The more natural you go with your skin care, the better. I am a firm believer in that. I also have worked with a naturopath for supplement suggestions and drink a LOT of water. Hang in there and know that you are not alone. You can take my words with a grain of salt, given I am not a professional, but I have found that the fewer chemicals I put on my skin..the better it reacts and heals.
On October 24th, 2012 WhiteRus said:
There are definitely therapists who deal specifically with dermatillomania. The OCD Center of Los Angeles has several therapist who know how to deal with these issues. They also have the potential of Skype sessions. My therapist at the OCD Center has helped me tremendously.
On October 24th, 2012 Picking-your-battles said:
Hi there. I'm not familiar with any therapists that deal with only OCD (specifically skin picking and hair pulling) but I know that most are referred to Cognitive behavioral therapists. These people are suppose to deal with the behavior, get to the root of it (pun sort of intended) and work with you to find a healthier outlet. I have tried 2. Both of them refused to step off the "lets talk about your childhood" box and I didn't get anywhere. Perhaps where you are, they will care more about helping you rather than keeping you there to make more money. I have also become a fan of body scrubs. It's gritty enough that I get a sense of cleanliness when using it that normal soaps and body washes won't give me. It's also suppose to help with ingrown hairs and blemishes. There's one by St. Ives that is Apricot so you won't feel so girly if you don't want to. Hope this helps.
On October 24th, 2012 olivegreen said:
The body scrub is a great idea, but make sure it doesn't become your new compulsion and you scrub too hard and hurt yourself! (St. Ives is awesome and doesn't smell like perfume, either.)
On October 24th, 2012 WhiteRus said:
Where do you live?
On October 24th, 2012 highlander1592 said:
I "live" in the Twin Cities, MN...not from here but have resided here for some time. Not a fund state to live in. Do you are does anybody on this site know any good herbs or supplements that help with skin picking and stuff?
On October 28th, 2012 Jlhutch82 said:
Again, I am no expert ( a naturopath could be very helpful if you can find one in your area ) but there ARE supplements and natural ways to help with this disorder. I get a testing done called Nutritional Assessment. It is done with a resistance testing and used to determine what areas in the body need hep. I learned that my kidneys were compromised and that caused the dry skin that I had on my face. The dry skin caused excess oil production..and bumps. The bumps are what I pick. It all linked together. I have been on a plan for a while and my skin is MUCH less dry. I also increased water consumption and improved my diet (gave up dairy and reduced sugar and caffeine) I also started juicing, which has given me a LOT of nutrients. I take a zinc supplement and use soap with zinc in it. It is known to help skin. Also vitamin A and B6 are great. If you have anxiety that triggers this problem, I would look into methods such as meditation, yoga or essential oils. I take a lavender bath, for example, daily that helps to relax me before bed...which is my BIG "danger zone" time for picking. The meditation and yoga (or any physical activity) helps to calm down the body and release endorphins that will help boost your mood. Sorry to ramble, but I am coming off from 20 years of using medications and chemicals on my body. I am not saying that we don't need them. I still take an anti depressant and am slowly trying to get off from this with my doctor's help. Do what is best for you by doing some research and taking the suggestions of people who are in your support network. A good therapist, naturopath and physician are three people who are KEY in helping. I am missing one element right now because my therapist of ten years is terminally ill. There is an obvious gap in the chain right now and I am seeking a new therapist. I know that I cannot be without one of these three key people, or a huge relapse will be inevitable. Take care of yourself and if you need anything, email me at jlhutch82@gmail.com
For information on the skin picking disorder (Dermatillomania), symptoms, causes and treatment methods, get the Complete Guide to Skin Picking Disorders.