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ihatescp , 19 Aug 2010

Questionarie

Im hopes of trying to figure out trends of CSP I was wondering how many of us share the same habits. Age range - 25-30 Children: yes, one Married: yes, 9 years Occupation: Nursing student Smoke: Yes Weight range: Over weight On any SSRi;s: Yes Any addtl info that you want to share: I have been picking for the last 3 years, and its gotten worse. I pick all the time, I pick in front of people if I feel comfortable around them. I'm ashamed. I cannot wear cute clothes because of my scarring. My husband is disgusted. I need help.
8 Answers
AngelKelly
August 19, 2010
Hi there, My name is Kelly and I just started looking up information about compulsive skin picking today. I am truly overwhelmed and shocked that I am not the only person going through this! I never dreamed I would find people I could share this with. I've never spoken about it out loud before today. It's embarrassing but I am finding comfort already in knowing I am not alone. I'll gladly share as much information with you as I possibly can. I'm a 29 year old Caucasian female (I'll be 30 in September) I don't have any children (except for furry ones) I'm not married but have a boyfriend I have been with for over 3 years. I am quite a bit over weight (I'm 5'3 and weigh @ 175 lbs.) I am a smoker but do not drink alcohol. I am unemployed and have been on disability for a little over 5 years. My main medications are percocet for pain and xanax for anxiety. I have been picking my skin for years.....I really couldn't tell you exactly how long I have been doing it. I go through spells where my picking is worse than others. Just today, I spent 30-40 minutes in front of my bathroom mirror. I hate doing this to myself. I don't know or understand why I do it or why I ever started in the first place. I've battled acne most of my life. I've tried thousands of dollars worth of products to get my skin to clear up but it just won't. I have done 4-5 rounds of Accutane which helped for a while but it always comes back. I feel the shame and embarrassment like others after I have picked. My skin will be red all over and look like much more of a mess than when I began. I've read what others have wrote about picking and how it feels like you go into a trance....that is 100% true! I actually lose track of time. And even though I feel all of those horrible shameful feelings after I have picked; I feel this weird sense of relief from stress for a short time after. I'm grateful that I have found this website to share what I am going through. I look forward to being able to speak with more people on here and find support so that maybe I can find a way to quit doing this to myself. Thank you for taking the time to listen and if I can share any more helpful information just let me know. Kelly
Harlequinqueen1
August 20, 2010

In reply to by AngelKelly

Hi. I go through the same thing and am looking for help on this site. Haven't found anything yet or anyone willing to give me advice. Kinda frustrating. I am actually pretty angry right now and could use something to take my anger out on. I too have been picking for a long time and can't seem to stop. I go to my first cognitive behavioral therapy session next week for this problem and for anxiety. I hope it gives me ways to cope with what I'm going through.
Bathsheba
August 20, 2010

In reply to by Harlequinqueen1

Hi HQ1, Did you mean you are angry in general or at this site? I think it's such a complicated problem that we have (read my previous reply to a hair plucking topic if you'd like to know my situation), that the best thing we can get from this site is the knowledge that we aren't alone. Wildflower talks a lot of sense and posts very good tips on all aspects of CSP. As a seasoned picker I have sort of figured out and am fully aware of the right thing to do and my problem is caring enough about myself to do it. I may care for a few days but then as soon as I get low or stressed (and it doesn't take much) I'm off again, massacring my face. For me I know I should get some therapy but I have before and found it more harrowing than helpful.CBT does sound good and more practical therapy so I reckon you're heading in the right direction. Please post how you get on. With regard to the anger thing - I asked at the start if it is general because I am finding myself getting so enraged at life that I have to isolate myself to cope. I wonder if this is a result of me being solitary that I find it difficult to tolerate anyone. Other people have said similar things on here. I hope you or someone replies if they too are seeing red too often. Good luck all.x
Harlequinqueen1
August 27, 2010

In reply to by Bathsheba

I have been angry at my husband and my dog and find myself taking my aggressions out on them. I also am depressed and suicidal. I feel okay right now as I type here, but if something angers me I have a tendency to blow up. I am married no kids, just pets. And there are times when I wished I could get rid of them. But overall they are sweet animals and I wish I didn't feel so angry at them. I think it's an outlet for my rage and they are just there. I am trying to get help with my anger through an anger management counselor this Saturday. I don't know if the cbt thing is going to work out. The cbt therapist thought that dialectal behavioral therapy would work best. But I've tried that and I hardly remember what I learned so it was kind of a waste. I have a foulder with all the info about it, so maybe I'll look at that or go see the therapist that teaches it. I don't know. I am on various meds, effexor xr, geodon and a form of Xanax for the anxiety. Sometimes I wonder if it is the effexor that is making me so depressed and angry. But I really don't know.
BrokenSunshine
August 22, 2010
Age: 25 Children: Just furry ones with 4 legs Married: Yes, less than a year but almost a decade w/ the same person Occupation: Retail manager Smoke: No Weight range: Overweight On any SSRis: No Any addtl info that you want to share: I tend to pick alone but do so in front of my spouse/ family. I feel ostracized if they mention my picking. I wear long shirts to cover my arms but when it's too hot outside, I wear short sleeved shirts and cover my scars with makeup. The only time that I don't recall picking since the age of 8 or 9 was during a point that I starved myself and worked outside ALOT on a farm.
Alex_M
August 25, 2010
Age range: 25 Children: No Married: No, but in long term relationship Occupation: Social worker/cashier Smoke: Yes Weight range: Average On any SSRIs: Yes, Zoloft 100mg/daily Any addtl info that you want to share: Nail biting since I was 7, and skin picking/eating since I was 10.
galadriel
August 27, 2010
age,20,not married,no relationship,medical student,underweight,i have this peculiar habit wich i dnt knw if any1 on world has,that i cant share wat i m eating.i.e i cant drink from a glass if sum1 has drunk b4 me,or take a bite of my sisters sandwich,or let sum1 taste my pizza or icecream or watever.even dont eat anything wich i hav seen some1 else holding or touching.also recently i have developed a freakish tendency 2 scratch my scalp or pick at it until it bleeds.
hakunamatasha
August 27, 2010
Age:22, Children: Pregnant, Married: no, Occupation: Server/Cashier @ Italian Restaurant, Smoke: this July 14th marked one year smoke free after 7 years of smoking, Weight range: A littler fluffier than i should be, On any SSRi;s: Dont know what that is lol. Ive been picking for about 2 years now. Usually my face, but it lingers to my chest and arms or shoulders and sometimes thighs when im trying to stop on my face. Usually stress induced, whenever some drama has gone down i seem to always end up in the bathroom picking. My mother and brother also do it occasionally, although not as bad as i do. Its definately involuntary, sometimes i feel crazy cause i have to look in the mirror and talk to myself, telling myself "STOP PICKING DONT DO IT YOURE BEAUTIFUL" but it never seems to work. I have to write "DONT PICK ITS MAKING IT WORSE!" on all of my mirrors in lipstick and i get acrylic nails put on because they help make me incapable of picking at my skin which sucks because im sacrificing playing the guitar by getting my nails done so ill stop. I think i do it because i feel ugly and im trying to fix the imperfections i see but in the end i just feel like shit.

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