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Theanonymousreptile , 17 Jan 2013

I can't stop and my family does'nt understand.

I've had Dermatillomania for about 3 years now and it's always been an issue with my family, expecially my father. They believe it's just a thing and if they yell at me enough I will learn to stop. It's been three years and though I stopped picking at my face with a needle, I pick at my face with my nails. I can't stop, I've been trying for 3 years. I can't. I know I'm destroying my skin but I just can't stop. And they don't understand that. None of them do. I feel so alone. No one understands the embarrassment I go through just by walking out of my house and going to school. My hair would help me, covering my face with it made it a bit bearable but now I'm not even allowed to do that and I feel so ashamed of my face. My father believes that embarrassment will get me to stop, but it just makes me hate myself even more. I don't know what to do. If I don't stop soon I'll only be yelled at even more than I already am. I'm sorry this post is mostly me just letting out some feelings.
5 Answers
Orange
January 18, 2013
Do you have a mother? Usually mothers are more soft and gentle. If you don't have a mother, aunt? Grandma? Very trusted teacher? I would go and talk to them. They would definitely understand, my sister yells at me too, because she hates that "click click click" noise of nails on nails, picking at my my nails. I really hope things work out for you. :) <3
Eliza_Rae
January 19, 2013
I'm so sorry to hear about your dad being a jerk about it. I use my hair to cover up where I've picked on my neck all the time. My husband gets really mad at me when I pick because I once promised him I would stop. I knew I wouldn't be able to stop, but I just wanted him to back off. The longest I've ever gone without a serious picking session was four weeks. At the end of the four weeks I went crazy all over my body, picking at everything for hours. I hope your father soon understands how hard it is for you to stop. Maybe show him this website? Best of luck!
Charox15
January 26, 2013
I know exactly how you feel, i'm not just saying that i actually do know how you feel. For as long as i can remember i have picked the skin off all my fingers until they bleed, my fingers are so sore all the time and they're swollen at the top. My parents tell me to 'just stop' and shout at me when they see the mess my fingers are in. They don't understand that the more they shout at me to stop the more it makes me pick as then i am put under pressure to try and stop but i can't. I hate myself for that. My friends don't understand me either, they tell me to 'just stop' too. I'm 15 years old now and i've been doing it for at least 10 years of my life, i've been to the doctors and have some special cream to rub on my fingers and i've tried the stuff that tastes horrible and is supposed to prevent you biting nails and skin but nothing seems to work. When people in my school see my fingers and ask me how i got those cuts i get so embarrassed and i just lie and say my dogs bit me because i am just embarrassed. Being at the age of 15 as well makes it worse because it's the age were i'm concious about what everyone thinks of me. I just can't stop....
Changedmyreaction
January 28, 2013
When my son was old enough, (aged 9) he explained to me that his picking peeling and eating was like me smoking. I managed to lovingly explain to him about infections he could cause in those areas and how embarrassed he would feel if his peers noticed now that he was at school. I also stopped telling him off and showing how disgusted and horrified I felt. I thought he had stopped but he had just become more discreet... so i showed him how to do his own pedicure. 2 years on I thought it was all over until he recently picked a blister... here we go again lol.
ashleenb09
January 29, 2013
I'm so sorry. I totally agree that not many people understands and they think we can just stop. I've been picking since I was like 3 and I'm 21 years old now. I haven't been able to wear a low cut shirt or short sleeves or anything like that in months because my picking has gotten worse. I hope you find something that will work for you and hopefully your parents will understand. This is my first time looking for treatment because I thought I was the only one. Good luck!

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