Quick tricks and distrations from picking. Want to know what you think.

The only 100% effective way for me to stop picking is to be in public or with company. The best my skin ever looked was when I had roommates and a live-in boyfriend. I was almost never alone, not open about my problem and avoided biting and picking unless I was alone because I didn't want them to know what a "freak" I was. When I feel a bad session coming on, I try to reroute myself. Get dressed, put makeup on, leave the house. Call someone and invite them over. This works well too because I feel the urge to clean up and by the time I'm done they're here. If I'm alone and don't want to be in public, it's a recipie for disaster. Sometimes I just don't feel like trying hard not to bite and pick. Sometimes all I want is to sit and destroy my fingers. These are the hardest times to get through. I try to keep myself busy, wear bandaids, clean or cook something so my hands are dirty or in rubber gloves and not accessible. I'm afraid of germs as well so I won't bite my fingers if I think there's a possibility they're contaminated. The main thing is keeping busy. It distracts me, lowers anxiety and when I'm finished I feel much better about myself and am more likely to sit and relax rather than go on a picking spree.

I pick my scalp, and I am always so ashamed because I still pick even when in public such as the library or class. I live with a roommate here in college, but it doesn't really make a difference, I pick anyways. However, I do find that wearing a hat keeps me momentarily distracted when I do my homework, so now I always wear a hat in the library. I waste so much time picking that I should be using studying, so the hat helps me get my work done.

I am a dancer (and former dance teacher) that would get very sweaty and the salt/sweat would irritate acne/bumps/scars/scabs on my body and then I would pick and scratch on the car ride home. I found if I bring a change of clothing it definitely helps...otherwise I am more tempted by the scratching, stinging feeling especially if my clothes are damp from sweat.....

on one of these someone mentioned puzzles because of its likeness to picking. ive started buyign the gum that comes in the plastci packages with the foil oin the back. when i finish the gum i peel off all of the foil. some sticks to the plactic and you have to pick it off. and smooth your finger over it to look for a spot that sticks up to peel. its so much like picking that it kind of feels like it but i have to make an effort only to do it at one of my prime picking times and not just as a new habit. good luck/1

Not wearing makeup sounds like a very good idea. However, also something that is very difficult...

I usually wear a thin pair of gloves (check CVS for cheap gloves) while i'm at school. When people ask why i just tell them that i have poor blood circulation (which is also true!). Also my skin gets very dry which makes me want to pick my fingers even more, so i use hand lotion alot. At night i put aquaphore on my fingers and cover my hands with gloves. My fingers are looking better. The only problem is when i have art class i can't wear my gloves, so i just put bandaids on the fingers that look the worst. and don't forget to cut your nails! :)

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just registered for this forum - very interesting question. i would say crafting, keeping my hands busy is a big part of not picking....knitting, sewing, cross stitch, writing. i also work with people with autism, we often use 'fidgets' to distract the mind - i will play with bobby pins, clay, string, wrappers, whatever is around to keep my fingers busy. i noticed one preoccupation that at least keeps me from hurting my skin is that once my nail polish has chipped, it ALL has to come off that nail, so i pick at it. this probably isnt good for my nails but i can hide picking my nail polish a lot better than my arms. ------------------------------------- de-stressing. i pick when i am stressed or feel out of control or uncertain about the outcome of something major (a big project, a job interview, etc). exercising helps me with this although i can't go to the gym late at night which is sometimes when picking occurs. this is because i work out, i get endorphins and feel more confident, feel better about myself then don't feel a need to pick. i don't know if it works this way for everyone. i also notice i pick if i have a big conflict or unresolved issue with a friend or family member. ---------------------- someone mentioned being around others, i live on my own now so picking seemed to have gotten worse in some ways, but i'm out of my bad living situation so it has decreased in other ways. i think about summer coming up and wanting to wear tank tops and swim suits (upper arms picking) and how mad i get when people ask me what is wrong with my arms. i say i have a bumpy rash like keratosis pilaris, which i think i do have, but then i pick at it. or i blame it on allergies, because i have pale, really sensitive skin and i'm allergic to a ton of stuff, so i do have breakouts.

thank you for these!

I'm a compulsive scratcher / picker. I read that acrylic nails work well so I have them done regularly now and it helps a lot. The acrylic nails are a lot thicker than natural nails, making it nearly impossible to pick off scabs. I find that even if i scratch the hell out of myself- it doesn't tear open my skin like it used to- but still gets red, hot and a little scaly. When you lessen the damage done to your skin theres less to pick at.