I have intense compulsions to pick at my skin when I feel anxious or sedentary or stimulated. I’ve heard that this compulsion is called “skin picking disorder” but the research on that topic has yielded no productive results. Often when I get the compulsion to cut myself, I can satiate it with picking. Does anyone else experience this?

ruby.j

Date posted: 5y ago

i’ve struggles with dermatillomania (skin picking disorder) for years now, i get the same urges and it does help me stop cutting but at the cost of scars and infected wounds :/

feralcaroll

Date posted: 5y ago

@ruby.j do you ever try to manage the skin picking with other means of curbing the urge? I want to find a nondestructive release

ruby.j

Date posted: 5y ago

@feralcaroll i’ve tried many things to do that give a similar feel, such as painting on my skin and peeling it off, peeling off glue from my skin, and other things like that. i’ve also tried fidget toys. they have all somewhat helped, but the urge specifically for skin picking is always there, and unfortunately i have never been able to completely stop, just minimize how much i do it.

nshursh

Date posted: 5y ago

I have a similar disorder (trichotillomania) and I’ve found that the most helpful thing is to try to maintain full consciousness if I have the urge. make sure I recognize why I feel like I have to pull a hair out and sometimes wait a couple seconds to resist. Keep practicing that and make the waiting period for picking longer and longer and then try to not pick it at all. Also for some reason, N-acetyl cystine helps!!

Rainbowgirl

Date posted: 5y ago

Wow, that’s a good question? Well, first of all; Yes, I’m expiring the same. Actually exactly the same. I think that for me it all started as dermatillomania and then evolved to cutting.. every time I’m exhausted, anxious, sad, numb and so on the urge rises.. But with my therapist I’ve been experiencing with different methods: - Holding a icecube - That didn’t work for me. - Squeezing a rough rock - Sometimes that helps! - NADA or acupuncture - That one does the trick! Basically (for me!!) I need to stimulate my senses - Anything I can feel/put on my skin... And my therapist tells me that breaking point is to NOT penetrate the skin. That is the point of no return?

QueenUnknown

Date posted: 22w ago

Can Napping Be a Compulsion?

At times, my intrusive thoughts get so intense that all I can do is lay frozen in my bed and hope I fall asleep, and usually I do even if I'm not tired. My brain just wears me out and I wanna escape through sleep. (Sadly it doesn't work all the time)

HelloPeoplee

Date posted: 10w ago

How do I know if I have OCD?

This list by ai gives a good summary of my symptoms. Does it resemble OCD or is it something else? 1. Compulsions (OCD-specific behaviors): • Feeling the need to flex or contract muscles an even number of times, equally on both sides of your body. • Needing to reverse actions (for example, if you roll your eyes or trace a line with your finger, you feel compelled to do it again in the exact opposite way). 2. Intrusive Thoughts (OCD-specific ruminations): • Daydreaming about people you care about getting hurt (e.g., school shooting, injury, or kidnapping). • Sometimes feeling like you might want something bad to happen to someone you find attractive—possibly because of a desire to help or save them, though it’s confusing. • These thoughts can sometimes provide a twisted sense of relief while remaining distressing and confusing. 3. Sexual Orientation OCD: • Experiencing confusion or doubt about your sexual orientation. 4. Contamination Thoughts: • Feeling like things are contaminated, especially after touching something gross. 5. Sensory Compulsions: • Feeling the need to smell your hand after touching areas like your ear or hair. 6. ADHD-like Symptoms / Additional Observations: • Fidgeting or moving your legs when standing or sitting.

Catlove9

Date posted: 7w ago

What do you say to OCD when you have harm urges?

I am struggling right now with intrusive harm urges. They feel real and it feels like I am going to act any second. It feels like I have to hold myself back, which is a scary thoughts. I am trying so hard not to compulse, but does anyone have tips on what they do in these situations?

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