Hello, my name is Reef. I need help. I have a problem with toenail grooming since April 2017. I consulted a psychiatrist and was prescribed Ativan and Zoloft. The diagnosis was anxiety and OCD. Prior to April 2017, I was alright and normal. I would cut and file my toenails and move on to another task. I stopped the medication because of the side effects that made me sick. I am tormented by images of my toes and toenails non-stop which make me bend over to check them. It is exhausting and I cannot sleep well due to the non-stop nagging images. I consulted four podiatric surgeons to remove all my toenails so I did not have to cut and file them. I believe removal of my toenails would have resolved the problem. The podiatric surgeons declined my request. This condition is debilitating and affects my daily routine. I am existing, not living.

Reef, I’m not a doctor, so take this however you will but: You have ocd. Most of us on here have it. It’s really shitty. The only way to beat it is to stop doing the compulsions. It sounds like you are in a place right now where the ocd is tormenting you, so I would consider trying a different medicine. Sometimes if ERP isn’t working, you need a medication that can help with the biochemical component, and then the ERP has a better chance of working. Whatever you choose to do, almost all of us on here have felt like we are never going to get better and that we can’t stop the compulsions, and that’s part of the ocd. Getting your toenails removed will only make it worse. Do not give in to what the ocd is telling you to do.

I used to stuggle with this for so long and it finally just went away and moved on to something else. But i feel ur pain and the need to keep doing it. Once everything is all healed tho on ur feet keeping it like that is a good motivation.

Yes! It was my toenails and also clipping the deas skin off the bottom of my feet. It was so terrible!!!

I had it a couple years ago and for a little over a year i struggled with this. And there was nothing for me that really stopped it besides just letting it run its course. Eventually u will get tired of it and for me i moved on to another toxic ocd just like that one. I stopped with my feet but i was obsessing over doing something else ridiculous. If u can move that obsession to something positive to obsess about and put ur undivided attention to. Not something that’s negative. what motivated Me also was just trying to have the willpower to stop myself from doing it and seeing how good my feet were starting to look. Then i wanted my feet normal more than i wanted to pick at it. Find something that relaxs u and that u can do to have a good time? stay strong

Is there a name or some references to this condition?

Oh man... That sucks. Feels like ocd. Try erp.