- Date posted
- 6y
- Date posted
- 6y
I’m sorry :( I would hide mine as a child as well. I would chew mine until they bled, much worse when going through anxiety. They make a polish called Mavala stop that tastes bad. It never worked for me I just bit right through it haha. The nail salons I’ve been to are very nice when I explain I have an anxiety disorder that makes my nails look like crap :)
- Date posted
- 6y
Aw I’m sorry, I could see how that could make it worse for you. I was terribly embarrassed the first time I went. Even with my nails done, I still pick at them and my husband always gets on to me haha. Not much quick fixes in the ocd/ anxiety world ? but I would keep pushing forward with anxiety reducing methods. You might not always be able to stop completely? Because I still pick at mine but they don’t bleed and look terrible like they used to. If you feel overwhelmed with anxiety, open a meditation app, drink a glass of water, write a note describing your thoughts. Little things like that help me ?
- Date posted
- 6y
I deal with compulsive lip and cheek biting which I believe is similar. It’s terrible and I’ve been trying to find ways to stop!
- Date posted
- 6y
Oh my gosh I’ve done it for as long as I can remember. I never thought of it as ocd for me, but it probably is lol. The only thing that helps me is getting my nails done regularly. Not always a cheap option tho. :)
- Date posted
- 6y
My fingers are horrendous. I have to hide them when I'm swimming because it's so embarrassing... It looks like they've been used as chew toys for a teething puppy. I have also been biting and picking since I was little... I'm 23 now and still struggling. Good luck!! :)
- Date posted
- 6y
See my mother used to make me get my nails done and it created so much anxiety because of the horrendous comments that would be made that I haven’t gone in almost a decade (I’m 21). I’ve tried tape and bandaids but it just draws more attention to it. It definitely comes and goes with anxiety levels but I just wish there was a quick fix
- Date posted
- 6y
Yes luckily the place I go to get my nails done has nice ladies who sincerely want to help make my nails and cuticles look nice. I found that after I go, I'll see how nice they can look & I try to keep them that way. I also found that using Burt's bees cuticle cream, or putting aquaphor on my nails and cuticles helps a lot. I'll use one of those then put on some cotton gloves that I got at CVS or Harmon's or wherever. I normally wear them to bed and when I wake up they're a lot less painful and dry looking. I'll also wear them when I'm working on my computer or watching TV or a movie because when I'm doing those things I'll pick without even realising it. But with the gloves I have no shot. I hope that helps :)
Related posts
- Date posted
- 18w
Hi everyone. <3 was wondering if anyone with experience dealing with excoriation/skin-picking disorder has some tips or tricks that have particularly helped them. Came to NOCD this week for help - first timer that would really like to be able to wear a tank top again 😅🫠 I did join the BFRB support group but unfortunately will be on a night shift this week when it meets . Thank you in advance ❤️
- Date posted
- 13w
Does anyone have any good tips on how to reduce the urge to pick your skin? I wasn’t aware that this was something often associated with OCD until my therapist told me about it. I regularly engage in skin picking especially on my face and it has made my acne even worse and lead to scarring. I don’t want to continue doing it but sometimes I just do it without even realizing I’m doing it.
- Date posted
- 9w
Hiiii, I’m Sara 💖 and I have Severe OCD 🧠, Severe Excoriation Disorder ✋, ADHD ⚡, GAD 😰, and Major Depressive Disorder 🌧️. I love using emojis if you haven’t noticed lol. To keep this as straightforward as possible I want to focus on the OCD and dermatillomania part today. I hope this can help some people 💬 and maybe give others a better understanding of what it’s like to live with these two issues! ☺️ I have always struggled with skin picking, especially on my face 😔, and it has made my acne worse and caused scarring. 🤕 I did not realize until my therapist told me that it can be connected to OCD. Sometimes I do not even notice I am doing it, and other times I am aware but cannot stop. 😓 For me, the OCD side is often tied to perfectionism or needing that just right feeling. 🫠 From thoroughly washing my face and hands, overusing or meticulously applying products to make sure the “ritual” is done perfectly takes both time and money. To having picking episodes which causes scars to heal slower⏳ and to also leave me with a “pepperoni face” 🍕 from all the red and raw wounds or with widespread hyperpigmentation that lingers for months. Oof 😅 ERP IS A LIFE SAVER!!! 🛟 Addressing that OCD pattern is a big part of ERP, Exposure and Response Prevention 🚪. ERP helps you face the discomfort without picking or fixing, so over time your brain learns the urge does not need to be acted on. 😤 Behold~ another technique, HRT! Habit Reversal Training can still be part of treatment, but timing matters ⏰. If OCD is the main driver, starting HRT too early, especially if it leans on avoiding triggers, can unintentionally strengthen the OCD cycle 🔄. That is why ERP often comes first, and HRT is added later once the compulsion has weakened. 🤗 Skincare time! Oooo la la la 🤭 For wound care 🩹, I keep it simple. When the skin is still open, I use a gentle cleanser 🫧, a moisturizer 💧, and Aquaphor directly on the wound, then keep it covered to protect it from bacteria 🦠 and UV exposure 🌞. Once the wound has closed and turned pink 🌸, I use a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, a scar cream, and SPF daily to prevent discoloration and help the scar fade. Fidget toys 🪀 do not work for everyone (Ik people who love it 😍), but ERP paired with steady skin care has made the biggest difference for me ✨. If possible, I recommend seeing a dermatologist 🩺 to help heal your skin and give you tools for long term care, and ask directly if they understand skin picking and OCD and will keep that diagnosis in mind while treating you. Progress is absolutely not linear 📉📈. You will have times when you pick or have an episode, even when your skin has been looking great. 😥 That does not mean failure ❌. In OCD, compulsions are rewarded in the moment because anxiety drops after you do them, so the brain learns that the behavior works 🤥. ERP builds new learning that competes with the old habit rather than erasing it, which means stress, hormones, sleep loss, or strong cues can still light up the old pathway at times ⚡. The goal of therapy and strategies is not to create a life with zero urges 🚫, but to help you navigate 🧭 life with OCD by reducing how often urges show up, how intense they feel, and how quickly you recover when they happen. Most important part EVERR 😮💨🥰 The most important part of this process is practicing self compassion 💕 and remembering that no one is perfect 🌼. Every lapse is information you can use for the next step forward! 🫂 Thanks for listening to my Ted talk! 😄 (edited) (edited)
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