does anyone have a compulsive need to pick at things? (for me it’s clothes, towels, and carpets) if you do what do you to help it?

i’ve never met anyone else who does this too?! have you stopped/has it gotten better?

🙋🏼‍♀️💯

how do u prevent it?!!

@stingray I definitely still struggle with it, and I often kind of let my OCD rationalize with me that at least pulling dog hair off clothing or picking at pilling on clothing doesn’t hurt me physically the way skin picking does. (I know it’s a big no-no to rationalize that getting stuck in anything is ok.) I wrote up a big post for my strategies to stop picking. (Picking is a bit different than most other compulsions in the ways we enjoy it to a point differently than others.). My post focuses mostly on skin and nail picking, but a lot of it pertains to any picking if you just tweak it a bit in your mind. (I actually saved it in Notes before I posted it so that I can go back to it or share it again.). Would you like me to share it here?

@ARTnotOCD yes please !! :)

@stingray Even with my tricks to help not pick, I still do it sometimes. But in the fight to pick less, here’re some ideas: 1. Manicures, fake nails, gloves — When my nails are nice, I use them less for picking in order to keep them nice. Fake nails cannot pick as well as real ones! And gloves are an option when my other methods aren’t working. 2. Fidget toys, activities involving your hands, sewing — Keeping your hands busy for “nervous” energy can really help. (I put quotes because it doesn’t have to mean you are actually nervous; you could be bored or have any other emotion.). Sewing in particular is my favorite. It keeps my hands busy. It is not a net-negative act or even neutral; it’s net-positive. (By that I mean that not only don’t the results end in harm, but they produce something pleasing or good.). Also, sewing, and often tinkering or fixing anything, kind of gives me similar pleasurable sensations as picking does. The part of picking that can be satisfying is met, yet it’s met without all the regret or guilt. Sewing also helps me balance my mind, almost meditatively, keeping me in a better state when I’m done sewing too. So find your special activity. 3. When you catch yourself picking, pause, FORGIVE yourself, and then hit reset. My OCD will act like or say, “Well, you’ve already lost, so you might as well keep picking.” That’s just it being a big jerk! The truth is that that’s when the battle is starting, not already lost! And if I falter again, it’s hard, but I forgive myself again and restart the fight. It can also be good to switch things up at that point. I find even taking a break to come to this app is helpful. Not only can it help refocus you, but you can feel a level of accountability and support here because we all understand OCD and its related beasts. 4. After picking, putting on moisturizer or first aide cream or even lightly bandaging any wounds helps remind me that damage has been done, but that I am taking steps to heal my skin and my mind. Reminders of steps forward can be helpful during the next fight. Good luck! You got this! One step at a time! 💜💪🏼

@ARTnotOCD this is amazing 🤍 thank you so much!! i’m definitely going to try sewing or maybe even knitting... very clever!!

@ARTnotOCD Definitely relate to the ocd telling me the battle has been lost when I catch myself picking...it’s so much harder for me to stop picking once I’ve started than if I see something I want to pick but refrain from beginning the picking altogether...it’s so difficult to leave unfinished once I have begun...as if it’s up to me to fix it or bring it back to how it is supposed to be... Good to know I’m not alone in the fight 🙏