TeenHelp - Skin picking

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Does anyone have suggestions on what helps to cope or prevent this?

When I am stressed (I think), I pick my lips. I pick them to the point of bleeding and developing painful cracks.

I'm picking them a lot right now. I think it's the worst I've done and usually when I get to a certain point I stop, they heal and then it starts again.

I'm on zoloft to help with my anxiety and I know SSRI's can help with OCD.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Re: Skin picking

Hello,

I am so sorry that you are having a hard time with this and hope that you will be okay soon. When you are getting the feeling to do this try to keep your hands busy. For example grabbing a stress ball or fidget spinner and use that. Or if you can draw something or use your computer or start playing with your pets. When you grab something to use it will keep your hands off of your face.

You can also try using lip balm and calling a friend or family member and just talk about what is going on and hopefully that feeling goes away. If that doesn't work then try stepping away from the area that you are in and grab a book or listen to music or go for a walk. I hope that you will be okay soon.

Re: Skin picking

I compulsively bite my lips. Have for a long time. I find wearing chapstick helps. It soothes the inflamed tissue and reminds me that it feels better not to pick. I don't know if that helps or not because it sounds like you pick with your fingers but it might.

Re: Skin picking

Big same. I don't pick the skin on my lips, but I do on other places. I agree with having your hands busy. I have to be doing something I can kind of get myself pretty involved in because it's a distraction and if I'm doing something, I can't pick. My friends and family also point it out sometimes.

Re: Skin picking

Quote:

Originally Posted by .:Bibliophile:. (Post 1354796)

HI! If you want to know how to get out from skin picking anxiety, you will first have to understand why it happens. The reason that someone suffers from this condition is that they have an anxiety disorder that is constantly on the surface. The fear of being judged by others, the fear of being rejected by others, the fear of not being accepted by other people, the fear of being left alone, and the fear of being rejected by others. When you have a lot of these feelings going on in your life, it can become very easy to pick at certain things. This can happen with people who are in certain situations, like at work, at school, at home, or even during your social interactions with other people.
If you have been picking at people's skin, because they don't look quite right, it may be a sign that they don't look very happy, and this will make them very uncomfortable, so much that it can be hard to think straight. They can be afraid to interact with other people, since they are so scared of being laughed at. Their mind starts racing all the time, and they just can't focus. You can tell when someone is anxious or nervous because they are always worried about something, or they just seem like they are not comfortable in front of you. You will notice them focusing on one spot in their body, like their nose, and they may pick at certain things with their fingers. Sometimes it is something that is obvious, but other times, they may pick at their face or even their hair.
How to get out from skin picking anxiety is to let go of the fear of being ridiculed. You have to learn that it is perfectly normal, and you should not feel embarrassed about this. You need to learn to not be embarrassed, because being embarrassed is never good for you, especially when you have these deep-seated fears. You need to learn to be open with your anxiety, because it is something that will help you deal with other issues that you might be facing in your life, when you deal with skin picking anxiety. It is not worth it to deal with skin picking anxiety only to find that you are in more pain and suffering, because you are not able to deal with other issues, like you normally would. When you deal with your skin picking anxiety, it can lead to other problems. Hopefully it will help :)

Re: Skin picking

I would say maybe try flavored chap stick? I know I tend to pick my lips when they are dry and I'm anxious. So if you keep chap stick with you and put it on every time you go to pick your lips it may help.

Re: Skin picking

Hi there,

I have this habit too. I agree with the above users that using a flavoured lip balm or chapstick helps. Because the lips tend to get slippery, it becomes harder to bite it.

If you feel you're getting stressed over something, it helps to take a short break from whatever you're at and turn your attention to something else that will make you feel calmer. That might in turn assist with preventing you from biting your lips.

Good luck!