Dika
04-19-2006, 10:07 PM
I don't know much about it or if I should ask my doctor about it, I have so many diagnosis's it's getting quite depressing. >.< I'm always picking at my skin, I don't mean like picking pimples or anything, but hands, feet, arms, legs and I'll pick and pick until I've reached fatty tissue it looks really nasty and I don't even know I'm doing it until hours later and there blood all over the place. I feel no pain when I do it. Only after I notice I've finished doing it and I'm asking myself why I'm feeling pain and I look down and it just like, "not again...>.<" They'll get all puss-filed and sore. I recently picked all the skin off the bottom of one foot and now I can't walk on it anymore. What I'm thinking it is unfortunatly is because of my heroin addiction because I've heard addicts like to pick their skin, is this true? Anyways, I'm just looking for information on it. Any info would be much appreciated, thanks.
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GatsbyLuvr1920
04-19-2006, 10:45 PM
I know next to nothing about drugs, but the compulsive skin-picking may very well be due to your heroin use, but I don't really know. I do know that some addicts often feel sensory hallucinations that there's bugs crawling under their skin and they have to scratch. I think this is common in crystal meth users, but I don't have any idea if it applies to heroin- I mentioned it because I read on another one of your posts that you're hearing voices. Anyway, I'm a compulsive skin picker myself, but I have OCD, so that's why I do it. Mine never gets nearly as bad as yours- I pick at my scalp and toes (mostly scalp), but I've never gotten such wounds as pus-filled, infectious areas. Mine also differs because I DO feel pain, and though I will pick my scalp when I'm just waking up and still half-conscious, I notice what's going on once I start. My mom always yelled at me before she found out it was the OCD, but the areas on my scalp are just scabs; they bleed when I pick them and ooze, but that's it. If you have gotten down to fatty tissue, you seriously need to get some sort of antibacterial bandage from a doctor because that could get really infected. But I know all about the urge to pick despite the painful consequences. I don't really know why I pick my head. I know my toes are because I want the skin to feel smooth and "perfect," but as for my scalp, I think I just like the feeling afterwards. Who knows? God bless, and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask! :angel:
-GatsbyLuvr1920-
-GatsbyLuvr1920-
cinemachick
04-20-2006, 04:11 PM
I pick at my forearms, but nothing as extreme as you're saying. I have one scar from when I picked myself until bleeding. I'm not on drugs so it may only be compulsive self-harm. Still talk to someone about it. Thanks for reminding me...that's something I need to share with my therapist.
SuchGreatHeight
04-20-2006, 07:26 PM
Skin picking can be in result of a lot of things. And to take notice that you have multiple diagnoses and a dual diagnosis (mental illness and drugs), it could most likely be in part of one of those aspects.
Do you do other things like hair pulling; and afterwards feel relieved? What came to mind was Trichotellomania, I know it's another diagnosis; but Trich is usually in result of something else (i.e. stress).
Basically, I have no clue ;). But I advise you to see a professional to really find out where this behavior is coming from, especially because it causes you distress.
SGH
Do you do other things like hair pulling; and afterwards feel relieved? What came to mind was Trichotellomania, I know it's another diagnosis; but Trich is usually in result of something else (i.e. stress).
Basically, I have no clue ;). But I advise you to see a professional to really find out where this behavior is coming from, especially because it causes you distress.
SGH
visions
04-26-2006, 05:07 AM
Skin picking, BDD, Trichotillomania, eating disorders, etc are not OCD but OCD spectrum disorders and the treatment is very different. Very often people with OCD have these comorbid disorders, but you can have them and not have OCD as well.
Have you been diagnosed by a professional? I have never heard of picking resulting from being a heroin addict. It is a very well known psychological disorder and from what you say you have a classic case of it, not scratching or itching from sensory hallucinations, that is something totally different.
It sounds like you have a pretty bad case of it and should look into getting treatment for it.
Have you been diagnosed by a professional? I have never heard of picking resulting from being a heroin addict. It is a very well known psychological disorder and from what you say you have a classic case of it, not scratching or itching from sensory hallucinations, that is something totally different.
It sounds like you have a pretty bad case of it and should look into getting treatment for it.
mickey1991
06-04-2006, 03:41 PM
My 12-year old daughter picks at her skin, mostly her hands and feet...so badly that it becomes infected. Her therapist says it is a stress and depression thing, but she isn't at all helpful about how to help either. I don't know what to do so when I see her doing it, I just go sit by her and hug her and then try to pre-occupy her with something. I realize it's just a bandaid and I'm not helping, but it's the only thing I can think of. I have asked her while she's doing it if she's feeling anxious or sad right at that time and she says she doesn't know. And I think maybe she really doesn't know.
emeraldeyes114
06-15-2006, 01:32 PM
I have been picking my skin for so long now that it seems like it has always been this way. I myself am Bipolar/Borderline and I suspect the picking is an Self Injury issue, at least for me. I cut also so it is another thing to add to it. SI is or has been a way of life for me. For it is about control, emotions that have no where to go, punishment, and most of the time when I am doing either thing I don't often know or feel what is the driving force behind it. I do try when I feel the mood sneaking up to do other things...since the weather has warmed up I have been pulling the crap out of the weeds rather then sitting idle and thinking. I go for walks, listen to music, dance, do the rubber bands snapping against the wrist, ice cubes on the palms, write, listen to the things others are going through, basically anything but focus on the SI. I do better some times then others. hope something I said here helps.
Deb
Deb
Jennita
06-15-2006, 05:10 PM
Heroin users side effects include dry skin and cellulitis, which could explain the compulsion to pick . Heroin also suppresses pain, that's why you don't notice it intil it's bleeding. I think heroin is playing a part in this. The way to tell is to give up heroin, give the body some recovery time after withdrawals, and then see if the picking continues or not. Only way to know for sure if it's the heroin. Get medical help.
*Lai*
06-17-2006, 09:20 PM
I'm Bipolar, I have anxiety disorder, i get severly depressed and i have body image issues. I pick at my skin everyday and have been doins so for along time. I have scars all over my back and chest and sometimes my neck and arms. Most of them are due to acnes but others are because of self harm. I dont pull my hair out but i have cut it off due to anger and once i cut my eyelashes, but they grew back.
I think my picking is due to me being a perfectionist, i hate seeing imperfections on me and so i try get rid of them but of course i'm left with permanent imperfection.
Do you have this type of personality??
When i was severly depressed last year i picked my skin off so much that i cudnt recognise myself, after being admitted to hospital because of the depression a psychiatrist sad i was in the self destruction phase of something.
I think my picking is due to me being a perfectionist, i hate seeing imperfections on me and so i try get rid of them but of course i'm left with permanent imperfection.
Do you have this type of personality??
When i was severly depressed last year i picked my skin off so much that i cudnt recognise myself, after being admitted to hospital because of the depression a psychiatrist sad i was in the self destruction phase of something.
lococall
07-07-2006, 08:59 AM
My boyfriend and I used to be on heroin and he did the exactly the same thing on his arms so badly that his arms were one big scab - 3 years later clean off heroin he has got white circular scars the size of bottle caps all over his arms. I used to also pick and squeeze on heroin and on meth but not because of creepy crawly feelings It was more that I had to get the sensation of pulling off a scab or squeezing out pus EVEN if it wasn't there
Blue00
07-31-2006, 11:00 AM
I have this problem start really bad in the last year.Mostly I scratch my scalp.I have this scaly skin that I have always been trying to remove.Now I think I might have OCD:confused: I can be doing for hours on hours but I don't do it vigorously.I just have some kind of build up of dry skin on my scalp that really bothers me.I don't know if this is OCD.I don't have any other things i do that could be condidered OCD.
Jennita
07-31-2006, 04:31 PM
I have this problem start really bad in the last year.Mostly I scratch my scalp.I have this scaly skin that I have always been trying to remove.Now I think I might have OCD:confused: I can be doing for hours on hours but I don't do it vigorously.I just have some kind of build up of dry skin on my scalp that really bothers me.I don't know if this is OCD.I don't have any other things i do that could be condidered OCD.
You could just be irritated at the scaly skin, I would think that would irritate anyone. Have you tried dry scalp shampoos or selsen blue? Rubbing in olive oil(sold in some black hair care lines) might help too, but I'd try the shampoos first. Get rid of the scales somehow; if the OTC stuff doesn't work, see a dermatologist.
You could just be irritated at the scaly skin, I would think that would irritate anyone. Have you tried dry scalp shampoos or selsen blue? Rubbing in olive oil(sold in some black hair care lines) might help too, but I'd try the shampoos first. Get rid of the scales somehow; if the OTC stuff doesn't work, see a dermatologist.
Blue00
07-31-2006, 06:55 PM
Actually I have tried alot of different dry skin shampoo's and i think Selsun blue is the best one I have tried.The other ones seem to burn and I don't think thats good.Maybe the olive oil may help.I think its just the dry skin and I let it bother me.Maybe its not OCD but at times when I get anxious it seems to be worse.
thatsmylife
08-01-2006, 07:06 PM
Hey,
I do the same thing and I have never been on heroin, I don't know why I do it though. I pick at my feet so badly that it hurts to walk, and I know I am doing it and also don't feel "pain". Once I get to a certain point and its not skin anymore i feel pain, but i pick at the skin to the point where its gone. I do it to my fingers pretty badly, I don't even know I am doing it and I'll look down at work and there will be blood all over my hands, and its from picking. I also pick at my scalp, and eyebrows. But in my case no heroin was ever taken, and i don't take drugs in general, so at least for me its not from any drug use. Goodluck fixing the issue, I have no idea how to stop....
I do the same thing and I have never been on heroin, I don't know why I do it though. I pick at my feet so badly that it hurts to walk, and I know I am doing it and also don't feel "pain". Once I get to a certain point and its not skin anymore i feel pain, but i pick at the skin to the point where its gone. I do it to my fingers pretty badly, I don't even know I am doing it and I'll look down at work and there will be blood all over my hands, and its from picking. I also pick at my scalp, and eyebrows. But in my case no heroin was ever taken, and i don't take drugs in general, so at least for me its not from any drug use. Goodluck fixing the issue, I have no idea how to stop....
GriffSS
09-14-2007, 05:40 AM
No disrespect intended, but do you "Tweak", use Meth?