I know there are a ton of scab pickers, but does anyone SCRATCH? - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

GettingWellAgain · 10-15-2003, 09:47 AM

Hi everyone,
I was just reading the thread on scab picking. I, too, fit into the scab picking category but since I'm not really active enough to get scabs right now, I've been attacking my pimples (not to mention my boyfriend's, too). Anyway, I think scab picking is more common than we think. There is picking to milder and more severe degrees, but I had this VERY close group of friends in my young teenage years (about 5 of us) and we ALL used to obsessively pick at our faces and each other's faces. Blackheads, pimples, you name it, we picked it. It could have just been that we were an unusual group of individuals, but now two boyfriends that I've had, that were never a part of that group of friends, are also obsessed with picking. Anyway, I should have posted this part in the scab picking thread. My question is: does anyone else scratch at themselves? Under extreme anxiety, I have a compulsion to pinch myself and scratch deeply at a certain part of my skin, where ever it happens to be at that anxiety-causing time. Here's an example. If I'm in a severe anxiety causing situation such as talking to a boss or not feeling well and having to be social, I'll fold my arms across my stomach pretending I'm just in a comfortable, normal position, but I'll really be scratchig the **** out of my hip, or the side of my stomach, wherever there may be exposed skin. I've learned to control a l ot of this behavior, but it used to be really bad and I'd have slightly bloody scratches on myself from my nails. The most common places I scratch are behind my ears (so I can "comfortably" rest my hand behind my ear and do it so nobody notices), my hips, my stomach, and my lower back. I also dig my pointer finger nail into the padded part of my thumb during anxiety. I used to bite my tongue, but REALLY tried hard to control that since my tongue started to get numb and feel really weird. Does anyone else do this?

girl_alone · 10-20-2003, 05:23 AM

I scratch myself too. I usually post on the self injury board but thought I'd come here to see what everyone was chatting about. I scratch and pinch and sometimes bite the inside of my cheek when I'm in an emotional situation or really down.

I think you'll find loads of info on the self injury board, they are really nice over there. I dont think what we do is anything to be ashamed of, its just our way of coping with stress because we aren't very good at doing it the 'normal' way.

_alone

------------------
finding people who understand is finding people you may loose

Huntress · 10-26-2003, 07:26 PM

I do the SAME thing! It started when I was about 17.. just after my grandfather that I was very close to passed away. I would sometimes scratch myself so bad I would make myself bleed. Also bit the inside of my cheek like a previous poster said. It's very scary, but you definately aren't alone. Hang in there!! Believe it or not, alot of my scratching stopped when I had my kids. I just didn't want them to see that. Even now, I do it sometimes.. NEVER where they can see though. But anyway.. it has signifgantly decresed though. Now the pimple picking on the other hand......