FingerFreak Forums: Recent Topics

FingerFreak Forums: Recent Topics http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ FingerFreak Forums: Recent Topics en Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:30:17 +0000 abitofsumisu on "Tell Your Tale Here" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=42#post-154 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:39:08 +0000 abitofsumisu 154@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ I think that sometimes the best way to deal with a problem is to simply tell your overall issue. I have kind of been doing so all over the place - sometimes the way to start healing is to just vent it all out. :) booboo64 on "Does Anyone Else Do This?" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=63#post-234 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:02:44 +0000 booboo64 234@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Hello Fellow Pickers, I am 53 & have picked on & off since I was 13. It has progressively gotten worse in the last 15 yrs. What I pick most is the skin on the side of my thumb nails (closest to the index fingers). They are sooo calloused. Also since a teenager, when picking "dried up" on my fingers, I started picking my little toenails off. There used to be lots of bleeding & pain & I would hobble around the next day. Even got blood poisoning one time from picking & had to go to the doctor. I've done this so much that now I really don't have normal little toenails but have a tough layer of skin there & it kinda just peels off pretty easy when I start picking it. With picking anything, there seems to be a feeling of accomplishment when I get the piece I'm after. I was wondering if anyone else does this? I hate to say it but I hope so. LOL! Just kidding. I don't want to be the only one in the world that does this. Also, I pick the skin on the side of my big toes & they are very calloused also. Have to use the ped-egg pretty regular to try to file the callouses down. This seems so strange to be telling people that I do this but when we share things that we feel shame from, it takes power away from the shame & lessens it. Thanks to everyone for sharing & please let me know if anyone does the "little piggy" picking? <say that 3 times fast> LOL! haiparu on "Hi JP and Paul" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=61#post-227 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:31:34 +0000 haiparu 227@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Thank you both for posting here. I wanted to reply sooner but get embarrassed at seeing my sign-in ID over and over, and it wipes out the name of whoever starts the threads. I'm starting to think that while we all share this distressing symptom of finger picking, we also may need varying approaches to get some kind of improvement. Will post a link to a free downloadable book, and another link w its author's blog notes (on Psychology Today site) as this book got me focused and seeing results to stop picking. It offers many approaches, something may click for you. I've got enormous help right here, reading everyone's posts, getting ideas and feeling the invisible support we can all offer each other. I'm in my 3rd month w all ten piggies intact and still need to pay attention and make myself moisturize cuticles daily so they don't become too "interesting." Looking forward to hearing more here. Hope something below will help. Please keep posting here so we'll know how you're doing. When I read your posts and stories, I felt like I wrote them too. So familiar. Write more. : ) Link to learn about "Skin Deep" book, take quiz if you want and get free download of 250 page book: <a href="http://www.grossbart.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.grossbart.com/</a> here's a link to his blog page (Dr. Grossbart wrote "Skin Deep") with brief articles that parallel book's topics: <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/skin-deep" rel="nofollow">http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/skin-deep</a> here's a sample from his blog -- this one addresses picking and more. Scroll down above link (Psychol. Today) to find it online. Unfortunately, he feels medications and therapy are often needed -- I got great results just using a guided imagery CD (could be like self hypnosis?) and doing the exercises in his book. Was already in therapy before which probably helped too, but it didn't address picking at all. On the plus side, since some people posting here are on medications, maybe the other suggestions will be just what's needed in addition to that, to get to the heart of picking and how to stop? A Hidden Epidemic Everyone pulls off the odd bit of skin or squeezes a random pimple. But for some people the squeezing, scratching, or picking becomes an absolutely monstrous compulsive behavior that threatens to take over their lives. Concealing what they are doing and its impact, can trigger desperate attempts at camouflage and the avoidance of activities and relationships. Read More pdwhelan on "Fixed braces are to blame" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=59#post-225 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:34:37 +0000 pdwhelan 225@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Hi everyone I can't remember what age I started to pick but I know it was when I had braces fitted to my teeth (between the ages of 12-15). I became a little obsessed with picking my fingers skin with the sharp metal of the braces, after having the braces removed I reverted to using my nails instead and then started to bite aswell. I'm now 25, so its been well over 10 years of picking. I often tell my self to stop, then 10 seconds later i'm finding myself either biting or picking with another finger. Last year I did 2 weeks maybe longer without picking (didn't completely stop but did really well) I felt great at the time. I pick my fingers at work, when I watch TV, when I talk to people, so pretty much all of the time. As I type this I am not actually picking but have been really tempted to. I know if I was typing on another forum about something different then I would probably pick my fingers. I really need to stop and I want some serious help. Would going to see my doctor be helpful?. I am pretty ashamed of my fingers and I hate people seing them in the state they are in. I try and make sure people can't see them and if I have to point at anything that means people seeing my finger I will point using the best looking finger (usualy my little finger) Hope someone can help. Thanks Paul JP on "DISGUSTED AND TIRED OF BEING ASHAMED" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=60#post-226 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:20:21 +0000 JP 226@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ On a whim this afternoon, I did some surfing on the net and found this site. Dear GOD - I thought that I was the only one with this problem! My husband and son are constantly dogging me to stop self-mutilating, but I can't help it. I've used gloves, moisturizers, oils, tape and anything else I can find to help myself stop, but I CAN'T.....no matter how hard I try, I'll stop for a few days, but then go right back to digging, pulling and tearing away at myself. I literally pick until I bleed. I know I have the OCD thing going on and feel totally out of control right now......have even been on medication for the past 15 years for anxiety and anorexia. i'm even picking as I type out!!!!!!!!!!! I need help - BIG TIME - can anyone out there give me some ideas on how they're dealing with this? djackm on "first post in months" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=62#post-229 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:46:00 +0000 djackm 229@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Greetings all, I am looking forward to graduating from college in May & I think that my boyfriend intends to propose to me...Life is great, but, unfortunately, my fingers & toes aren't doing so well. I have had a problem with picking for as long as I can remember. I feel great anxiety about the appearance of my nails, the soreness caused by the constant peeling away of the layers, and, of course the embarrassment-wondering who notices. Doing my best to lead a "normal" life, trying (daily) to commit to quitting. Appreciate the FF community; this forum always reminds me that I'm not alone & that, through continuing to support one another, we will all find our own personal "cures." DJM Laura_B on "ALMOST kicked the habit: so frustrating!!!!" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=56#post-216 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:15:05 +0000 Laura_B 216@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ I’ve made really big strides with my picking in the last few months. I’ve learned that picking and biting helps me relax and cope in stressful and boring situations (big crowds, parties, my extremely boring desk job, etc.) I mangle my fingers to punish myself, and escape into a trance-like state to avoid my very low self-esteem. But recently, I’ve been purposely pushing myself into new and scary social situations to build my confidence and self-worth. I’m finally learning to love myself, and a big part of that is taking pride and care in my physical body – including my hands! Until this morning, I hadn’t picked for two weeks, my longest streak ever! During that time, I seriously felt amazing. That raw, gnawing pain that I had become used to for 20+ years was gone – it was like having a whole new set of hands! The smallest tasks that previously brought so much discomfort and frustration (like doing dishes, weeding the garden, chopping onions) made me so happy once the stinging pain was gone! I felt so proud that I was able to accomplish something, and I really feel this translated into many other aspects of my life. I seriously thought I was cured and I felt so awesome that I couldn’t imagine going back to my old ways. I used so much hand lotion in the last few weeks – I loved how it felt on my hands, I love how it smells, and it felt like I was really pampering and doing something good for myself every time I used it. The only time I was ever tempted to pick was when my hands got dry, so I made extra sure to moisturize at all times. Then this morning, I woke up and my fingers were all scaly, dry, and uneven, with skin actually flaking off by itself. I moisturized and moisturized, but nothing helped all day. My fingers felt so gross and nasty all day that eventually I ripped just a little bit off thumb. Of course, once I started I haven't been able to stop and now all my hard work it ruined on every one of my fingers. So this is my question: did anyone else have this issue? Stopped picking, doing well for a few weeks, then having weird, scaly, ugly, flaking skin forming on your fingers? If so, how did you get over it? Does this stage go away if you just keep using lotion? I’m really worried that I’ve ruined my fingers forever, and even if I stop picking now for the rest of my life they will never heal normally. I'm hoping its just another hurdle to get over on the path of recovery. Thank you for reading all of this. I would really appreciate some discussion!! :) daly on "Is it OCD or impulse control disorder?" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=58#post-219 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:13:08 +0000 daly 219@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ I have OCD that is managed quite well with medication, exercise and cognitive techniques. When I was undergoing assessment for OCD, the therapist told me that skin picking is actually "impulse control disorder", not OCD. I notice on the "compulsive finger picking" link on this site that it says "some studies show that more than 50% of people suffering from Compulsive Skin Picking are actually Obsessive-Compulsive". I'm interested in learning more about the overlaps and distinctions between OCD and skin picking. Any insights or reading recommendations? Bubbles on "is it neurosis or just bad habits?" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=55#post-205 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:14:16 +0000 Bubbles 205@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Im 28 yrs old and have been picking my thumbs as young as I can remember. Everywhere I go, I pick. I have thick scar pads on the insides of my thumbs. Its so bad, I drive with my knees so my hands are free to pick. Before I get out of the car I have to brush off a pile of "thumb crumbs." Then brush them off my seat when I get back. There are thumb crumbs all over my gear shift and console. Its god awful. I pick at restaurants while I wait for my food. My boyfriend knows im picking by the blank stare on my face. He thinks its discusting. One of his main concerns is i'll pick over food im preparing at home for dinner. He'd like me to break the habit as much as I would. I have "picking police" at work that yell at me when they catch me doing it. Sometimes when I get caught i'll go around a corner, or a place they cant see me. I feel very annoyed when they interrupt in the middle of a skin rip. Im an angry person. I hate the public, politicians, animals, you name it. I work at a vet clinic and sometimes wonder if its anesthesia waste gas that makes me rage. On top of that, im a knuckle cracker. Im self aware, but dont seem to care. When I get bit by dogs (bad bites that require going to a hospital and getting sutures) I'll pick the scabs off. My arm looks like that of a junkie. It wouldnt if I'd left it alone. I sometimes ask myself if I do this out of self loathing. The answer I come up with is I hate everything else. Feels good to vent and get this out. I've enjoyed reading all your threads. Knowing im not the only one struggling with this will be beneficial to healing. Thanks for reading and good luck with stopping this dreadful habit. boffin1979 on "I want to stop, but I can't!" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=47#post-172 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:03:36 +0000 boffin1979 172@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ I have been doing this for 20 years. What I do is I cut my finger nail (depending on which one) right down as low as I can. I then pick at the nail bed and when I get a snag, I will peel it away. The skin peels away, and the nail bed below the nail line will come off with it, releasing an endorphin and it feels as though your stimulating something that you never thought existed. When you do this to a finger for the first time, it feels as though pressure is being released, and something foreign has been removed. I can then move my finger tip over the top of my finger nail, and it feels fresh and reinvigorated. A few days later, the skin will grow back, except hardened. It looks really "pickable" and just screams at you to get picked, and peeled. I grab a needle, lift the skin up and sometimes it will bleed when this hardened skin has brought along with it some fresh nail bed while being lifted away. I peel, and again it feels as though pressure is being released. The pain can sometimes be unbearable, but there is something in the back of my mind that enjoys this. My finger/s will throb for a couple of days, then a more horny flakey skin coating comes back, and the process continues. At the moment, I'm on my middle (finger-sign) finger. It was enjoyable at first, but now, my nail is quickly diminishing. I know the nail bed will be back to normal if I leave it alone, but I cannot. Help someone! I want to stop, but I feel I cant!!! leah_kas on "I went to a salon for a facial . . ." http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=54#post-201 Thu, 20 May 2010 18:46:26 +0000 leah_kas 201@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ and when the esthetician told me the facial included her massaging my arms and hands, I almost had a panic attack. I'd never had a facial before and I thought she'd only be touching my face! I was embarrased and didn't want her to touch my hands. I almost told her not to touch my hands, but then I didn't want to make a huge deal out of it or for her to think I was weird. leah_kas on "Thank God for this site" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=53#post-200 Tue, 18 May 2010 15:40:48 +0000 leah_kas 200@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ It is so good to know that I'm not alone! I stumbled across the site today and after reading other posts, I thought it would cathartic to admit to myself and others that I have a problem. I have been a finger nail biter and cuticle picker for years. When I was a little girl I bit my nails and my parents always tried to get me to stop. For some reason in college this developed into a finger and cuticle picking problem. I think it was because I finally grew my nails out, so instead of biting them they became my tool to pick and destroy my cuticles. My college roomate told me she even saw me picking in my sleep! Now as an adult I still have problems with nail biting and finger picking. My husband HATES it when I pick my fingers. I do it almost constantly and the noise drives him crazy. He tells me to stop, slaps my hands away, etc. He thinks its disgusting. I want to quit as much for him as I do for myself. My mother is afraid I'm going to end up with an awful infection one of these days. She thinks I should see a doctor, but I'm embarassed. Knowing there are others with this problem makes me feel like less of a freak. I will also seriously try to use some of the different techniques others have used. I know I avoid moisturizing my hands because dry hands make picking easier. I also peel skin off with my teeth, so the taste is bad too! I have all the supplies at home - I just need to start using them. I did buy myself moisturizing gloves from Bath and Body Works to wear when I watch TV with my husband. That has helped some. I feel like I should buy stock in Band Aids because I use them so much. I'll be checking back to see what works for others! Thanks for creating this site! booboo64 on "Finger Pickin' Bad as opposed to Finger Lickin' Good" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=52#post-199 Tue, 18 May 2010 15:10:03 +0000 booboo64 199@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ I am so glad to have run across this site. I am so frustrated at picking my thumbs. I do it constantly. I pick the side of my thumbs & the nail fold closest to the index fingers. The skin I peel back is right next to the nail & it ends up being some skin underneath the thumb nail. Sometimes if I still see skin right under the edge of the nail, I'll have to get tweezers & try to dig it out. Both of my thumb nails are growing differently. The right thumb nail is growing to the left & the left one is growing toward the right. I am 53 yrs old & started picking things around 7th grade. It has progressively gotten worse especially over the last 10 yrs. I asked myself what kind of feeling do I get from it. When I am able to remove the piece I'm after, I get a feeling of triumph or accomplishment. I do suffer from chronic anxiety, I think because I'm insecure & have low self worth. At times, I feel I lack purpose in my life & picking gives me something to focus on (from boredom) & my payoff is feeling in control & that I was productive in my goal. This is the first time I have said anything like this to anyone outside some of my family & a couple of close friends. It feels good to be able to get this out. Thx to everyone for sharing their problem. fireflower on "worse picking after discovering dermatillomania" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=49#post-181 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:45:06 +0000 fireflower 181@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ I feel like since I found out that this skin picking is actually a mild obsessive compulsive disorder, my skin picking has gotten worse. It's like now I have an excuse to do it. It's like I don't feel as bad about it anymore because I can just tell myself that I have a problem and that's why I do it, as opposed to just thinking its a bad habit that I can stop. I don't really think of myself as strange or weird for doing it now, especially because I have found out that there are so many more people that do the same exact thing as me. I guess instead of thinking of it as a bad habit I can control, I see it as an obsessive compulsive disorder that I have little control over. So yeah, all of that has really made it worse because it has almost made me feel like it is ok to pick now. I pick until I bleed more often than I used to. I pick to a way more extreme than I used to. In the past I have just picked my fingers (thumbs especially) and on a very rare occasion I would pick at my lips. But now I have started picking at my lips a lot more. I really hate that I pick at my lips though because I hate how it looks when I have a cut on my lips, I hate it even worse than how my fingers look. It is so much easier for people to notice cuts on my lips than on my fingers. Has anyone else had the problem that their picking got worse after discovering that it was actually a form of OCD and there was a name to it? Or if not, has there been anything that has made your picking way worse that you wouldn't mind sharing? booboo64 on "Finger Pickin' Bad as opposed to Finger Lickin' Good" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=51#post-194 Tue, 11 May 2010 02:21:47 +0000 booboo64 194@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ I am so glad to have run across this site. I am so frustrated at picking my thumbs. I do it constantly. I pick the side of my thumbs & the nail fold closest to the index fingers. The skin I peel back is right next to the nail & it ends up being some skin underneath the thumb nail. Sometimes if I still see skin right under the edge of the nail, I'll have to get tweezers & try to dig it out. Both of my thumb nails are growing differently. The right thumb nail is growing to the left & the left one is growing toward the right. I am 53 yrs old & started picking things around 7th grade. It has progressively gotten worse especially over the last 10 yrs. I asked myself what kind of feeling do I get from it. When I am able to remove the piece I'm after, I get a feeling of triumph or accomplishment. I do suffer from chronic anxiety, I think because I'm insecure & have low self worth. At times, I feel I lack purpose in my life & picking gives me something to focus on (from boredom) & my payoff is feeling in control & that I was productive in my goal. This is the first time I have said anything like this to anyone outside some of my family & a couple of close friends. It feels good to be able to get this out. Thx to everyone for sharing their problem. tammyeis on "First time on forum...It's true, I'm a picker too...ugh" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=50#post-187 Wed, 05 May 2010 03:49:54 +0000 tammyeis 187@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Let me begin by saying that this is the first time I have EVER registered on a forum and posted a message. So here goes my story...Ok, I googled finger picking because my husband is always complaining about my picking and now my 7 year old daughter has picked up the habit. I rationalized that if I could figure out how to stop my "bad habit" I could deter her from going down the same path. My thinking was that if I could give up coffee for 9 months during my pregnancy for her why couldn't I stop finger picking for her. I reasoned that if I could religiously take my pre-natal vitamins every night before I went to bed, since night was the only time I could keep them down due to months of morning sickness, then why can't I do this for my daughter. I came across this site and now after reading the posts I understand what a grip this has on people and myself. The posts made me laugh and cringe at the same time at the all too familiar stories. I just had a talk with my husband about a plan to have an accountability session each night around dinner time where we (my daughter and I) will show our hands and he will instead give us encouragement if we are doing better (at least that's the idea). I'm also going to pray (I realize that this isn't a faith based forum but I must confess that I believe in the power of prayer) about this issue. I get stressed easily and I know that this only increases the picking so I know I need to get my stress level down. It helps to know I'm not alone. I'm really disgusted and fed up with this problem and now I'm really concerned about my daughter. KH56 on "Helpful Tips Wanted!" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=48#post-178 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:20:40 +0000 KH56 178@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Hi there! This is the first time I have actively sought out any change to my picking behavior. I am 16 years old and an active member of my high school. My picking has been present as long as I remember but I was in control of it until I entered high school and up until this year the only time my picking was consistently a problem was during my runs. The picking has now escalated to an almost constant thing. I pick around my cuticles especially on my thumbs and several calluses have formed. I have been trying to keep my hands busy during class so I would pick less and I have found that doodling has helped some however I can't doodle all the time and as a member of the track and cross country teams I cannot stop running or doodle while running. My practices can be a serious problem since I am running up to 50 min at a time and constantly picking. So the whole purpose of sharing my life story is to see if anyone has any suggestions of ways to keep my hands busy especially while running. Any support or suggestions are appreciated! Thanks for reading my biography :P Doug4018 on "I want to cry, I had no idea" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=27#post-103 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:03:32 +0000 Doug4018 103@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Like a similar post made, I too researched why I picked my cuticles early on in the Internet days and just today decided to try it again. I can't fully put in to words what I'm feeling by finding this and other sites. I honestly had tears well up in my eyes reading the forums and seeing people type exactly almost word for word what I feel and go through. Now i've just got to figure out a treatment that will work. The most success i've had is using tape used in the medical field around my fingers, but so far two times i've almost healed completely only to start up again and be back where I am now with bloody scabby cuticles. Wow, thanks so much I can't express my gratitude for this site and that i'm not alone in this horrific thing. EG914 on "Manicure?" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=36#post-126 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:33:28 +0000 EG914 126@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ I'm 16 years old and a finger-biter/picker. I just found out a week ago that all my friends all want to get a manicure before a formal dance coming up this week. When I found out about these plans, I started stressing out. I don't want a stranger scrutinizing my horrible fingers! Suprisingly, the fear of this shame was enough to motivate me to try to stop. Still, I'm only a week out from this effort, and my nails are still very short and my fingers red and calloused. What I don't know is if a manicure could actually help me in healing my fingers, or if the shame would outweight any good. Has anyone gotten a manicure while in the process of healing their fingers? Was it a positive or negative experience? Laura_B on "Why do I ENJOY this?" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=23#post-76 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:23:04 +0000 Laura_B 76@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Hello all, My name is Laura and I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I'm 22 years old, and I've been picking, biting, and eating for as long as I can remember. Over the past few years, it's gotten to the point where I really, really need to stop. The first-digit joint on my fingers always seemed to be a natural barrier and I would usually stop picking once I reached it. But lately I've been going down past the first digit-joint and I'm quickly approaching the second. I've acually reached the joint connecting my hand to my thumb on my right hand. It only used to hurt when I went too deep and drew blood, but now it really hurts all them time below that first-digit joint. My biggest issue is that I really seem to ENJOY doing this. It's so incredibly satisfying to pull off a big piece of skin and feel how squishy it is between my top and bottom front teeth. SO GROSS, but I love it! I've stopped for weeks at a time, but when one little thing causes me to start biting again, I ruin all my fingers in one go. I also really like the fresh skin because you can get larger pieces easier and it's incredibly satisfying. I have a history of anxiety and depression since childhood, which I manage with exercise and antidepressants, plus vitamin D supplements and light therapy (to combat lack of sunlight in the winter due to being so far north.) I have a wonderful supportive boyfriend of 4 years - who I expect soon will become a fiance. I'd like to have my fingers looking nice so I can show off an egagement ring! So my question is this: how do you stop doing something that gives you so much satisfaction? Has anyone found a really successful replacement for biting? sarawr on "Finger picking and blood" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=22#post-71 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:17:02 +0000 sarawr 71@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ I've been picking and peeling at my nails and skin for years now, but it's getting worse. I pick my nails till there's not enough nail to peel, and I move on to the skin around the nail and the cuticles. Just yesterday I picked at my cuticle so much that it started to bleed almost uncontrollably. I know what it's like to peel until it bleeds, but it was shocking to see the amount of blood yesterday. Does anyone have the same problem? Picking until it draws a frightening amount of blood? admin on "Success Stories - tell us how you kicked the finger picking habit" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=10#post-22 Fri, 08 May 2009 21:02:06 +0000 admin 22@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Would love to hear from you... j9marie on "Road to Recovery" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=46#post-166 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:58:10 +0000 j9marie 166@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Last week I modeled for a Bridal Expo. As I was dressed in white head to toe, a social little flower girl showered me with compliments. “Oh your flowers are so pretty, I like your dress; Curly hair is so cool” followed by “Why are your fingers red”? This was just one of many times I’ve found myself embarrassed and explaining away a terrible lifelong habit I am desperate to rise above. I’m 26 years old and have been picking the nail beds of my fingers almost all my life. I had bit my fingernails as well but managed to kick that habit 6 years ago which only intensified the picking. Triggers I find that I pick when I’m bored or feeling anxious. My poor hands fall victim to meetings in the office, car rides or even when I’m home on the couch. Most the time I don’t realize I’m picking but even when I am aware I don’t have the self control to stop. There are times that the habit (disorder) seems to lessen but I haven’t been able to explain why. This past summer I had a couple months that were relatively good but also a very stressful time in my life. Go figure! Condition of my Hands All my finger tips are red in tone. When my habit (disorder) is worse they may bleed. My thumbs which are first to go are calloused, and bulbous on top from the years of picking. My actual nails are amazingly strong and long at this time but framed by real ugliness. What I’ve tried  Gloves  Lotion  Neosporin/ointments & a Plethora of bandaids  Vitamin E oil  Worry stone  Cuticle cutters to keep  Manicures  Hypnotherapy  Antidepressants/Anxiety Medication MOST Effective  Lotion – Specifically body cream which can be found at Bath & Body works. It’s heavy, moisturizing and absorbent. If I replace the act of picking w/lathering up I find I am able to replace the compulsion with something harmless. Plus, keeping my hands moisturized results in smoother, less calloused fingers that are not as tempting to pick.  Vitamin E oil – Heals skin quickly.  Manicures – I find I demonstrate more self control when I’m afraid of destroying a fresh manicure.  Busy hands – If I’m busy I don’t have the time to pick. I’m interested in sharing recovery plans, locating a support group and would love to witness some success stories. Wishing all my fellow finger freaks healing of injuries, disorders and habits. Natasja on "I did it again..." http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=45#post-165 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:56:21 +0000 Natasja 165@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Thats what I tell myself every time I look at my thumbs and inspect the damage. I pick, I tear, I eat. I've used razor blades, knives, scissors. Anything sharp to get at the skin on my thumbs and toes. I've never talked about it before. I always say "this is the last time, when this one heals I'll stop"... Never happens. I try to offer myself a reward like if I stop I'll get my nails done and so on... Never happens. It hurts to put my shoes on, it hurts when I cook getting salt,lemon juice or hot sauce on the sore spots. Its so embarrassing whenever I have to pay the cashier at the store, I know they are looking in disgust. My family and friends don't say anything but I know what they are thinking. I wish I could figure out why I do this, I want to stop so badly and be "normal". xx on "I am new to this site" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=44#post-164 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:50:53 +0000 xx 164@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ I never thought of finger picking to be an actual disorder until I looked it up on the internet and came across lots of sites including this one. I dont know why I do it, its uncontrollable. My fingers are starting to look distorded and uneven around the nails due to the amount of picking I do. It does upset me looking at them, but I cant help doing it. I just wish there was something that I can do to stop it. If anyone has any hints and tips that have worked for them please share it so everyone can see and maybe aswell as helping me it could also help others. Thanks.. jamzim on "Anyone with a finger-picking child?" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=35#post-125 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 01:03:00 +0000 jamzim 125@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Hi all, I have a 10-year-old who's picking and biting his fingernails and the surrounding skin. He has been doing this for a couple of years now, and it is getting progressively worse. He mostly picks and bites his thumbs, but has started on other fingers as well. His thumbs are sore, bleeding at times, and I can't even see the grooves (fingerprints) of the skin of his thumbs anymore. We have tried what everybody else on here has tried. Nothing seems to help. The only thing we have not tried is putting him on drugs. I just don't know whether that would do more harm than good. What are your experiences with children? How can they best be helped? icom10 on "disorder might be listed in the new DSM" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=43#post-158 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:23:34 +0000 icom10 158@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ Hi everyone My partner is a psychologist and saw that the new addition of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), will probably be adding skin picking disorder. It says it would probably go under the "Appendix for Further Research", and the criteria would be similar to Trichotillomania (which has been in the manual for quite awhile). <a href="http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=401#" rel="nofollow">http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=401#</a> Having it in the DSM could be helpful because it provides awareness, and in turn possibly better treatments. Just thought I'd share in case anyone was interested. Personally I have a hard time thinking I have a "disorder" per-se, but then again, I don't care what you call it if better treatments can be found :) Anonymous on "My fingers are throbbing!!!!" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=7#post-13 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:43:35 +0000 Anonymous 13@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ i am 35 and have been picking the skin around my fingernails for anout 25 years! my fingers are constantly sore, and very often throbbing, but i still keep going until its bleeding and thee isnt anymore i can do except move onto another finger. one finger doesnt bend as well as it used to and they look disgusting, yet i still cant stop. i am desperate to stop, but dont know where to ask, i have always thought it would be wasting a doctors time, but they are that painful i am willing to try anything. if anyone can advise i would be extremely grateful!! sabarrett on "Starting a Self-Control Therapy" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=12#post-31 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:47:52 +0000 sabarrett 31@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ I've picked my fingers for years. I don't even realize I start. It's triggered by stress or nervousness. It comes and goes, but right now I'm in a "sore point"...that is I've picked the fingers on both hands so much the soreness is interfering with everyday activities. I found this site today, but yesterday I had decided enough is enough, and I vowed to put an end to this. So every time I catch myself, I will stop. No matter what tempting little thing is hanging off my finger, nor how nervous I get. I'll post updates to let you all know how I'm doing with this. I've asked my wife to help me catch it. So I'm not going it completely alone. :) meela on "Picking with style" http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/topic.php?id=37#post-134 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:10:15 +0000 meela 134@http://www.fingerfreak.com/forums/ long time picker that has tried on and off to stop, but its hard to stop when you don't even realize you are doing it. one problem is that i can pick one handed. ie, on my right hand for instance, i use my index finger to pick my thumb, my middle finger/ring finger to pick my index finger, my thumb to pick my middle finger... so, when driving or watching tv, it just happens subconsciously without me thinking about it. anyone else have that ability?