Picking Until It Bleeds

Picture these scenarios and see if it matches your experience:

Bloody Fingernail Picking

You’re busy picking a juicy spot on your finger — or a spot on the side of your thumb that’s constantly callused and easy to pick. Only minutes later, after moving on to other things, you notice blood pooling in your cuticle. You ball up a kleenex around your hand to staunch the flow and keep your clothes from getting stained.

Bloody Toenail Picking

You’re picking your big toenail, right inside corner where the nail is chipped and softer than the rest of the toenail. The sensation is really satisfying — until you tear off such a piece of the nail so large hat the skin its attached to rips off as well, causing a sharp pain. Seconds later the blood begins pooling

Drawing your own blood can be a sign that your compulsive picking habit is going to far. Whether you’re deliberately trying to harm yourself, or just absent-mindedly picking out of boredom or anxiety — picking to the point of bleeding can indicate a serious problem with psychological roots.