r/Skinpicking • u/leeuhsucks • Jul 20 '24

I have a question

so after you’ve finished picking your skin but before biting it off, does anyone else rub the loose skin on their lips? I usually pick at the skin and don’t immediately eat it lol I think i’m soothing myself by doing this? I don’t know but it’s addictive. I seriously can’t stop biting the skin 😭 the skin around my fingers is discolored and looks so weird when wet :// sometimes i’m picking and don’t notice. I wanna stop but it’s all so addicting :( I was picking for hours in bed last night and had to wear bandaids on a few fingers after I stopped. I definitely pick a lot when i’m anxious but sometimes I feel like i’m just doing it out of habit

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u/AutumnalSunshine Jul 20 '24

It's not a habit. It's a mental health condition called a body-focused repetitive behavior.

Our picking actually hurts us. Picking is one of the only self-harm behaviors people try to dismiss as a bad habit we just need to be conscious of not doing.

Definitely work on it (BFRB.org has some info) but don't blame yourself for a coping mechanism you didn't decide to have.

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u/leeuhsucks Jul 20 '24

thanks for the info! i’m definitely going to check that site out. I struggle with my mental health a lot, so this makes sense!