ouchless substitutes

[downtimeheals]

I would love to hear people's ideas for harmless alternatives to picking--things that might help satisfy that "tactile fixation", let us indulge in grooming without the down side, or even induce a similar trance-like state, but without the aftermath.

Here are a few things I've thought of or come across:

--trimming split ends
--filing/painting nails (manicure, pedicure)
--peeling oranges/grapefruit
--picking nuts out their shells (they even make tools for that!)
--peeling the edges of bandaids/labels/stickers (how about dried Elmer's glue like in school!)
--peel-off facemasks
--knitting, needlework, etc.
--shredding napkins
--petting a cat, dog, etc.
--giving a massage (to self or other!)
--sculpture, fingerpainting, etc.
--popping bubble wrap
--picking corn off the cob
--eating pomegranate seeds out of the pomegranate

Anyway...you get the idea! Feel free to share anything you can think of. Thanks

[Carree]

We got a puppy about a month ago and I don't know if it is a coincedence or not but my picking has gotten dramatically better. I tend to pick more at night (usually when my husband and son go to bed) and lately I have been playing with her instead. Sometimes having a puppy and a 3 year old can be very stressful too....good thing I usually don't pick during the day or it might send me over the edge!!