Hi

[pickle]

TEXT

Hi,

Im new to this board. I dawned on me tonight that the finger picking is a real problem. Im 33 and have done this all my life. I used to bite my nails until I turned 21 and desided that I wanted long nails, so I do. But that dosn't stop me from ripping the skin off around the fingers.

Im wondering if it's some sort of self distructive thing. Insted of cutting I pick.

It's good to know that Im not the only one with this problem.

Thanks for listening.

Pickle

[Hush]

Hi Pickle,
I pick my fingers too. It might be a self-destructive thing, for me I think its an irrational need for perfection that actually leaves me more messed up than I would be otherwise.
Welcome to the group, I hope you find it helpful!

[pickle]

It's hard to stop. This past weekend I was camping out with friends and one of them turned to me and said me that it looked really painful and why did I do it. I replyed that it's some sort of self destructive behavior. But it was embaricing to be called on it in front of others.

Last night I went to get a snack with a friend. I love tea with lots of lemon and no sugar. You can imagen that.
Right now I have a thumb, a middle finger and a first finger all torn up. It's bad to because it's all on the sides where you would type or write with a pencil.

I have great nails thought!

Pickle

[Hush]

My friends remark on my fingers also, funny thing is that for years I thought that they were just dry and didn't realize how constant and destructive my picking was when I wasn't even aware- while driving, watching tv, on the computer. So thats' what I would tell them, theyr'e just dry. I don't think they believed it...
I hate the painful raw feeling it gives, definitely the painful writing. I also hate when you get out of the shower and the skin is all funky looking and white.
Unfortunately my fingers aren't my only area- but the worst. I have permanent scars on my cuticles- I think they will always be red. And my fingernails are awful anyway- an equation for some ugly hands!
Slim Pickins

[pickle]

It's too bad that the energy can't be focused on other things like working out. But we carry our hands with us every where. I used peel the skin off the balls of my feet. But you know it's hard to walk when your feet are all torn up. I also rip my toe nails off. Again hard to walk but only because the toe is being squeshed in the shoe. And where I live wearing hikeing boots is an every day thing.

It's nice to be able to talk about it with someone who understands the compultion of picking. It's hard to stop.

Pickle