psychiatrist's reaction

[theta]

hi,
I'm already seeing a psychiatrist, due to my depression, but have not yet told her about my picking problem (I tend to pick at my legs/feet). I'm a little bit worried that she will be dismissive of it, and think that it is not a big deal, or think that it's silly.
I just wanted to know if any of you had told a psychiatrist you were seeing, and what their reaction was like.
thanks,
Eva

[Carree]

Eva-

I just see my regular family doctor, I have only been seeing her for about a year now. I first just started out telling her about my stress/depression/OCD tendencies. I also pick my legs, they are my main target of my picking and have been as long as I can remember. My sister is the one who talked me into telling her about my picking. So a couple of months ago when I went in for a checkup I told her about it. I was pleasantly surprised by her reaction, it was such a relief to me!! She didn't think I was a freak, she said that skin picking is something that doctors know little about because people are too ashamed/embarrassed to talk about it. I really think that you should talk to your psychiatrist about your picking, I'm glad my sister talked me into telling my doctor! Let us know how it goes.

Carree

[scarface]

I told both my med doc and my GP, and both were very sympathetic. Definitely tell your doctor. My med doc is actually interested in learning more about the causes and possible treatments, so it's even more of a relief that I told him about it. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[theta]

thanks guys... what you've said has been pretty encouraging .
I'll try to bring it up with her soon.
thanks again,
Eva

[Laura]

I told my family doctor a year ago, and he prescribed Zoloft for me. I had to write a letter to him, because I just couldn't speak the words, and I cried when I gave it to him because I was so embarressed. But he totally understood, because he has a daughter a few years older than me, who also picks her pimples. Of course its not as severe as mine is, but I guess its better than him not understanding at all.

He also booked me in to see a Psychiatrist in early Jan 2004. I'll tell you how that goes when I've seen him.

[Love]

I've been seeing a therapist for a couple of months. this is my 2nd time in therapy. I've been on Celexa for about 2 years. i told my family doctor first and instead of just taking the drugs i asked her to recommend me to a therapist. My therapist (after seeing me for a couple of months) is recommending me to a Phychiatrist Feb 9th. Since the celexa has not helped with the picking. Anyway, my advice is to get a team of people helping you. It took me a long time to realize I could not do it on my own.

[Maria]

I live in a small midwestern town and when I told my dr. and psychiatrist they dismissed it and didn't really see the problems it was causing in my life. They have apparently never heard of this disorder and don't realize that it's a compulsion. I was prescribed Zoloft for other things though and I have found that it does decrease my desire and length of picking sessions a little.

[misha]

hi, i have been to a couple of therapists and a lot of dermatologists who would simply say "stop picking" and that was basically it. i should'nt give up on the search for proper help for my specific problem. i have been diagnosed with body dismorphic disorder, but from my own research, i know my main problem is OCD and CSP. good luck eva, my focal problem is my face, and i can't hide it like leg pickers can.i'm sorry, i know that you know it's there. i hope that you find good help. sincerely, Mish

[bluegem]

if you find your doctor doesn't react in a helpful way, see someone else. it is very discouraging and i've come to dislike gps. the past year i have had girly problems and several gps have just dismissed it as the usual, only it hasn't gone away so it's not something to just dismiss. i don't have the courage to see a doctor about picking yet, but if you do, it might help to take some info on it from the net if they haven't heard much about it. like girly problems, skin picking is a topic that most people don't really want to bring up. except of course if you suffer from it, because we're the only ones who can really understand! good luck with telling your doctor and remember if one doctor doesn't please you, there are bazillions more!

[Tiggerette]

Hi,

I'm new here (well I've been lurking a few days) and when I read this post I just wanted to add to the advice given.

I've been picking for as long as I can remember and like many here, it's been such a relief to find I'm not a freak and that other people have the same problem.

This week I had to have a pre-employment medical and I was really stressed about the fact that I would have to undress and the doctor would see my wonderful catalogue of scars and scabs. It's very hard to explain to anyone why I do it and at the moment I have so many fresh scabs I couldn't use my favourite excuse of 'reaction to insect bites' and in any case that only works if you are only exposing a small area, not a whole pock-marked body!

Finally, after a couple of sleepless nights I decided that honesty was the best policy and I printed off the following information from an OCD website

www.ocdaction.org.uk/skin-picking.htm

I gave it to the doctor to read before I got undressed. It worked a treat, I didn't have to try and give any explanation of my scars and he didn't ask any awkward questions as he understood the situation. In fact he was very nice about it, and reassured me that it many people suffer with this.

I passed my medical and have got my new job, and I know have a lot more faith in the medical profession. I intend to carry that information with me everywhere and if I find myself in that sort of situation again, I will have it there as an explanation, saving myself a lot of stress and embarrassment.

Hope it helps some of you.......look forward to talking to you all some more!

[aj]

Please don't be ashamed and don't let anyone "brush" off this problem. I've seen many therapists and psychiatrists and never mentioned the skin picking until a couple of years ago. My psych at the time was so supportive and she and I tried several meds that would target OCD. She moved and I had to start with a new phsych and he's great, totally understands what's going on and we are now trying a new drug that hopefully will target the skin picking. I also have a new therapist and he's very supportive and encouraging. I had a female therapist that didn't really think skin picking was and OCD problem and that lack of belief really affected my depression and self esteem issues, I stopped seeing her. Please try to find another doctor, you can sometimes find out if they deal with OCD issues on a physicians' website, or even call their office, a nurse would tell you. Healing is much easier when you have a doctor that believes in you.

AJ

[sos]

Hi to all and Eva,
I know that the doctors I've come across where in live here not been so great about the problem...they don't even act like I said anything just writing down stuff and dishing out meds...but I'm still searching for a good doctor...I do have a pretty good therapist...I have learned more here, then anywhere...
ox,
sos