Compulsive skin picking - can’t stop

[Fedupofpicking]

What is the best treatment that’s not CBT (I don’t respond to CBT)

I can’t stop picking my hands. I can’t function some days due to the soreness. I often get infections. I can’t stop I’m even doing it in my sleep, I have autism and adhd.

I’ve been doing it since I was approx 4 and I need to stop

I am the same. It takes a lot of control and I took up knitting

Traumatic Incident Reduction. It's what I do. www.tira.org .I have successfully helped people with compulsive eating, cleaning, vomiting, drinking and cutting. They now consider themselves "cured", although I always warn that the same symptom can come up for a different root cause.

Thanks I’ll have a look. I need to stop and I just can’t and I’m in pain every day but I can’t stop doing it

While you address the underlying cause, would a picky stone help?

I’ve tried fidget type toys before but I go back to my hands or I do it as well 🤦‍♀️

You need to break the cycle. It's really hard. I've been there. I did it for over 30 years, from the age of 10. Keep hands moisturised all the time, like copious amounts. My temptation was dry bits of skin on my knuckles. I would switch fingers when one got too bad. Keep nails very short. I never used implements to pick as the satisfaction the same as picking with my nails.

Sit on your hands when watching tv or doing something where you subconsciouly pick. Wear thin gloves if you need to. And above all, I'd say be honest with people. People knew my hands were red raw. You're not hiding it from anyone. They know you are picking. I would be embarrassed if they asked. I was constantly trying to hide my hands. In the end I was just honest and said look, I've got this compulsion and I'm trying to stop, if it was smoking I could just stop buying ciggies but I can't leave my hands at home so I'm a wearing gloves for a bit and change the subject.

It was hard for a few weeks, but I broke the habit. I now get manicures at a salon, something which was impossible before. I can go swimming and my hands don't look like glowing red and white beacons. I can write notes in meetings with my pad on the desk rather than on my lap trying to hide my hands. I can shake someone's hand without feeling embarrassed. I absolutely felt it controlled everything but the last few years have been amazing since I've stopped.

Sorry to hear that. Are you doing all the things that help to support general mental health - hydration, nutrition, exercise, time outside in daylight, sleep etc? Something that struck a chord with me recently is 'relaxing on purpose'.

I hair pull btw - anxiety and neurodiversity. I realise how difficult it is to overcome.

Can you cover them? With very thin gloves so there's a physical barrier? Sounds horrible for you OP, hope you find something that helps.

as the satisfaction was not the same as picking with my nails.

I stopped when I got my nails done. I can’t do that at the moment so I’ve started again. It’s awful.
Gloves?
Anything to occupy your hands. Reading (holding a book), knitting, puzzles, crosswords, journaling.

You could consider NAC (supplement easily available) - has shown some promise for skin picking in clinical trials.

Same I have adhd too