Skin picking

[BirdIsland]

I pick constantly at my skin and have only recently found out that skin picking caused by anxiety is an actual recognized 'thing'.

I've always thought I was just a bit restless/fiddly with my hands - in meetings I scratch my scalp, fiddle with my hair, scratch at my nails etc. It must look awful and I'm sure people notice. I'm desperate to stop (I'm giving myself bald patches from scratching my scalp) and I've seen jewellery like rings that are meant to help. Has anyone tried these? Or have any suggestions on how I can just sit bloody still for once??

I'm not sure about the rings, but this organisation might help?

https://trichotillomania.co.uk/

Nothing specific, just general advice that addressing stress levels is the better way to go. By which I mean, doing things that are the antidote to stress/anxiety, for you.

I light a scented candle while I work, do Tai Chi and walk my dog, actively work at managing anxiety and stress by good lifestyle stuff.

Otherwise I binge eat, skin pick, and generally spiral!

If the stress is outside our control, which it often is, all we can do is fortify ourselves against it. Loads of calming, soothing activities.

It can be caused by anxiety, asd, adhd or ocd. If you really want to stop you're going to need to spend a lot of time with a good therapist and work out what is causing it in you then they will help you find the right course of treatment for you.
Good luck
Edited for typos

Hi OP. I suffer with this too.

One thing I have noticed is my hands don't pick when they have something useful to do (but I don't find fiddling keeps them busy long so I am skeptical about a ring doing much good), so when I'm playing computer games on my laptop rather than watching shows. I suspect similarly becoming one of those people who knit/ sew/ cross stitch etc. in front of the tv might be quite beneficial.

The other thing is that I can make it not satisfying to pick somewhere if I am trying to break the relaxation it gives me- for instance by putting moisturiser on my face, tying my hair up, wearing tights under a skirt etc.

Nothing helped me until I started adhd medication- one of the many unexpected benefits. It may not always be adhd but seems to be common.

Thank you so much everyone! Until recently I honestly thought I was just fidgety and weird. It's actually a bit reassuring to know it's not just a me thing (although sorry for those also struggling).

Unfortunately I have a stressful job so can't really avoid the stress triggers, but maybe taking some steps towards making the rest of my life less stressful might be better than trying to find 'quick fixes'.

It's horrible, I have a particular patch on my scalp that I pick and as soon as I'm not at work I stop. Tying hair back helps but then I just can't stop myself untying it!

Fidget rings.
Ebay has a variety at not very expensive. Dd used to use them a lot.

I pick too. It's really hard to stop.