How do I stop picking?

[PaperPanama]

It’s my nose. I had a tiny nosebleed in the heatwave, and the scab constantly irritated me. I keep blowing it out or picking at it without even thinking, so it never heals and keeps reforming and irritating me all over again.. I need to stop. But how, when it’s so irritating, and when I’m rarely aware of the picking until I’ve done it?

I must be able to stop myself, because I don’t pick in public.

Oh, and just to complicate things, I think I also do it in my sleep.

Stuck a bit of vaseline up there for a few days and then it won't get crusty and you won't want to pick it off.

Good idea. I’ll give it a try.

Second the Vaseline. I was on Roaccutane which caused my nose to crack and bleed inside and the Vaseline worked a treat.

Put an elastic band on your wrist, every time you fancy a pick pull the elastic band instead so it slaps you. This technique can also be used to stop food cravings

Slightly left field, but what are your iron levels like? I’ve heard there’s a correlation between repetitive picking/pulling behaviours and low ferritin.