This isn't self harm is it? or is it?

[12yearsinazkaban]

when I get really stressed or overwhelmed I scratch myself. not in a 'hurt myself way' but I find the noise and the feelings sometimes become too much and it's easier to focus on one spot of my body and just itch it like a mosquito bite. I have come up with scabs (bit I haven't bled, it just goes red)

This isn't normal behaviour for me but It is embarrassing. i have been toying with the idea of buying noise cancelling headphones to help but I have small children and can hardly not listen. I don't know what to do?

When it happens (when everyone is talking, my mind is racing, heart is beating fast, my skin feels like its crawling) I sometimes cry I'm so over whelmed or put my head in my hands and scratch my neck, I don't even know I'm doing it until my collar touches the area and it hurts. I also fold my arms tight and sometimes scratch them.
DH has asked about the marks and I was embarrassed because it is self influxted but j don't realise I'm doing it. or in the moment I'm so overwhelmed I just can't think and stop myself.
it's very strange to try to explain.

this hasn't happened when I was a child, only as an adult. I do have trouble with my ears, possibly tinnitus? And so noise is really a big problem for me. Could it be related to that? I am not diagnosed with it, and it isn't daily so I'm not sure if it even is but it certainly doesn't help.

Possibly anxiety attack? I don't know really. does anyone have anything similar that they do? or how to bring yourself out of the moment ans stop or to even prevent getting to the overwhelmed stage at All?

I know its long, sorry, thanks for reading of you got this far.

I have ended up with scabs on my scalp and sore, raw ears for similar reasons so you aren’t alone.
I’m just not sure what to do though. Establishing triggers sounds a good start.

It could be anxiety but it sounds like a sensory overload reaction, have you spoken to a GP about it?

Sensory overload.

I don't react like you do but I do have an issue with loud noise like shouting or screaming, load TV etc.

I would remove myself, turn tv off.

I adore peace and quiet.
Being in my home on my own is heavenly.

it is why I have so much sympathy for those who have WFH partners!

My friend had tinnitus for a period and she said she was beyond stressed by it.

Thankfully it eventually went away after a year but it made her hype about any pain in her ear.
Hers was as a result of an ear infection.

I think you should definitely speak to your GP.

Sounds more like a 'stim' a self stimulating behaviour. It's most common in autistic people, but everyone does it to a degree. Example of common 'stims' include nail biting, hair twirling, joint cracking, finger tapping.
A lot of people with trauma disorders and anxiety and panic disorders benefit from grounding techniques, which can include holding ice cubes, snapping a hair or elastic band on their wrist or pinching themselves. There are other things which are less likely to hurt the person, like sucking a lemon or eating A piece of gum or mint, or feeling a cold crystal or object in their pocket. It can also be helpful to go through your senses working out what you can smell, see, hear etc.
Breathing techniques can be really helpful too.

I don't think this is intentional self harm. Sounds to me like a coping strategy which is a little maladaptive. In that it is working but there could be 'better' options which don't leave you with scratched areas. I would look into grounding techniques and stimming and try and find some alternatives.

I have recently diagnosed ADHD and sensory issues and I pick and scratch my skin and have done for over 30 years (dermotillomania). I do see it as self harm because it’s damaged my skin but it’s not conscious self harm, iykwim. I don’t have any tips to help, but do understand what you’re describing.

Go to your GP and ask their opinion and for tests. Noise sensitivity could be health related and you do need a diagnosis for your ear problem. Hope you get sorted.

DH does this, and over the past 6momths, it has become totally out of control. We think it is as a result of childhood trauma which has come to the fore after more recent severe stresses.
He has had several skin infections, and signed off work.
He is undergoing therapy, and has been prescribed antidepressants.

It is surprising how many people suffer from it, there are some self help books available 1 called skin picking the freedom to finally stop, which might be helpful. Bin

Stim due to sensory overload

thanks everyone sensory overload is definitely how I would describe it.

Can you research deep pressure for autism? I find different sensory input in time reduces any harmful stims

I would also agree with sensory overload or stim. I'm autistic and also scratch. Mostly it's my head or my wrists. I can sit for hours scratching at my scalp. It used to be my legs and they used to crack and bleed.

I do it when stressed and I do think it is a form of self harm (sorry). I often don't realise until later how much damage I've done.

My daughter who does similar, has found some help with these fidget rings Relief Stress Fidget Ball Rotatable Ring Meditation Rings Party Jewelry | eBay
Have you tried something like this?

Dermalomania ( of however its spelled)
its not really " self harm" but it is in the OCD-need-to-speak-to-the-gp category
i do when im reeeeaally stressed or overwhelmed
ive been really bad at times. Sometimes for months and years!
im mostly controlled now apart from one area.
try and keep your nails rounded and short

I use the ear plugs (eg loop) to reduce sound rather than block it completely. That helps me. My head scratching is usually following a certain train of thought for me. I tried to keep track for a few days to really hone in on it. Do try keeping shorter nails too as suggested above.

Body-focused repetitive disorder?

I have excoriation disorder, aka dermatillomania

I do the same, I don’t see it as self harm either and sometimes don’t even know I’m doing it

I've also had to tinnitus since I was a young teenager, but never been diagnosed as it's never caused me a problem, I'm just aware of it.

Try
putting a plaster on and ripping it off or rubbing ice over your wrists
Both can work well

It is a stim but I would also class it as self harm as you are harming yourself as opposed to hair twirling for example. In my experience, most self harm is purely a maladaptive coping strategy, like this.

You have my sympathy as I also struggle with sensory over load (I'm autistic).

You could try some other techniques to help you calm down, like an ice pack on your neck, or putting your face in water to stimulate the diver reflex. You will need to practise these techniques at times you are only a little stressed in order to make them your go to response when stressed. Good Luck.