Is this self-harming?

[MatchsticksForMyEyes]

For as long as I can remember, I have always had to have something to mess with with my hands. I have always bitten my nails, apart from brief periods where they have grown, before I chewed them all off again. I bite and pull at the bits of skin around my nails. This isn't too bad at the moment, but when I was younger I used to do it even though I bled.
If I get a cut or anything that forms a scab I pick and pick at it until it is a mess and have lots of small marks on my body from when I have done this.
As I teenager I could never leave spots well alone.
Currently I have 3 insect bites that would have gone had I not scratched and scratched them til they became sores.
DH has a real go at me over it, which doesn't really help. I don't know what would. I don't want to be covered in marks, but I can't help myself.

I've done this with skin, mostly unconsciously - I feela bit stressed and then suddenly realise i've picked my fingers to bits. I do think it's a self harm thing really..ended up getting a self hypnosis thing for 'skin picking' which helped, or at least I think it did, definitely don't do it as much now and I did it for years

I think it all depends on when these behaviours occur and why. My DH loves picking scabs, squeezing spots and cannot leave anything like that alone but he is def not SHing. I, however, classicly SH by cutting. It is linked to feelings of anxiety, stress, needing a release, not being able to cope emotionally with a situation etc. I think if your picking etc is linked to those type of feelings (obviously yours may be different) then I'd say yes it possibly is. If, like my DH, you are absentmindedly picking at them then I'd say probably no.

I reckon sparklekitty is absolutely right, and very concisely explained.

It's like I feel better if I have taken the top off a scab, like I want it to be all smooth. I don't feel satisfied until it's off.
The finger picking and biting is stress related I think. But the scabs and things I can't work out as they then last ages and leave a bigger mark.

Hhmmm, thats a tricky one. The nail biting and picking sounds like a possible form of SH. The scab thing sounds a little different, I'm by no means a prof at all but the need for it to be smooth etc sounds a bit like the satisfying feeling SHers sometime get from dressing and caring for wounds. I know lots of people for example cut then don't look after the wounds but for me part of the process if cutting and hurting then the 'looking after myself' part, dressing the cut and putting oil over the scar etc.

I have to say if you're worried (and I'm guessing you are a bit otherwise you wouldn't be asking the question) then it might be worth talking to someone (GP, MH prof etc) about it. The worst they can do is give you advice on alternative coping strategies etc, however, they may be able to help with the cause of your stress/anxiety. Also please remember, they will not judge you or think any less of you, SH is more common than most people think xx

Thank you for posting this. I always bite and pick at the skin around my nails until they bleed. I keep going even though I'm in a lot of pain. I've never looked at it as self harm before but it makes sense.

Sorry I have no advice but your not on your own. I've been building myself up to start my own thread on my many issues but I'm too scared to. I maybe will one day. I've namechanged for this so nothing stopping me posting now.