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Went to gp for allergic reaction come out with an ocd diagnosis

8 replies

NoWittyNamesAvailable · 03/01/2019 19:18

I visited the gp today as i had a reaction to micropore tape, antihistime was not helping. After being checked over, and the doctor looking at the area affected we discussed the fact that i cant help picking at my skin (reason for needing to use dressing and micropore) and how when anxious it gets worse. This wound has been there for a year now due to me being unable to stop. I have to make an appointment to go back as she thinks i have OCD, compulsive skin picking. Has anyone else had experience of this and how to help stop it?

OP posts:
Mymomsbetterthanyomom · 03/01/2019 19:24

Definitely need to be careful.
You can end up with MRSA qith an open wound. Good luck to you.

coolcrispwinter · 03/01/2019 19:29

Could you find something else to pick?

For example, paint some nail varnish or PVA onto some plastic item and pick at that. Get a piece of imitation leather and pick the coating off it.

Bombardier25966 · 03/01/2019 19:34

You've not got an OCD diagnosis, your GP would need to refer you to secondary care for that.

Can you identify your triggers? They may refer you for CBT to look at how you can break the cycle you're in.

NoWittyNamesAvailable · 03/01/2019 20:31

I meant to say possible in the title, sorry. She mentioned referring me for counselling, i need to go back to discuss it and put things in place. The appointment today was an emergency one for an allergic reaction so other than briefly telling me she thinks I have OCD and I need to come back not much else was said.

I was looking for advice on how to break the cycle that I'm in. My anxiety is very high recently which is making it worse, i scratch and pick a lot when I'm like this and im not always aware that I'm doing it.

OP posts:
Raven88 · 03/01/2019 22:52

www.nhs.uk/conditions/skin-picking-disorder/ here's some info that might be helpful.

It's a type of impulse control disorder and it's pretty common.

Raven88 · 03/01/2019 23:07

When I'm anxious I pick my face and I lose track of time. I force myself to stop now but that's because I took razor to my nose to get rid of blackheads and I didn't realise what I was doing. I'm scarred now. I also had an episode where I went to get a knife to get rid of blackhead. It was like I was on autopilot and that time I realised what I was about to do and stopped myself. That scared me a lot. I have no sharp objects in the bathroom.

messyhousetidymind · 04/01/2019 00:02

There's some info on the anxietycanada website if you search for skin picking in their search box

GobblersKnob · 04/01/2019 15:10

If they are OCD compulsions you'll need professional help really, it not something you can just stop.

I also have OCD and am allergic to micropore (which is supposed to be totally non allergenic) so, snap Grin

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