What can I do to stop picking at hangnails and scabs?

October 27, 2008 - 9:50am 470 reads 2 comments

Seems like all my life I've been unable to leave things alone on my skin to let them heal. It's almost a subconscious thing -- I might be watching TV and I catch myself picking at a hangnail, a pimple on my arm, maybe a little scab somewhere that I know I should leave alone, and it feels like I just can't.

I know I do it more when I'm stressed. And I know I do it more in the winter months, when my skin is dry. (But I hate the greasiness of lotion.)

I hear others talk about nail-biting in this same way, but I've never been a nailbiter. (Ironic, because if I was a nail-biter, I couldn't pick at my skin, LOL, I'd have no nails to do it!)

Has anyone had success actually breaking a nervous habit permanently?

Add A New Comment

Report Abuse

Add A New Comment2 Comments

Comment by Anonymous on October 27, 2008 - 7:29pm

I've had recent success stopping the picking habit by recognizing why I'm picking. I realized, like you, that I scratch or pick at my skin when I'm in an "uncomfortable moment" -- anxious, indecisive, stressed, etc.

Now, instead of picking, I give myself permission to do *whatever* I want. If I find myself scratching at my skin while I'm working on something, I get up and take a break. Sometimes I clean (which I find relaxing). Sometimes I read a magazine or do one of my hobbies (music, drawing, etc.).

I think my picking derives from feeling like I always have to be "in line," on good behavior, plugging away at my to-do list. But what's life if that's all I'm doing?! Now I understand that I can take breaks, go at my own pace, even entertain diversions without falling behind, and that doing so doesn't mean I'm goofing off. I'm just living.

Comment by Anne on October 28, 2008 - 9:40am

Thank you, thank you. What an understanding post with such good advice.

Basically, you're talking about finding another outlet for the stress of the moment, which is a really healthy thing for me to do.

I'm going to try to stay conscious of when I'm picking at my skin and see if just taking a break and doing something else helps me stop.

(The concept that it's not goofing off will take me a while! Good to know that you're doing ok with that, LOL.)

Are you a member? Log in first to track your posts

Not a member? Join us. Membership is not required to post.

Tell us what you think: *

More information about formatting options

If you would like to be notified via email when someone comments on this post, please enter your email address below:

We never share email addresses with third parties. Your email address will be used to notify you of activity on your post and send you our newsletter if you choose to sign up for it.

Verify that you are a human (not a computer):

This is necessary to prevent computer programs from automatically posting spam or other irrelevant content on EmpowHER.com. Enter the characters in the box to the left (case sensitive). Do not enter spaces between the characters.