My sister will stand in front of the mirror for over an hour sometimes just picking at her face.  She doesn't even have bad skin, but she is not satisfied until she's found every clogged pore or blackhead and picked with it.  She knows the consequences of doing this; she has some slight scarring.  Despite this, she is unable to keep herself from doing this.  She says that she derives some type of pleasure from it and that it is difficult to stop once she gets started.  I assume it provides her with some kind of release or catharsis, similar to the type feeling that self-mutilators feel.  But when I tell her it is a form of self-mutilation, she dissagrees. I know it sounds strange, but any insight on this problem would be appreciated.
216344
I'd call it more of a compulsion then an addiction but yes. Many people including myself have this problem. It does give you a sorta pleasurable release. For me it isn't just my face but anywhere and it can be a pimple or just a scab. Can't help myself I just pick it. Sounds gross I know... lol. It doesn't have to be on me either. Whenever I see someone with a ripe pimple it is all I can do not to reach out and pop it for them. I used to BEG my boyfriend to let me pop his pimples and blackheads. He HATED it but because he knew how much I loved doing it he would let me... lol.
80210
dude i have the same problem and share your pain. i use to cut myself, but then it seemed so stupid so please dont do that.what really works for me is talking about my problems with my mom,sister,cousin or a really trustful friend, because they dont judge me based on what i say,do or feel.they will try to help you out as much as they can and understand what youre going through and give you advice. you dont need therapy to figure out whats wrong and waste all that $$ when you can talk to someone at home for free :)\nmusic=escape from reality
509773
He is not the only one dear !! Join the club of Skin Pickers wifes lol ! No matter what you tell him he will not stop. Mine picks a small sore on  his forehead, starts to heal and  guess what !! Only thing is reminding him to wash his hands and reminding him that it will leave scars and intruducing GERMS to skin can be a big problem. Do they listen NOOOOOOO ! So let them PICK AWAY !!!!!!!!!! LOL.
662636
There are a lot of reasons people cut themselves.  If it's a close friend you're talking about, maybe you could ask her why she does it.\n\nFor some people, cutting is a way to get attention.  People tend to look down on people who do this, but really cutting for attention is an act of despiration, and definitely still means there's something wrong.  I've read about kids who cut for reasons like their sibling is really sick and they feel like everyone is paying attention to their sibling and ignoring them.  Or it might be because they're in a really bad situation at home or at school and don't know how else to ask for help.  Or it may just be that they have the kind of personally that likes attention.\n\nAnother reason some people cut is because they think it's cool. This isn't the case for most cutters, but some people, especially young teens, start cutting because their friends do it or because they think it will make them seem more grown up.\n\nThe last major reason people cut, and the hardest to understand, is to deal with emotional pain or stress that they can't deal with other ways.  People who do this will usually try to hide their cuts and keep it secret, so people tend to associate cutting with the first two reasons more than this one, simply because they don't know about this last reason.  For some people it basically serves as punishment for something they feel guilty about.  For some it makes them feel alive when they feel emotionally numb.  For others, it helps them deal with other things.  I'm not entirely sure why this last one works, but I think it is basically because the physical pain takes your mind off the emotional pain, and physical pain is easier to deal with.  I'm not sure that really explains it, but it's the best I can do right now.  If you want to know more about it you're welcome to email me by the Answers contact link and I can try to explain it a bit better.
278492
Yes.  It's called "neurotic excoriations".  \n\n↓↓↓This is a GREAT article about it.↓↓↓  \n\nhttp://www.aafp.org/afp/20011215/neurph.html\n\nMy mother-in-law has this and she takes antidepressants to help her stop.
269729
I don't know. But if you are cutting yourself at all, you need to tell someone (like a parent or doctor). This isn't "normal behavior", and could signify that you are suffering from a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes depression, among other things. Why do you cut yourself? Do you feel "relief" (from "anxiety, perhaps?)? How do you feel about your life, are you a happy person? Or do you "blame yourself" for lots of things (that are likely not your fault, although you may think otherwise)? Please talk to someone about this. If you are afraid to talk to someone you know, you can call anonymously to a counseling office. You can talk to me.\n-Tera (time4u420@yahoo)
488654
Ok...I'm going to tell you a true story.\n\nThis 12 year old girl who was new at my school. She was a foster child and had no parents, she wasn't happy with her appeearnce because people made fun of her because she looked like a guy. She only went to our school for a week and then after that week....the whole entire school  heard she had died in her bed and that she cuts herself and on accident, she cutted one of her viens and it spillt a lot of blood, so she lost a lot of blood and died. This was a true story. Viens are everywhere in your body...so pleaese dont cut yourself.\n\nI dont know what you've been thro or whats going on in your life thats making you want to cut yourself but please...whatever you do, dont. There are a lot fo kids now and these days who think they're going thro a lot and they take it out by cutting themselves....taking it out on their flesh and skin which is not good at all. If you cut yourself a lot...you will eventually lose a lot of blood which is unhealthy.\n\nBut whatever you're going thro now....dont think about it...change whatever is bothering you and change it. Write something down in your journal or notebook or diary you keep private and let it all out...you'll feel a whole lot better. Take it out on a notebook papr instead of taking it out on your skin. \n\ngod bless you
170915
For some reason, self injurious behavior is very addicting. Once you start, it's very hard to stop. I started cutting when I was 12--I'm now 28 and still fight the urge.  Since you just started, you need to work really hard at stopping.  If you feel like you really need help, you need to reach out to an adult that you trust and can talk to.  When you feel the urge to cut, call a friend or find another outlet---sports, drawing, working out, music, writing your feelings down, hobbies.  You need to get control over this now because the longer you do it, the harder it is to stop.\n\nI have an adult friend who also cuts.  She cuts to the point of having to go to ER.  So, this is very serious--if you don't gain some control, it'll control you and only get worse.\nIf you're suicidal, you really need to talk to your parents.  You may need some different meds.\n\nPlease find someone you can reach out to! And never feel like people don't/can't understand because there are many people who do this.  You're not alone.\n\nBest of luck to you!\n\nhttp://www.palace.net/~llama/psych/injury.html\nhttp://www.focusas.com/SelfInjury.html\nhttp://teenagerstoday.com/resources/articles/mutilate.htm\nhttp://www.coolnurse.com/self-injury.htm
182030
Some people with OCD or impulse control disorders do it.  Its a compulsive behavior.  Kind of like trichotillomania.
50812
Usually someone who cuts herself is doing it to block out other pain in her life.  The pain from the cut is easier to bear than the emotional pain the young person is suffering.  It is hard to understand, but often the cutting actually makes them feel better.  It is an unhealthy way of coping with life.  It is mostly young females who cut themselves.  It is a cry for help, and sometimes a cry for attention.  Dramatic reaction to the cutting can lead to more cutting to get the reaction.  It can be habit forming.  Believe it or not, there are groups among young people who consider it "cool" to cut.\n\nCheck out http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/feeling_sad/cutting.html which may give you some ideas.  \n\nAn Internet search about it will give you lots of websites to check out.  YOu may need help to deal with this.  Can you contact a high school guidance counselor for example?  He or she may have lots of information on this topic.\n\nI hope this helps.  Good luck with your work, and God bless.
535018
Everything that has been said so far is amazing, so I won't elaborate much. \nI was emotionally abused as a child, and at the ripe old age of 22 have experienced the spectrum of eating disorders, emotional problems and, of course, medications. As a function of my self-hatred, I began to cut myself a couple years ago. I have since stopped, but still have times where I struggle.\n\nI used cutting as a way to 'come down' from a state of manic anxiety, panic or just emotional pain in general. I definitely recommend getting help through a psychiatrist/psychologist, and embarrassing as you may find it, reach out to anyone that you are close to so that you will have a support system in your time of need. \n\nFrom my experience, I recommend that you try to take the feelings that push you to self-harm and express them another way, that mimics the release of cutting. This may seem silly to some people, but what worked for me was hitting inanimate objects... beating the crap out of my bed, tearing up magazines, etc. Although this does not completely satisfy the urge to cut, it can get out some of the excess adrenaline and frustration that may be fueling your urge in the first place. One other thing that worked for me was to imagine that it was my own child or someone I love who was cutting... to imagine the precious skin and flesh of someone else being mutilated and what a mockery it is of how amazing we are... try to think of your body as your shelter and a precious friend that you want to protect...\n\nI hope this helps... I haven't cut in a long time, and I'm glad that I stopped (even though I still struggle with the same old demons). I look at my scars with a sense of sadness and protectiveness... as a reminder that destroying myself is not productive or beneficial. \n\nAnd always know that you are loved :) Always.
232884
Here's my answer to that:\nHumans pick on it because it's become a fad and a cliche. Of course everyone feels - but you'd be surprised how many people are openly emotional without having to dress it up in nailpolish and expensive eyeliner. Cutting has also become a fad - if you're open about it, and showing it to the world, honey, you're not actually depressed, you just want attention. I have seen so many people who cut themselves, I've become very good at identifying who's genuinely in more pain than they can handle, and who's just doing it to be cool or get attention they feel they need. And, believe it or not - not everyone thinks that goths worship the devil. Most people think WICCANS worship the devil though. That's completely different - a religion versus a clothing style. You're probably going to dismiss everything I say, but hear you this: I used to dress the same way, so I know this line of thought. By the way - you're being rejudiced by assuming that "everyone" is fake and that they presume the things that you have presumed they do. A tad hypocritical, yes?\n\nAlso, not everyone else is fake. Wearing trendy, gothy clothes (but only the ones that are in fashion in the goth world, mind you), painting your nails and doing your hair in funky dos to fit in with the label isn't exactly being true to yourself. Being true to yourself involves rolling out of bed because YOU want to, putting on clothes that make YOU happy, that YOU like - not clothes that others say you should wear because it's part of your label. And you cannot deny it, you are labeling yourself. And if that's who you truly are, and you're happy with that (which you can't possibly be (happy, that is) if you're a cutter. And, don't get me wrong about the cutting thing: I do understand. I've been there, and I've watched others go through it - hell, I still AM watching them.) Normally I would say hey, do your thing, but your post is technically a direct attack on everyone, and thus it's an indirect attack on me and those I love, and I feel a need to defend us. So thus I'm doing my best to cut down your argument. I'm all for allowing yourself to feel, but I don't think that you should make a show, or a style, or anything but emotion out of it. Bear in mind you also might not truly be "emo" - you're only labeling yourself as such. And, back to the cutting, if you cut yourself only because your label states that's how you must cope with how you feel, then I must confess I feel a large amount of ire towards you. You take help away, you cheapen it, from people who really do either need/want help, or are in more pain than is natural, just so you can have someone say "awww I'm so sorry! you must be so sad!" and fawn all over you. To drive this point home: I'm not saying that's what you do, but it is what some people do. I have nothing against the styles, some of them are pretty cool - it's the exploitation of others through your own so-called "unbearable pain" that drives me up a wall to the point where I'd want to poke fun at the stereotype.\n\nOn top of that, cutting is dangerous. I'm sure you know why, I'm not going to assume you're stupid and don't realise that there are lots of arteries and veins you could hit, a large risk of infection, etc.\n\nHumans also pick on it because it's inherant in their nature. Not that I'm not human, and I'm guilty of picking on the stereotype as well.\n\nAnd as for my sources - I don't know if you're going to prejudge my education in the field of psychology, but I'm going to set up my response in defence to that prejudgement pre-emptively, to save time if you do. Psychology isn't what media or stereotype makes it out to be. It focuses mainly in learning how people work, not merely on psychopathology. It's truly fascinating.\n
451474
If you was walking down the street and saw somebody hitting there head against a brick wall, hard enough so that they started bleeding, you would think that something was seriously wrong with that person - and you would be correct.   \n\nCutting yourself is the same, it is self harm that is bought on by stress and the inability to cope and manage problems in a regular way.  \n\nIt causes ugly scarring but its main point is that it hides psychological scarring, that needs to be bought into the open so that you can maximise the enjoyment that life has to offer.
163456
It is not understood really how many people actually do this but its thousands and thousands. Don't worry your not daft neither stupid. Dont listen to people that say its for attention!\n\nYoung people who self-harm have often had very difficult or painful experiences or relationships. These may include:\n\nBullying or discrimination. \nLosing someone close to them such as a parent, brother, sister or friend.\nLack of love and affection or neglect by parents or carers. \nPhysical or sexual abuse. \nA serious illness that affects the way they feel about themselves. \nOther young people may start to self-harm as a way of dealing with the problems and pressures of everyday life. Pressure can come from family, school and peer groups to conform or to perform well (for example in getting good exam results). Young people can be made to feel angry, frustrated or bad about themselves if they cannot live up to other people's expectations.\n\nYoung people who self-harm may have low self-esteem. For some this is linked to poor body image, eating disorders, or drug misuse. Understanding why young people self-harm involves knowing as much as possible about their lives and lifestyles.\n\nPeer pressures may occasionally be the most important reason for self-harm.Young people may find themselves among friends or other groups who self-harm and may be encouraged or pressurised to do the same. \n\n\nSelf-harm as a way of coping\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n \nExtreme feelings of fear, anger, guilt, shame, helplessness, self-hatred, unhappiness, depression or despair can build up over time. When these feelings become unbearable, self-harm can be a way of dealing with them.\n\nReasons young people have given for their self-harm include:\n\nWhen the level of emotional pressure becomes too high it acts as a safety valve - a way of relieving the tension. \nCutting makes the blood take away the bad feelings. \nPain makes them feel more alive when they feel numb or dead inside. \nPunishing themselves relieves feelings of shame or guilt. \nWhen it's too difficult to talk to anyone, it's a form of communication about their unhappiness - a way of saying they need help. \nSelf-harm is something they can control when other parts of their life may seem out of control. \n\nFeel free to ask me questions.
90645
Self-harm, mostly.  I am quitting in "baby steps".   I stopped self-cutting, but still self-biting and self-punching.  At least I see that as a small improvement from cutting.  :-/   I also abuse diet pills.  Again "baby steps".  That is an improvement from laxative abuse.  :-/\n\nI am working on it, I am working on it!!!! :-p
206488
Tricholtillomania- i need to write that down anyway i have it. For me i have a constant bald spot on the top of my head i can cover with clippies or scrunchie my hair is almost always up. I pluck my armpit hairs, and if it is a really bad day with stress i do it alot more and if i am alone i will pull pubic hair. I am a wife and a mother and other than my mom and my immediate family no one knows i have it. Mine came when i was in 5th grad and i pulled almost ever hair out of my head... kids thought i had cancer and i lied and told them no i had an elergic reaction to a perm. (thats what my mom thought it was and took me to a dermatologist) i never pulled my hair in front of her. Now i dont even feel it, and sometimes i dont even realize i am doing it. my husband yells at me to stop when he notices but during pleasant non stressful times i can go a long time without doing it. Right now we are buying our first house and our closing is coming with moving and being 6 months pregnant i pull often.
168396
this is symptomatic of depression.  One of the things it robs you of is the ability to enjoy yourself, to do things you would get pleasure from.  Reading a book, listening to a CD, hanging out with friends.  It's because your self esteem and self worth are attacked by the depressive thoughts and you begin to believe you are not a good person and therefore do not deserve to do nice things, or to enjoy anything.\n  Things like loss of personal hygiene, lethargy, sometimes it just seems too much to wash your face, or clean your teeth, so you end up thinking you can't do these things. \n  When you say 'thing threaten th elife of your family'  have you discussed the possibility of OCD with anyone?  Sometimes this makes us feel that certain thoughts or feelings if we don't carry them out will cause bad things to happrn to our loved ones. \nI know you said therapy hasn't worked, and I understand that, I have seen many therapists over the last nine years but only just this last three months have connected wit hone that I really like and she is making a huge impact on my day to day life.  Try another therapist