so what's your diagnonsense? ([info]diagnonsense) wrote in [info]tmi_chix,
2007-04-24 16:13:00
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scab-picking and pimple-popping: signs of deeper issues?

Oh, man. I have this really bad scab just underneath my lip and I've been picking the hell out of it. But, it started getting kind of irritated and hurting so I'm forcing myself to stop... but god, I want to pick at it so badly. It's nice and hard right now, perfect for picking. I'm just rubbing my fingers along the edges of it, dying to yank it off.

So I did a Google search on scab picking to see if anybody had come up with a way to keep yourself for doing it... but instead I found a lot of information about scab-picking and pimple-popping supposedly being a sign of some deeper mental issues, like anxiety, depression and OCD, and that it's a form of self-harm.

Uhh. I don't think I'm any of these things. Does anybody believe any of this or is scab-picking just... scab-picking?

I know I did to pick because I feel those little bumps and inconsistences in the skin and want to rip them off and make it smooth again -- same with popping pimples.

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  • 17 comments

[info]anchasta

April 24 2007, 20:35:03 UTC 5 years ago

sez the Virgo...

I do that all the time too, but yeah. I've always been a "picky" kind of person.

Consider that's where "stop picking on me" comes from... the perfectionist need to make it all "right"

[info]melayneseahawk

April 24 2007, 20:38:36 UTC 5 years ago

The real thing is whether this keeps you from functioning. Is the scab so distracting that you can't focus on school/work, etc? If you can force yourself to stop, you're probably ok, but if you're really worried, go see a doctor, in this instance someone who does therapy.

[info]diagnonsense

April 24 2007, 20:43:56 UTC 5 years ago

Oh no, it's not that bad. Which is why I was kinda shocked when I kept finding information about it being linked to mental illness. Usually I'll just pick at them in classs, not really thinking about it. The worst part about it is all the scars I have. I have a lot of spots on my chin now from pimples I've popped and picked at it, and these long scars and spots on my arms from really superficial scrapes that I just haven't let heal.

It's REALLY bothering me now that I'm actively trying to not pick at this scar. I'm like super aware of it and my hand keeps going to it. It doesn't itch or anything, it just bothers me that it's THERE.

[info]scaredsquee

April 25 2007, 04:33:15 UTC 5 years ago

"Oh no, it's not that bad.
...
It's REALLY bothering me now that I'm actively trying to not pick at this scar. I'm like super aware of it and my hand keeps going to it. It doesn't itch or anything, it just bothers me that it's THERE."


to me, an uneducated non-doctor person
it sounds like it MIGHT possibly be
"that bad", if its kind of driving you
nuts by just existing. just my thoughts,
and like i said, i'm no authority here.

[info]foxtrot_pasta

April 24 2007, 20:43:03 UTC 5 years ago

If that's the only symptom of your supposed mental illness I think you'll be fine.

[info]diagnonsense

April 24 2007, 20:45:03 UTC 5 years ago

Ha, I'm not asking if anyone thinks I personally have a mental illness because I pick, just that if anyone even believes that there's a connection to it at all, since a LOT of people in this comm pick, obiously.

[info]foxtrot_pasta

April 24 2007, 20:57:43 UTC 5 years ago

Haha okay, sorry for misinterpreting you (I'm just really tired of people on the intarwebz going "I didn't know if I'd turned off the stove yesterday, so I checked it again, I probably have OCD!!1!").

To answer your question then, I don't think normal scab picking has anything to do with slight mental instability, but scab picking could certainly manifest as a symptom in people with more severe issues.

[info]diagnonsense

April 24 2007, 21:03:24 UTC 5 years ago

Hehe, it's okay, that annoys me too. Actually, why I made this thread was because I did think the whole thing was bullshit. I mean, picking scabs = self-injury? Buhwhut!?

I can see it being one of many symptoms though, but not just picking on its own.

[info]mercurystar

April 24 2007, 20:48:23 UTC 5 years ago

There is a correlation between skinpicking and mental illness, but most pimple poppers are not mentally ill.

I mean hell, there's a correlation between skinpicking and methamphetamines, too, but I don't think all pimple poppers are on meth either. ^_^

[info]ambrmerlinus

April 24 2007, 21:48:04 UTC 5 years ago

My mom thinks I'm on meth because I pick my scabs. :(

[info]mizutenchi

April 24 2007, 21:15:47 UTC 5 years ago

I think what they are referring to is compulsive skin picking that occurs as a result of anxiety, OCD, etc. It doesn't sound like you have a problem though.

[info]girlonabike

April 24 2007, 22:38:28 UTC 5 years ago

Yeah. Like if you had big open sores all over because you picked at things so much, that would be potentially problematic. But if recreational-grade scab-picking and zit-popping is indicative of a mental illness, then...yeah. There would be a constant epidemic!

[info]edge_ofthe_sea

April 24 2007, 21:50:17 UTC 5 years ago

Scab-picking/pimple popping can be signs of mental issues, but by themselves are not really all that troubling.

As someone who started cutting in 8th grade (in college now and mostly don't do it), I've noticed that when I decline in self-injury, my skin/scab/pimple picking or popping tends to increase. *shrugs* Even before self-injuring I was a skin/scab/pimple picking or popping person heh....probably what lead me to start scratching which then lead into cutting.

That's my own personal experience, so I don't really find it to be bullshit.

[info]fuvenusrs

April 25 2007, 00:44:46 UTC 5 years ago

I don't think there's any underlying issues with wanting clean skin. Pimples are quite painful, so making them go away is a good thing.
There's also nothing wrong with wanting to see if you can hit the mirror with a jet of pus. Because that's awesome.

[info]clayin

April 25 2007, 07:23:03 UTC 5 years ago

*giggles* So very satisfying, too.

[info]deliriousminuet

April 25 2007, 02:45:59 UTC 5 years ago

You're only crazy if you can't function. If your picking is driving you nuts and you want to stop but you can't and it really upsets you, then you may want to find a therapist. If it's just a weird little hobby, don't worry about it. It can be a symptom of illness, but it doesn't have to be.

[info]cinnimirella

April 25 2007, 08:48:40 UTC 5 years ago

scab picking can be associated with any of the things that you mentioned. As someone who self harms scab picking is sometimes that or sometimes it's just random scab picking, so yes, there is a difference. If it constantly bothers you then you might want to talk to someone about it. hope that helps
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