raeanna74

It sounds sortof stupid but I don't understand why I can't quit scratching. I started doing it when we were house hunting last fall. I've stopped it before but not without help from hubby and a close friend that I was with much of the day during college. Now I'm finding it hard to stop again without someone here to help me.

What I do. When I'm tense I often rub the side of my jaw with my fingers. It's sortof soothing. When I'm tense I scratch it. Usually I just scratch at it and pick at small pimples made from the germs on my hands being on my face. Gross - yeah I know. Lately though I've gotten worse I think. I surprised myself by scratching at a scar near my chin. I dug at it so hard that I made a new scratch across it that wasn't just a small pick, it was a literal scratch. I scratch the back of my neck too but that doesn't show and I don't do it as much. I gotta quit. The only way I managed to stop before was with hubby constantly reminding me not to scratch and my friend who I had quite a few classes with reminding me. Sometimes even during class by small motions or frowning at me to remind me. Now I'm home alone from 7:30 until 3:30 daily. I have no adults around. My daughter isn't really old enough to be much help. I'm kindof at a loss. Even when my hubby (then boyfriend actually) and friend helped me I found it difficult to pull my hand away and ended up fidgiting for a while with my hands. I felt like I had nothing to do with my hands. My mother at one time did this with her hands and the inside of her arm. The more tense things got the more red and scratched the inside of her elbow got. I never even connected it to what I do now until I started trying to stop recently. Now I'm doing it adn can't stop. She still does it and expresses frustration at it so I doubt she'd be much help in my finding a way to stop.

My theory is that if I can find something to fiddle with I might be able to distract my hands. I'm not sure what though. I have some chinese stress balls that I hung onto for a while and they were somewhat distracting but the kids wanted them so I was constantly hiding them. Last time I hid them too well and I'm still looking for them. I got me a small smooth stone that warmed to my hands, I fiddled with it and ran my nails along a groove it it. Same problem with the kids and even while I had that I didn't stop. I don't know what else to do. I don't want to go to a counselor. There was only one that would accept our insurance here in town. I went to see him for other trouble a couple years ago. He sucked - Basically just told me the family I grew up with was fucked up. He found out I'd tried swinging and it seemed like he thought I was trash by the sarcastic tone when he talked about that. I don't want to pay money for a therapist either.

Anyone else experience something like this? I'm guessing it's called compulsive. Anyone have ways of adapting the behavior so it's not destructive? Or helping me stop completely?? I've tried just rubbing and not scratching but I start scratching unconsiously and then when I realise it I feel like my hands won't listen without me inwardly shouting at them. I dunno it feels wierd and I feel bad that I do it. Help?

__________________
"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

absorbentishe

Sounds kind of OCD to me. It's a nervous reaction, but you need to learn to channel it into something else. My son who's 11, is pulling his hair out. He's seeing a pro to help him over come it. What they are telling him is, when something is bothering him, and he feels the need to pull his hair, he needs to think that things are not in his control, and he shouldn't worry about it. If your behaviour doesn't improve, you might want to think about seeing a professional.

thingstodo

I agree....if you're having trouble controlling the behavior it's probably time to seek out some help.

__________________
If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves.

Stangers have the best candy.

jRuntlets

I did that with tongue and lip biting, to the point where I'd get huge holes in my tongue and lip.... I had to make a concious effort to just stop. If I'd catch myself I'd bite down my my tongue really hard to make myself stop... don't ask, but it worked.

I've heard of things like a rubber band around the wrist for nail biters, and you snap yourself... maybe this could work for you?!

__________________
Horses come and go, but some leave permanent hoof prints on your life.

raeanna74

I like the rubber band idea. It gives me something to do with my hands the moment I catch myself doing it. That's the hardest moment. It's like I can't tear my hands away. DOING something with them like that might help. I'll try it.

As for going to someone for help - Do you think my regular Dr could help? Otherwise I don't know who I'd go to cause I don't like the only therapist in town who accepts my insurance. Also I don't think my pastor would be help either - It'd be something about sin that I need to get right.

Thanks all.

__________________
"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

userasdf1234

I think that speaking to anyone with medical background is a start. If they don't have a solution, they'll probably know someone who does have a solution. Even if the dr/therapist says its just something not that bad, it didn't hurt to seek advice. I guess its the "better safe than sorry" attitude. I Hope everything works out

stonewallja

You must itch. Now that I'm older i've been itching and scratching more. I think it has something to do with the kidney function, which, in my case, has been slightly effected from a prostate problem. Kidneys keep the chemical balanced in your body. If the chemistry of your body gets out of line it can cause itching. Well,it's just a thought. However, my problem could be dry skin or old skin.

__________________
Red beans and ricely,

stonewallja