What is Dermatillomania, Skin Picking, Excoriation Disorder ?

Compulsive Skin Picking/ Chronic Skin Picking (CSP), Dermatillomania, Skin Picking Disorder, Acne Excoriee, Neurotic Excoriation, Pathological Skin Picking (PSP), Self Injurious Skin Picking (SISP) and Psychogenic Excoriation... are all terms used to describe a psychological disorder that manifests by an overwhelming urge to pick at one’s own skin to the extent that damage is caused. The DSM 5, published in May of 2013, includes compulsive skin picking in the “Obsessive- Compulsive and Related Disorders” category under the new name “Excoriation Disorder”.

[ellyvoorn]

Even if you feel hopeless about your picking, you must know that you can change your behavior. You can imagine having a choice. You are strong en you can make the choice of not doing it, and for example wear rubber gloves. I started therapy in June this year and focussed on being more aware of the picking. When you practice that awareness and know what causes your picking at which moments, you can see it coming and do something before it goes bad. Your mindset about this is a key as well. Stay positive! I was stuck in a bad cycle of picking en after that feeling terrible and hopeloss about it, but that made me picking the next day again. You can figure out a plan to decrease the time of picking. To monitor the progress I started working with green days for not picking, orange for a bit and red for a lot too much picking. Then you can see improvements in weeks and red days are not so bad anymore because you work up to a goal. Stay strong girls and remember that you have to put the most energy in it when you have the least!

[theotherway]

Practicing mindfulness has helped. The mindfulness book "30 Days to Stop Obsessing" by Harper Daniels has good exercises and lessons. Share it with anyone who might be struggling. The fight is real, but it doesn't have to be long term.