Is it starting? **Possible Trigger**

[.chrys.]

Need some advice from people who are SI. My daughter (15) has been picking at her skin incessantly for the past year or so. No cutting (that I've seen), just picking--so much so that it leaves ugly scars. They look as if they are burn marks from a cigarette--but they're not. Just scabs that form and scar over.

Is this a "first step" to self-injury? If so, what can I do to get her help now, before it worsens??

~Witness

 

[xlolokinsx]

I doubt it's the start of SI. The deciding factor (in my opinion) is the intent behind it. If she's trying to hurt herself by it, then there is a problem. If it's subconcious, she's just getting some ugly scars. I'm guilty of that habbit too, and for me at least, it is about the same as nail biting. Still, you might want to point out to her when she's picking at her skin and tell her to stop (my parents did that and it was sooooo annoying, but it worked moderately well) because even if it isn't SI, it isn't particularily desirable.

Good luck!

 

[CFFosterAngel51]

Picking at skin could be a form of self-injury but is also a common symptom of anxiety. If you're concerned about her, you could take her for an evaluation with a mental health provider to see if she has any other criteria that would indicate self-injury. However, if she is picking her skin due to anxiety, most people can make significant progress with 3 or 4 counseling sessions to learn how to control anxiety.

In Him,
Kristen

 

[meh]

Hello I am not a doctor or an expert, but I think it would depend on the motive she has for doing this whether it is self-injury, nervous picking or something else...as in what are the feelings behind the action? Some people do that as a form of self-injury. Others might have some OCD like behaviors where they literally feel compelled to keep picking. It could be from nerves. I pick at scabs sometimes like mosquito bites just because they are there. It sounds though like perhaps you need to see if she might tell you why she keeps doing this and like she should see a doctor or therapist, too. I hope it works out ok. Feel free to PM me if you ever need to talk to anyone or anything

 

[.chrys.]

Thank you all, these responses have been helpful. I will share them with her (because she is mature enough to discuss them at an adult level), and see if she'd like to take any further steps regarding getting help.

I honestly don't know why she has been picking at them lately. It'll be quite a discussion, I'm sure.

Thanks again!
~Witness

 

[Arianna]

Hi Witness,

I used to pick holes in my arms for while before I started cutting. I think, for me, it was an early form of SI (although I don't think I would have realised that at the time).

Talking to your daughter about it sounds like a great idea. It may or may not be anything to do with SI (as other people have said - it could be some kind of nervous habit which happens to cause harm..rather than being done to deliberately cause harm.) .. and she may or may not know why she does it.

Also I think it is a really good thing that you noticed it might be a problem and have the chance to talk to her about it now. (For me, SI developed over several years. So even if you both decided that it isn't SI now, you could help by looking out for more signs of SI in the future.)

Ari
xxx

 

[bricks00usa]

Does she use methamphetamine?

 

[mrslisae]

How did it go CW?

For me, picking and scratching came first. She's so blessed to have a caring parent.