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Skin picking and Stimming

Newbie

Hi everyone, 

I'm new to all this and trying to offer my child support in navigating their journey. They are under 10 years old and have started self picking, they would normally chew their T-shirt to stim but now also pick. I think it might be happening when they are going to bed and have no stimulation, but that's only a theory as they don't pick when we are together. Does anyone have any tips for stimming and bed time?

Has anyone had much success in supporting them to do something different instead of picking? 

If anyone is a skin picker or would like to share what they get from stimming I would greatly appreciate it. I've read some fantastic information and increasing my understanding on what people get from stimming and self picking will hopefully help me support my child in finding another option/outlet instead of skin picking.

Thank you.

Parents

  • I do a lot of skin picking, it gives me joy, helps me self regulate in both- joy and stress, also if I'm hyperfocused, I fo it without realising it, I only hear from others I should stop but I can't. If I don't do it, it feels like some force shaking me from inside and when my family tried to stop me from my repetitive behaviours I had meltdowns. 

    I should stop skin picking, because it's harmful, I can only partially replace it with a spikey ball. I press the Spikes, it gives me enough sensation to replace the picking for so.e time. But then I do picking again. Here your child may need a Behavioral cognitive therapy if it helps, I don't know. I've never tried. I also started picking at age around 9-10. Before there was long staring at objects,  often lights, moving my hands in front of my eyes and also rocking my body.

Reply

  • I do a lot of skin picking, it gives me joy, helps me self regulate in both- joy and stress, also if I'm hyperfocused, I fo it without realising it, I only hear from others I should stop but I can't. If I don't do it, it feels like some force shaking me from inside and when my family tried to stop me from my repetitive behaviours I had meltdowns. 

    I should stop skin picking, because it's harmful, I can only partially replace it with a spikey ball. I press the Spikes, it gives me enough sensation to replace the picking for so.e time. But then I do picking again. Here your child may need a Behavioral cognitive therapy if it helps, I don't know. I've never tried. I also started picking at age around 9-10. Before there was long staring at objects,  often lights, moving my hands in front of my eyes and also rocking my body.

Children
  • in reply to Alien0n3arth

    Thank you for your honesty. I really hear the importance of not trying to stop the behaviour but maybe hopefully re-direct it some other way to achieve a similar desired release. 

    Also the difficulty of maybe not being understood by others and a pressure to stop, when it's not as "simple" as that.

    It has really helped my understanding, thank you. 

    I also welcome any further lived experiences from anyone if they would like to add.