How do I stop itching (no good reason)?!
Question: How do I stop itching (no good reason)?
Last night I started getting really itchy, as soon as I laid down in the bed. I had a long day, was nervous because of the old cliche, "not enough hours in the day". I couldn't get comfortable. Kept scratching everywhere until I fell asleep.
Today's been better, but I've had episodes where I just get itchy - on my back, legs, head, whatever. It's usually when I start worrying about anything.
Okay, obviously this is psychological, but is there ANYTHING I can do to STOP ITCHING? It's driving me batty!
Answers:
Jodie,
You have given a clear account which makes it easy to answer quite specifically and directly.
In short the answer is better "stress management". The key is "worry". You need to sop worrying / reduce worrying. By worry, I mean ruminating. I do not mean that you should stop thinking, planning and problem solving but what I do mean is to stop your mind dwelling on something that you cannot do anything about.
The key is to catch yourself when you are worrying and to say to yourself, "there I go, worrying again" and then to ask yourself, "Is there anything that I can do about this issue?" If the answer is yes, then do it and then stop thinking about it. If the answer is no, then say to yourself, "There is nothing I can do about this, it is outside of my control, so I will leave off considering it any longer". Then move your mind onto something more productive or more relaxing.
There are other things you can do to organise your life better such as prioritising the things that you need to do and get them done in order of priority. Then if at the end of the day you have not completed everything you can help yourself by being self-compassionate, saying to yourself, "I have done what I can and what remains, will have to be left for tomorrow or another time and right now I need to relax and do something to relax."
If the itching is localised you can look for topical antihistamine creams of take an antihistamine medication. Piriton is the standard one.
I have offered you a link below that will allow you to download a high quality self-help workbook on Stress (see the 3rd from bottom on the website)
I hope it helps (-:
Simon
http://www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/selfhelp#