My girlfriend has this habit of picking at the skin around her nails,?!
Question: a lot of times to the point where she bleeds. I ask her what she is anxious about and most often she says she is not, she just can't help herself. What is causing this? Why does she do this?
Answers: a lot of times to the point where she bleeds. I ask her what she is anxious about and most often she says she is not, she just can't help herself. What is causing this? Why does she do this?
It is called dermatillomania. It is a cross between a movement disorder (doing something they are unaware they are doing) and OCD, and has a strong stress related component. I would say that your girlfriend could very well be anxious and just not realize it, as in a generalized anxiety disorder where there is no specific trigger, just an overall feeling. It oftentimes begins in childhood. If she is really mutilating herself, if she is embarrassed by her hands, I would suggest seeing a therapist in case there isn't something else lurking beneath.
This is a very common "bad habit". It can be caused by anxiety, boredom, or any number of other things.
This alone is nothing to even consider in terms of mental health. It's just a bad habit when considered alone.
She's anxious. just not subconsciously aware of it. That's kinda gross. And an excellent way to pick up bacteria. Encourage her to stop.
picking skin around the nails??? YEP, DEFINETE sign of mental disorder!
This is a common habit among lots of women. She should try to brake this habit because it is very painful.
she may do it for the same reason people cut themselves.
I can definitely sympathize with her! I do the exact same thing, most of the time it is when I am not doing anything with my hands. She has probably done it for so long that it has become habit. My husband has been trying to break me of this habit for 5 years! And it has helped! Just keep telling her that you are not picking on her, that you are just trying to help her break the habit. And when you see her do it, ask her why she's doing it and ask her to stop. That is what my husband does and believe it or not, it helps!
better then her picking her nose or but
I hardly would classify this as a mental health issue. I have been biting and chewing my nails and cuticles since I was 3 or 4. My hands always are bleeding and mangled. It's just a nervous habit, not caused by anything in particular so relax. It doesn't mean she's mental
I do the same thing, and I am very mentally stable. Mostly it's related to stress or boredom, or a need to control things. It is not because I get a "rush" or "release" from the pain. From what I've read it's not a serious problem (though it is painful and can lead to infection). It's a hard habit to break, too.
this could be just a habit like biting nails or i know that a lot of people who self-injure do this or people escalate to self-injury from skin picking so you should do some research on self-injury and talk to her because she might be cutting or maybe its just a habit but you should def talk to her
I use to do that too!
I was VERY stressed.
and ya know, I didnt even realize how stressed I was at the time cause my stress level was a constant.
I was anxious sometimes.
Sometimes high strung.
I started taking blood pressure meds n that really helped alot.
Then I started having my nails done and now I never 'pick' at them anymore.
best of luck to you and her!
I am 27 today and I still do it I notice it more when I am stressed but I cant stop it is just who I am