Autism/Depression

Strawberry1

I've talked about skin picking before. Unfortunately I was skin picking yesterday but you know sometimes after some skin picking it's like a release and or relief. Yes my skin is sore but it will heal ✨️.

Jimm_Scope

Thankyou @Strawberry1 🙂Hopefully it will go well!

I have always bitten my nails, always struggled not to. Does your GP or another doctor know about the skin picking?

Strawberry1

Your welcome @Jimm_Scope ,I have had some input from medical staff and I do try to avoid it but sometimes it just feel the need too . I know it's not great but sometimes it is a soother .

Jimm_Scope

I believe I read an article by a psychiatrist once that mentioned something along the lines of "skin picking and nail biting are often done as it's something the person feels like they can control, when there are so many things they feel they cannot control"

I'm not sure how true that is, but I understand what you mean about it being 'soothing'. As long as you aren't hurting yourself and aren't over doing it!

Strawberry1

@Jimm_Scope , I think I agree with what you have posted. That's definitely me . I'm not hurting myself no it's only a little sore nothing major. Thank you for the feedback @Jimm_Scope i really appreciate it. Thank you 😊.

Kali85

hi @Jimm_Scope im doing ok thank you, I hope you are well, good luck with your partners assessment I hope it doesn’t take to long for the outcome, best wishes to you both ❤️

Kali85

hi @Strawberry1 i am terrible for skin picking 👎🏻 I have been doing it for over a decade maybe longer, I have tried going to my Gp about it several years ago and they just gave me some cream that was like a Vaseline texture (sorry I can’t remember name of it) although it helped soften the skin and it healed up abit I still continued with picking! I started nail biting few years ago too making my fingers unbearably sore so I started to have acrylic nails done for few months… I recently had them removed and luckily I have kicked the habit of biting my nails, I think our brains need a long enough period of not doing it to stop. I have brought some cotton gloves and I am going to try wearing them all day as it’s only thing that stops me picking skin off, I also rub cuticle oil and some cream on the area to help the healing process, I hope it works! As my hands throb where they get so sore and there’s always the fear of infections too, also my hands look horrible my fingers are swollen and covered in cuts I just really want to stop doing it but it’s so hard to stop. I’ve noticed I do it more when I am in a social situation as I get really anxious, but I also do it wen I am just sat watching tv it’s like I don’t even know that I am doing it half the time.

Kali85

I also feel like it’s kinda soothing when I am pulling the skin off, it’s like I really enjoy doing it, I think it’s another kind of way to self harm as I’ve done different therapies over the years and I’ve managed to stop self harming myself so instead I have picked up this habit to replace it. It is really hard not having control over anything at all, with this it’s in my hands

Strawberry1

Hi @Kali85 , my reply is later than I wanted it to be I apologise. I'm sorry to hear how you are affected by skin picking too . The idea of the gloves sounds like a good idea .I hope it helps you . Sounds really sore and uncomfortable @Kali85 . Your predicament with your skin does seem definitely more uncomfortable than mine it definitely is a hard habit to break . I've picked my skin since I was a child in different parts of the body . I can relate to being in social situations and in front of the TV too. I got myself a fidget spinner it doesn't seem as satisfying as the skin picking does . My heart goes out to you over this tricky situation. I was told by a mental health nurse that it was a form of self harm but I struggle to get my mind around that . I hope the gloves are helpful too you anything to take our thoughts off the skin picking. Good luck . Thank you for sharing it's good to know I'm not the only one . Take care of yourself please 🙏. Sending gentle hugs and kind blessings.

Kali85

Hi @vikki66 that sounds beyond frustrating for your friend, and completely unfair! Really there should be ways around it as the professionals should understand if a person doesn’t have any family to fill in the forms. I was lucky as my mum filled in mine, then I got put on a waiting list for 4 years! It’s ridiculous how long the waiting time is!
Can’t your friend fill it out on behalf of his mother? The forms my mum had to fill in, I myself knew the answers to practically all the questions as I can remember a lot from my childhood.

Kali85

Thanks a lot @Strawberry1 ❤️ I think I will persevere for few weeks and just hope the gloves work. Take care, sending you kind wishes ❤️

Andi66

My younger brother did mine, he is 3 years younger and couldn't remember everything. Plus the fact he now lives in France. My mum and next older sister had passed away by then. I'm in my 50s too,

Strawberry1

With me being neurodivergant I do wonder when things go wrong whatever it is I am to blame because my brain works different to my other half's.

Kali85

I always assume everything is my fault, I am my own worst nightmare. I always notice tiny little details that other ppl miss, then I psychoanalyse every last little detail sometimes making problems/issues that don’t exist ☹️

Strawberry1

Thank you for your feedback @Kali85 . Thank you.

WhatThe

vikki, I had to fight for my diagnosis. The supporting letter my sister produced was shredded by the first assessor - he told me that - so I have no idea what was said, only that it wouldn't have been kind! I submitted my own evidence - primary and secondary school reports, obsessive diaries written in miniature and years of medical and psychiatric reports but he refused to give me the diagnosis. PTSD, he said which had already been diagnosed 🙄

It took two more years of nagging my GP for a second referral and this time it was straightforward despite the second assessor being told by the first that there was no supporting evidence to forward to him 😮

The problem with getting an autism diagnosis is that there is zero support afterwards and no cure (no cure said the first one though that's no reason to deny a diagnosis!). But it felt as though my life depended on it and at the time, it probably did. Zero support other than this Scope forum is my experience anyway. Nobody else seems to get it, least of all the 'experts' out there!

Kali85

I was also diagnosed with PTSD @WhatThe before that I was diagnosed with bipolar and borderline personality disorder before autism was even suggested. It is such a headache trying to get any kind of medical help or diagnosis it’s beyond unfair! They send you round in circles and refuse to do referrals or offer any kind of help, it’s so frustrating!

Albus_Scope

I've said before, but getting diagnosed in my early 40s was totally life changing for me, but blimey it was certainly a slog getting there. I think the worst bit is after the diagnosis, we don't even get a badge. Just given the National Autistic Society website and sent off into the wild. I think diagnosis for women is even harder still.

I'm glad your son finally got some help @vikki66, I know schools are stretched, but it does feel like you REALLY need to be fighting constantly for help.

Andi66

Why do l always get things wrong. I seem to upset people unintentionally even though they done something bad to me. So stupidly I put it on Facebook and now had a letter through the door from that person that they going to sue me .and that they said I'm making out i have autism . I have been diagnosed. I seem to make things worse. I am so stupid

Strawberry1

Your not what you are describing @Andi66 . If people are not nice to you our instinct can be to stand up for ourselves. I don't believe you will be at fault here . Sounds to me they are making a mountain out of a mole hill . You have autism. Some people only see their point of view. Very quick to point the finger. People in glass houses . I hope they calm down and stop . We are all here for you @Andi66 .