Posted by Sabina on June 21, 2003, at 0:08:54
In reply to Cuticle destruction, posted by 2em on June 20, 2003, at 22:17:27
I have suffered from anxiety since I was a very small child. I bit my nails until I was about 7, when I was told that it was unladylike and that I was to stop. I then began the habit of picking at my cuticles intermittently (most particularly during times of stress) until about six months ago, when my boyfriend told me that it was disgusting. I have very low self esteem and wanted to please him (not to mention that I agreed with him), so I stopped. I found it easy enough to stop, but the anxiety had to go somewhere, obviously, and I am back on medication to try and manage it. I always just thought of it as a "nervous habit" like you described it. I have since read information online that categorizes this activity with self mutilations such as cutting, burning, etc., which surprised me. I'm almost three weeks on Lexapro and have not yet had any relief, only multiple side effects. I hope to adjust in time and/or augment with other drugs in the future. If you're interested in links to the information I found I may be able to go through my history and find them. Let me know, yeah? Knowing more about it and not "going through it alone" often helps. That's why I'm here. :)
poster:Sabina
thread:235679
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030619/msgs/235715.html