Joker Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Any recommendations for sites or specific fidget toys/items that help stop this? Youngest has OCD and is doing therapy but the skin picking is getting worse and starting to bother her because of how it looks. She just started high school and really wants to stop, which I think is making it worse. So, I'm looking online for something to help and I'm overwhelmed at all that is out there. She mostly picks at fingers, hands, and face. Can you guys help me narrow it down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Fun & Function has a teen/tween section. I did a quick browse and they have something called sensory fidget brushes that slide between two fingers. Maybe something like that? Here's a link to their whole teen/tween section: https://funandfunction.com/solutions-center/teens-spot.html?limit=100 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 I wonder if something like a beaded necklace that she could fidget with would help? I'm also listening in, because I have a dd that does this when stressed. She won't wear a necklace other than the one she has (which isn't very fidget friendly). Bracelets help me, especially lose cuff style or beaded ones. I pick at my arms without even realizing it if I don't have something for my hands to do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 (edited) Is the picking happening by a mirror or without one? For hand fidgeting things like silly putty and beaded bracelets help. Face picking that happens by a mirror is a completely different animal though, and oftentimes covering up the mirror or having supervision, along with hash marks on the mirror for pick free days, helps more than other sensory diversions. /recovered and occasionally relapsed picker Edited August 11, 2016 by Arctic Mama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Have you looked at NAC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted August 11, 2016 Author Share Posted August 11, 2016 No mirror involved. Her face isn't as bad as her fingers and hands/wrists. She usually isn't even aware she's doing it but it's a lot. We can tell her to stop when we see her do it at home but when she's at school no one says anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 You can try a koosh ball. https://www.amazon.com/Koosh-Ball-Random-Color-Colors/dp/B0044ULMFY My kids have trichotillomania (hair pulling) and it helped them. She should also keep a diary where she notes when she picks and what she was feeling at the time to help identify triggers. And whatever you do, do not become the picking police. No matter how tempted you are resist. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 You can try a koosh ball. https://www.amazon.com/Koosh-Ball-Random-Color-Colors/dp/B0044ULMFY My kids have trichotillomania (hair pulling) and it helped them. She should also keep a diary where she notes when she picks and what she was feeling at the time to help identify triggers. And whatever you do, do not become the picking police. No matter how tempted you are resist. If there is no mirror this is a great idea, especially logging incidents to identify triggers. I forgot all about koosh balls but those and the nubby ones can also help. Headed bracelets and even band aids on one finger are still my favorite to mess with though :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted August 11, 2016 Author Share Posted August 11, 2016 Oh, we've tried band aids. She shreds them and goes at her skin still. She's completely given up using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 You might try puffer balls. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 For something she will feel comfortable wearing in public: http://www.stimtastic.co/stim-jewelry/?category=Fidget+Jewelry https://www.etsy.com/search?q=fidget+ring+spinner 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 Just throwing this out there--when I took Zoloft in the past, there was a tipping point in the dosage. I upped it to get past a plateau where it stopped working as well, and I felt great mentally, but I started chewing my nails beyond what I thought was possible. I've always been a nail biter, but my fingers were just bloody nubs. Backed off the dosage and that went away. I believe it can be a side effect with several meds, so I thought I'd mention it. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 The thing that helped me most was acrylic or gel nails. Sounds weird, but the thickness of these nails prevented me from doing damage to my skin. I mostly picked my hands and nails. I don't know why, but the feeling of the nails on my nailbeds took away the urge to pick. Strange. I know. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 The thing that helped me most was acrylic or gel nails. Sounds weird, but the thickness of these nails prevented me from doing damage to my skin. I mostly picked my hands and nails. I don't know why, but the feeling of the nails on my nailbeds took away the urge to pick. Strange. I know. Not strange at all! I cannot pick nearly as easily with acrylic nails and I tend to chew on them a bit :o. They kind of serve multiple purposes here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 She actually leaves her nails and cuticles alone. She has nice, long nails. It's the skin on the fingers. Her thumbs get the worst of it with her wrists being second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 For something she will feel comfortable wearing in public: http://www.stimtastic.co/stim-jewelry/?category=Fidget+Jewelry https://www.etsy.com/search?q=fidget+ring+spinner This is awesome! Thank you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 (edited) The thing that helped me most was acrylic or gel nails. Sounds weird, but the thickness of these nails prevented me from doing damage to my skin. I mostly picked my hands and nails. I don't know why, but the feeling of the nails on my nailbeds took away the urge to pick. Strange. I know. Not strange at all! I cannot pick nearly as easily with acrylic nails and I tend to chew on them a bit :o. They kind of serve multiple purposes here! I was just thinking today I need to put on a set. I pick my cuticles viciously. Having nails on is very soothing, I can't pick as much (because the nails are not sharp like natural nails, they are more rounded at the ends), and I tend to pick or pull at the nails instead of my skin. Joker, you might think of them not to keep her from picking the nails, but because it is harder to pick with the fake nails than with regular nails. Edited August 12, 2016 by goldberry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Btervet Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 I agree with the thick acrylic nails, they helped me break the habit as a teen. Learning to spin a pen also helped, and I also have rings on my thumbs I can spin as well which helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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