I can't stop picking at my thumbs!

Sebbie

I can't stop picking at my thumbs. It's something I have been doing since I was a kid and never got out of it. My thumbs always look destroyed and I'm ashamed of it, I'll often move my hands away if I see someone is looking in their direction. It'll usually start at the side of the nail and pick the skin away while making my way up and towards the middle of the thumb... sometimes if it's too raw I'll even move on to my index finger.

Anyone have tips on kicking this habit? I've tried sheer willpower but most of the time I don't even notice that I'm doing it until it's too late. I had my girlfriend knit me thumb cozies that I can wear and that worked -- for a while -- but as soon as they healed and I took them off I'd start picking again.

Draygo

Do you pick at it with your fingers or teeth?

Sebbie

With my fingers.

minirhyder

When do you pick at them? When you're bored? Nervous?
If you pick at them with your teeth, try chewing gum instead.
If you use your hands try putting something on your fingers for a short period of time as a reminder. Like bandaids or something.

Sebbie

It's with my fingers and I have been able to kick the habit for a few days at a time (allowing them to heal fully) but I always fall back into it unexpectedly. I keep them covered (with the cozies I mentioned above) but I'd like to kick the habit permanently without having to wear things over my thumbs all the time.

As for when do I pick them... pretty much all the time. At work, when I'm in bed, while I'm solving a problem. I can't quite put my finger on what the trigger is because I do it pretty much all the time. I did notice that I do it more aggressively when I'm stressed.

Tomanta

I stop myself from picking my fingernails by carrying around clippers and making sure there's nothing I can pick. It makes it difficult to open a can of coke, but it's better than pulling the nail way too short. It's not a full stop, but it definitely helps.

But I was never as severe as the OP sounds, so mileage may vary.

minirhyder

Don't take the cozies off once your fingers heal. Clearly you're going for your thumbs as soon as they heal. So keep them on. For months until you realize you don't feel the urge anymore.
If you do, put them back on.

Try to find something else to do with your hands. Get a small rubix cube, or a stress ball to squeeze.