January 19, 2023

Dermatillomania is a mental health disorder characterized by the recurrent and compulsive picking of one's own skin. It can be a difficult condition to manage, and treatment often involves a combination of approaches, including therapy, medication, and self-help strategies. One of the self-help strategies that may be helpful for people with dermatillomania is awareness.

Awareness involves becoming more attuned to your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and learning to identify and understand the triggers that lead to skin picking. This can involve keeping a journal or log to track when and where you experience the urge to pick, and what thoughts and feelings you have at the time.

By increasing your awareness of your skin picking behavior, you can better understand the underlying causes and triggers, and work with a therapist or other mental health professional to develop strategies to manage these urges. Some examples of self-help strategies that may be helpful in managing dermatillomania include:

• Finding alternative ways to cope with stress or negative emotions, such as through exercise, meditation, or talking to a trusted friend or family member
• Using relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation, to manage anxiety or tension
• Practicing mindfulness, which involves paying attention to the present moment and accepting your thoughts and feelings without judgment
• Seeking social support from friends, family, or support groups to help you manage your condition

It's important to note that dermatillomania is a complex condition and what works for one person may not work for another. It's important to work with a mental health professional to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs and goals.

---

We love this article and how it emphasized that people experience body-focused repetitive behaviors differently, and how working with a therapist can be super helpful in developing a management plan with someone who's job it is to be objective and judgement-free. They also get to know you, and help you develop something that works for YOU - an individual. Keen is built to help you figure out your individual patterns, too. By training it with your specific gesture, Keen's vibration helps you track patterns and identify triggers that have to do with your skin picking. 

Order Keen

See the other articles we had ChatGPT write:

We asked ChatGPT to name 5 tools a person with body focused repetitive behaviors needs in order to take control

ChatGPT shares how awareness helps someone with body focused repetitive behaviors.

We asked ChatGPT, “What is Trichotillomania and how does HabitAware help?”

---

Also in HabitAware Blog: Soul Fuel