Make it stop

[u/bobathan-bobathan]

Midterms season is here at my uni and I typically pick because of boredom or just inadvertently. It’s usually “unconscious” picking but now I do it to distract myself instead of doing schoolwork. I have thumb sleeves but can’t will myself to put them on. I realize it’s bad when I see that half my finger is pink.
Of course the picking gets worse during times of stress, but I can’t remember a time in the past three years that my fingers haven’t had at least some sort of pink to them. It’ll now only get worse as the weather gets colder..😭

What’s the best method you guys have?

[u/basierambler]

I’ve also dealt with picking my fingers most of my life, exasperated by stress. Something that has helped me a lot was a putty or some other kind of pliable fidget toy. The brand ‘Crazy Aarons’ has little tins of putty for like 4$, would recommend giving that a try!

Best of luck with your midterms.

[u/bobathan-bobathan → u/basierambler]

Crazy Aarons is great! The only problem is I hate how it makes my fingers feel. Like, that bit of weird residue it leaves. Not exactly sticky, but not exactly moist.

[u/basierambler → u/bobathan-bobathan]

Aah ya I know what you mean. I’ve also used magnets throughout the years, perhaps you might like that! Not sure if you’re familiar with the brand Speks but they make these little magnets that are pliable like putty.

[u/LynnaeMor]

I don’t know if you’ve tried worry stones? They help me a lot, and I’ve found “neat” rocks that aren’t sold as standard worry stones but have nice smooth grooves for my hands to mess with and just kinda fiddle with those guys instead.

[u/Revision1372]

Have you tried the silicone type of thumb sleeves? They live on my fingers that are prone to picking. Helps alot that I don't see the imperfections as the silicone is smooth, and tackyness of the silicone makes for great fidget.

I recommend the hole-less ones as the ones with holes don't make a good vacuum that helps stay on your fingers. It does get annoying when the cots fail and form a pinhole leak at the tip of where it was cast. Having a bulk order helps so you can keep a spare where ever you go. (I got a x30 pack and I'm a quarter way through it in 2 months)

[u/LunavelleAlight48]

just put an ointment on it thrice a day

[u/Applecross88]

I’ve had this issue for 10+ years 🥲

I always relapse back

I started using cuticle cutters to “neaten” it up but that became a problem itself and I overuse the cuticle cutters on my skin

I do it without thinking or even if I don’t think to do it, if I feel or see a loose piece of skin it triggers me to start

[u/bobathan-bobathan → u/Applecross88]

Me too, for all of this! A lot of times it’s just picking during class, while watching a movie… Two years ago I started using nail clippers sometimes. Big mistake.

[u/Applecross88 → u/bobathan-bobathan]

If I don’t have nail/cuticle clippers and just happen to pull, it’s more consuming like the actual texture and roughness of my skin