Is it mild self injury?!
Question: Is it mild self injury.?
I've been diagnosed with Asperger's.
I have some things I do that someone pointed out to me may be considered self-injury. I never thought of it that way before, and I'm sort of skeptical. It certainly doesn't seem to be serious, at least not to me.
Anyway, one thing is I chew on the inside of my cheeks/lips. I pull off thin strips of skin on the inside of my mouth (actually they're mucous membranes, but for the sake of keeping it in laymen's terms, it's the "skin" inside your mouth). I also pick at scabs every time - a cut or something can be almost healed, then I'll start picking at it again and re-open it. If I leave something alone, it heals quickly, but by picking at it healing time is prolonged to a month or more. I do this to my hands, my belly, my arms, my legs, and occasionally my face, though it's easier to avoid my face because I don't see it often.
To me, this always seemed like just a habit I have when I'm bored or nervous, but I don't know...what do you think.? Along with someone suggesting it was actually a mild version of self-injury, I've also had someone tell me it's an OCD symptom (I have other OCD symptoms, so it wouldn't surprise me if mild OCD is a comorbid of my Asperger's).
Just curious :DHealth Question & Answer
I have some things I do that someone pointed out to me may be considered self-injury. I never thought of it that way before, and I'm sort of skeptical. It certainly doesn't seem to be serious, at least not to me.
Anyway, one thing is I chew on the inside of my cheeks/lips. I pull off thin strips of skin on the inside of my mouth (actually they're mucous membranes, but for the sake of keeping it in laymen's terms, it's the "skin" inside your mouth). I also pick at scabs every time - a cut or something can be almost healed, then I'll start picking at it again and re-open it. If I leave something alone, it heals quickly, but by picking at it healing time is prolonged to a month or more. I do this to my hands, my belly, my arms, my legs, and occasionally my face, though it's easier to avoid my face because I don't see it often.
To me, this always seemed like just a habit I have when I'm bored or nervous, but I don't know...what do you think.? Along with someone suggesting it was actually a mild version of self-injury, I've also had someone tell me it's an OCD symptom (I have other OCD symptoms, so it wouldn't surprise me if mild OCD is a comorbid of my Asperger's).
Just curious :DHealth Question & Answer
Answers:
no not at all... its funny the mouth thing i was doing right when i started reading this... but anyways self injury is wanting to cause harm to yourself i just think what you do is bad habits... i think most people do those things. I used to cut myself when i was younger and believe me they are way different... unless you are doing it cuz you like how the pain feels then it is not self injury.
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I'm so glad i could help!Health Question & Answer
EDIT:
I'm so glad i could help!Health Question & Answer
i do that too, but i only pick at the skin on the sides of my fingers, right next to the nail, and it's ALWAYS open, i've never allowed it to heal, cuz i pick at it when i get bored or nervous, but so far it hasn't done anything to me... so... i dunno, i don't think you should stop picking at yourself, but it someone smart says you should, mebbe you should lissen...Health Question & Answer
It sounds just like a nervous habit more than anything. I used to do that when I was a kid. You need to stop doing it though.Health Question & Answer
I'd put my money on them being OCD tendencies. You should mention it to a therapist.Health Question & Answer
It seems to be a mild compulsion. Probably nothing to worry too much about. If you see any signs of it getting worse, you may want to seek help, but a lot of people pick at scabs and stuff, heck, I do it myself occasionally. But if you feel like you 'must' do it, it's likely related to your illness or OCD. Like I said, be on the look out for escalation, otherwise, it doesn't sound like you're really doing yourself much harm.Health Question & Answer