Results 1 to 28 of 28
Thread: Picking! Make me stop!
-
2011-08-16, 04:59 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- On my back, in my heart
- Gender
Picking! Make me stop!
I have a really, really bad habit. I pick at things. Whenever I'm not absorbed in what I';m doing at the moment, I subconsciously begin to pick at things. I wiggle and pull and scratch and snap and tear and unravel and dissemble anything that happens to be on hand. I used to keep a pen on hand which I would simply dis- and re-assemble over and over again. But it doesn't always work, and I'm constantly damaging the things around me. I unravel fabrics, I pluck out furniture tacks, I pick away at the rubber/foam coating of my steering wheel while I'm sitting in traffic. Plastics are a good time-waster, because I have to fold them over, then back and back and forth and back and forth until the joint comes apart, leaving me to start doing it again until I'm eventually left with a pile of tiny peices of plastic. If my fingernails aren't strong enough to break something, I'll often start to chewing on it.
I need to stop doing this. But I have no idea how to do that. I don't evenknow why I do it in the first place! It's not even conscious. I mean, while I'm doing it, I'm thinking about how I can take it apart in the most interesting way, trying new ways to break it, or trying to figure out where to put the force for it to snap. But somehow, it never occurs to me that I NEEDED that thing I just destroyed until AFTER the fact.
Does anyone else do things like this? Does anyone know how to stop doing it? Does anyone here know behavior modification techniques that might be effective? What bad habits do you have that you just can't seem to kick?My Homebrew
Five-time champion of the GITP monster competition!
Current Projects:
Crossroads: the New World: A pathfinder campaign setting about an alternate history of North America, where five empire collide in a magical land full of potential. On the road to publication!
Epic Avatar and Sigitar by AlterForm
Spoiler
-
2011-08-16, 11:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2009
- Location
- North Vancouver
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
I share your problem my friend, I've found that keeping a Pen, and learning how to spin it around ones fingers helps a lot.
Avatar by Elder Tsofu
-
2011-08-16, 11:26 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2010
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
I learned to roll coins between my fingers to occupy my hands and keep me from shredding important documents without realizing what I was doing.
It's surprisingly easy to pick up, too.
As to why, while I'm not a neurologist, I've heard from several sources that people who tap their feet and in general do 'busywork' while distracted have active minds. So, not a bad thing, all in all.Last edited by Circle of Life; 2011-08-16 at 11:27 PM.
Dealing with massive extended family DRAMAAAAA, posting slow to nonexistent until issues resolved.
Avatar by the wonderful Ceika. Many praises be unto she.
Live your life without regrets.
-
2011-08-17, 12:47 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2006
- Location
- In the Playground
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
Yeah that's probably the easiest solution, find something else to fill your hands. Something constructive! Like the small talents mentioned already. Could even switch it up day to day. Carry around a deck of cards, learn sleight of hand. Spin pens. Roll coins, and then learn to palm them. Lots of little things you can learn.
Last edited by Icewalker; 2011-08-17 at 12:47 AM.
-
2011-08-17, 01:00 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Saturn
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
Fiddling with coins is best, since you're unlikely to destroy them with your bare hands. I advise against pens; I've broken several.
-
2011-08-17, 01:29 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- Austin, TX
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
Willpower would work. You have to have some though. That's one of those bad habits that's not that hard to stop. Like thumb-sucking or nose-picking. Just realize that you should stop and then stop.
I take this game with the seriousness it deserves.
Not all that much. It's a game.
Xykon In The Playground nominee, way back when that happened.
Rebel Leader
Breakfast-atar by The Neoclassic whom I appreciate very much!
-
2011-08-17, 07:31 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- Central Florida
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
I had the same problem. Now I keep a deck of cards on my desk, and instead I shuffle them. When I'm not at my desk, I fidget with the sturdiest small object handy. Coins and dice are especially good for this.
-
2011-08-17, 07:36 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Location
- Lost in the Hinterlands
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
I chew pens. While it's a disgusting habit and I'm constantly running out of pens, I find it helps me concentrate.
Last edited by Giggling Ghast; 2011-08-17 at 07:36 PM.
A father taken by time, a brother dead by my own hand.
With this work behold my grief, in Stone and shifting sand.
-
2011-08-17, 10:06 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2005
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
silly putty.
you can mangle it all you want, its still just goo.a tiny space dedicated to a beloved grandpa now passed. may every lunch be peanut butter-banana sandwiches.
i has 2/4 an internets.
old avatarsSpoiler
gnome_4ever:
-
2011-08-17, 11:55 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Saturn
- Gender
-
2011-08-18, 02:39 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2011
- Location
- Canada
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
I too would suggest avoiding pens. The first day you stab a pen through the palm of your hand is also your last.
The only advice I can give you is find a thing to occupy your hands while your relaxing, cut your nails whenever they start to get an edge on them to avoid the ability to scratch, and if you get any scratchs/healing wounds due to scratching, peroxide the hell out of them as quickly as possible, if only to make them go away faster so you have nothing TO pick.
Although, it seems your problem is more with picking at stuff you have in your hands, and not yourself. In this case I think the best solution is to break your fingers and jaw. THIS IS A JOKE DON'T DO THIS
-
2011-08-18, 03:51 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2011
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
I love how you felt the need to add that little clause. Readers Are Geniuses, heh
I tend to scratch at my hairline or my stubble while I'm deep in thought. I've actually scratched through the skin on occasion. I use pens as a distraction, but I advise against clicky pens. Your coworkers/friends just might murder you.
Another fun little toy are those rubber stress balls or even slinkeys to play with.Awesome fremetar by wxdruid.
From the discomfort of truth there is only one refuge and that is ignorance. I do not need to be comfortable, and I will not take refuge. I demand to *know*.
So I guess I have an internets? | And a trophy. | And a music cookie (whatever that is).
-
2011-08-18, 08:45 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- Central Florida
- Gender
-
2011-08-18, 10:21 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2005
- Location
- Somerville, MA
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
I do this too. I think my fingers have ADHD. Keeping finger toys around is the only way to keep them happy.
My wedding ring is a good one because I always have it with me. I like seeing which fingers it fits on and then prying it off those it doesn't.
String is awesome too, but less socially acceptable. I'll tie knots during D&D games, but not at work meetings.
BuckyBalls are just plain fantastic. A little too fantastic. I always find myself wanting to do more and more with them.
Rubik's Cube and lock picks are my other finger toys. They keep me a little too engaged to have around all the time, but I like them at slow RPGs.If you like what I have to say, please check out my GMing Blog where I discuss writing and roleplaying in greater depth.
-
2011-08-18, 10:51 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2011
- Location
- Canada
- Gender
-
2011-08-18, 02:10 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2006
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
*A troglodtye enters*
*hands OP a banjo*
*tips hat*
*wanders off*
...
*leans back in*
El J would be proud.
*leaves again*
-
2011-08-19, 07:09 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2006
- Location
- In the Playground
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
I support the Trog's approach. I support this approach greatly. I need to get my banjo down to where I'm living now...
But yeah, definitely just find some little thing to keep your hands busy. If you're learning while you do it, all the better.
-
2011-08-19, 07:14 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2009
- Location
- NYC
-
2011-08-20, 12:14 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2005
-
2011-08-20, 11:58 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2007
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
Could be worse, brah. At least you're tearing apart objects and not your actual fingers and hands like I tend to do. But yeah, I feel for ya, Admiral Squish. I usually don't even notice until there's blood running down my hand. I always try to keep some band-aids on hand (excuse the pun), to avoid embarrassment.
-
2011-08-20, 12:17 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- Canada
- Gender
-
2011-08-20, 07:26 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- On my back, in my heart
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
A lot of good suggestions!
In regards to the suggestion for bringing something with me to fiddle with, I tried getting one of those grip-strength trainer-things, but I got a lot of... unsavory commentary, so I stopped. I also tried short chains, which were really interesting for my hands, but they made them always smell mettallic. Coins might work, but I'm worried that every once in a while I'll drop it and it'll make a loud noise, plus the aforementioned metallic smell. Pen twirling might work, but it seems like one of those things that takes a lot of practice. Card shuffling might be fun, but I suspect I'd have to learn how to play card games to justify it. Silly putty tends to leave tiny bits of itself on your fingers and makes your hand smell like salt. Banjo, also fun, but loud and not acceptable for most places.
Oh, I do that too! Though not quite to that extent. I just chew off my fingernails and cuticles. Oh, and I have a bad habit of picking at scabs and zits, opening them up over and over.My Homebrew
Five-time champion of the GITP monster competition!
Current Projects:
Crossroads: the New World: A pathfinder campaign setting about an alternate history of North America, where five empire collide in a magical land full of potential. On the road to publication!
Epic Avatar and Sigitar by AlterForm
Spoiler
-
2011-08-20, 11:52 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2007
-
2011-08-21, 12:08 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2010
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
Quarters don't actually make much noise unless you actively hurl them at something, and dimes even less so. The type of coin you use depends on how dexterous your fingers are, I suppose.
Dealing with massive extended family DRAMAAAAA, posting slow to nonexistent until issues resolved.
Avatar by the wonderful Ceika. Many praises be unto she.
Live your life without regrets.
-
2011-08-23, 03:56 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2011
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
Awesome fremetar by wxdruid.
From the discomfort of truth there is only one refuge and that is ignorance. I do not need to be comfortable, and I will not take refuge. I demand to *know*.
So I guess I have an internets? | And a trophy. | And a music cookie (whatever that is).
-
2011-08-23, 11:51 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- Austin, TX
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
I take this game with the seriousness it deserves.
Not all that much. It's a game.
Xykon In The Playground nominee, way back when that happened.
Rebel Leader
Breakfast-atar by The Neoclassic whom I appreciate very much!
-
2011-08-23, 12:03 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2008
- Location
- Madison, WI
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
While I don't have a case that's quite as severe as yours, I tend to fiddle with things when I'm anxious. I remember I fiddled with about 3 facial tissues until they were rendered useless one time when I was talking to a counselor.
These days I keep a small metal Slinkie by my desk. Keeps my hands entertained quite easily.
-Slayer Draco Doll by Recaiden
-
2011-08-23, 06:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2006
- Location
- Indiana
- Gender
Re: Picking! Make me stop!
I suggest getting someone to sit next to you with a yardstick with instructions to thwack you across the knuckles when you start doing it. That'll fix you up right quick.
"Courage is the complement of fear. A fearless man cannot be courageous. He is also a fool." -- Robert Heinlein