When I pull off my toenails I feel relief. It still hurts to do but afterwards I get a sense of overwhelming calm. Ignoring the pain aspect, It’s kind of similar to the feeling of having a blocked nose become clear. Is this indicative of anything?/ does anyone else experience something similar?

  • Cpo
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    2 months ago

    Provided this is not a joke, have you considered that this might be a coping mechanism? Almost the same way that people cutting themselves is a way of coping with stress or depression.

    I would recommend talking to your GP or a psychologist.

    • Fleur__@lemmy.worldOP
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      2 months ago

      I’ve been diagnosed. I did think that might be why, I can’t really afford to see a doctor or psycologist though. I might ask around in the depression communiteis to see if anyone else has a similar experience.

  • voracitude@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    No thank you. Or, in more words: No offense but I never want to see this post again so I’m going to block you because AAAAAUUUUUUAAAAUUUUUGH

    Anyway I’m sorry, I hope you get better

  • TheGalacticVoid
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    2 months ago

    Do your best to stop doing so. In the meantime, find a psychologist/psychiatrist/go to your family doctor. If you can’t afford one, try finding community health clinics.

  • parodytwirl@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    Put obstacles between yourself and whatever implements/room you use. Also consider what soothing mechanisms you can use instead when the habit kicks in.

    Your emotions make sense, self-harm isn’t rare, but pulling off your toenails really is a bad idea. Even if you feel relief from the pain you are still making your body more fragile in the long term and risking infections in the short term.

    Good job asking for help at all, now please find medical help as soon as you can. Don’t let this issue fester.

  • weeeeum@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    You can cause an infection, try your best to resist while attempting to get help for this.

  • Tower
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    2 months ago

    I do the same thing. It hurts so good! Especially my pinkie toenails. Definitely not a good habit, though, and probably related to some stress / coping mechanism.

    • Fleur__@lemmy.worldOP
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      2 months ago

      Yeah! mostly the pinky toe too XD. I try to keep it isolated to just that toe on each foot so walking doesn’t hurt lol. Def bad habbit. I’m so happy im not the only one though.

  • terminhell@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 months ago

    Are you talking about peeling off the amount of nail that would normally be clipped off, or complete remove of the entire nail?

  • HubertManne@kbin.social
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    2 months ago

    I mean when you drop a glass ashtray on one and it turns black and when it eventually comes off with the nascent one underneath that felt better for me. All the same I don’t really want to feel it again.

  • MataVatnik@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Do you have those really small toenails that sort of stick out? I know my friend has them and sometimes she pulls them out.

    • Fleur__@lemmy.worldOP
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      2 months ago

      uhhh I don’t think so… I’ve never heard of that before, my toenails look pretty regular to me :P

        • Fleur__@lemmy.worldOP
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          2 months ago

          I have actually used a pair of pliers once before lmao. Enough time picking using my fingernails will pull it off. Usually the nail I pull off is one which isn’t fully healed from the last time it was pulled off so its not really a “nail” more like a tough peice of skin that can be seperated from the rest of the toe. It does hurt, sometimes a lot.

          • gimpchrist @lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            It’ll get worse… I used to do this and then my pinky toenails kind of fused to my toe and now I can’t pick them off or clip them off or do anything with them and they keep growing and they are curling around on themselves because they don’t grow straight anymore because I pulled them off too much and it hurts and everything sucks so probably stop picking them all the way off or you’re going to have problems later