Face touching

Comment

Comment by Barry Shaw on June 15, 2009 at 8:03am

Thanks Susan having checked out tricho' there are similarities as I do tend to do it more when going thro' a stressful time as @ the moment business wise even tho' I mostly handle it very well taking time to relax etc. A few other factors lean more towards some of fabels comments. Incidentally i was a prolific nail biter from childhood until at the tender age 29 I entered the sales world and once I realised that a potential customer could be put off by the appearance of bitten nails I stopped more or less immediately. Just occasionally tho' I too have a secret one finger self gratifying nibbble. thanks again.
barry

Comment by Susan French on June 15, 2009 at 7:17am

I wonder if it isn't a form of trichotillimania (hair pulling)? Trichotillimania is associated with a mild form of OCD (maybe not so mild...lol)

I agree with Fable too. I think a lot of those things are self-soothing, including OCD, or at least an attempt to relieve excess anxiety with some self-soothing behavior.

I have to say, though, that I had trichotillimania really badly when I was a little girl. I kept pulling out my eyelashes. I got myself to stop because I wanted to have pretty eyelashes. Then it started up again in the last 10 years or so as eyebrow hair plucking. I haven't tried to stop it for two reasons. 1) I enjoy the feeling (sick, I know), and 2) I'm fearful of what might take its place (like eating???).

When a client came to me recently to stop biting her nails, as I talked to her, I discovered that she really enjoys the feeling and wasn't ready to give it up. We both laughed in that conspiratorial way when people discover that they have similar "sins."

Anyhow, check information on trichotillimania and see if it fits.

Susan

Comment by Barry Shaw on May 29, 2009 at 12:34am

Thanks for the comments all useful and food for thought from Fabel - a lighthearted request just become quite personal.

thanks again
barry

Comment by Fable Goodman on May 28, 2009 at 12:33pm

most body language people would class touching of the face, as a form of self comforting, in a situation where one is feeling anxious, and in need of stroking.

now how much you agree with interpretations is obviously up to you, but an insight ito what is going on, may help.

are you getting enough touch, support, comfort/ stroking in your life I wonder?

Love and hugs,


fable

Comment by John Cleesattel on May 28, 2009 at 10:48am

Well NLP is a form of hypnosis :) I'm thinking if your habit is unwanted, it can be corrected for sure. You are just automatically responding to a trigger of some sort, and just noticing when you do.

Your initial sentence was just a bit vague, which prompted my reply (which was in reality for more info)

Cheers
John

Comment by Barry Shaw on May 28, 2009 at 6:32am

Oh ok it's me - over time I've observed that I do seem to do it more than most- just mildly irritates me and perhaps that i may be harbouring some "dark secret" (tongue firmly in cheek) I are'nt a therapist I'm a Mprac in nlp using it mainly in business and training, and have a strong interest in hypno'

Comment by John Cleesattel on May 28, 2009 at 6:15am

other than we all do it?