We all know nose picking is prevalent. But it's still taboo. Even in this day and age, the fact that we can keep hand sanitisers in our pocket or handbag, does not take the shame, for most people, out of being caught picking one's nose.
So imagine how hard life must be for those suffering from Rhinotrichotillomania, which is a legitimate, obsessive–compulsive disorder.
Normal nose picking is not a mental disorder, but when it starts to negatively impact your life, like impairment of social functioning, or physical harm, it does come under the definition of a disorder. Just as you would for a gambling addiction, if the time spent "picking a winner", impedes your ability to live a happy life, you should seek help from an expert in compulsive behaviours.
In a study done by Jefferson JW, Thompson TD (Dean Foundation for Health, Research and Education, Madison, WI ) the results for the responding two hundred fifty-four subjects were
- ninety-one percent were current nose pickers although only 75% felt "almost everyone does it"; 1.2% picked at least every hour. For 2 subjects (0.8%), nose picking caused moderate to marked interferences with daily functioning. Two subjects spent between 15 and 30 minutes and 1 over 2 hours a day picking their nose. For 2 others, perforation of the nasal septum was a complication.
There are various serious issues that can arise from "mining for jade jewels", too often and too deep, besides creating a hole between your nostrils that whistles ghostly melodies and sends people scurrying to take the kettle off the heat. One is Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis, which is a bacterial infection that causes pressure on the brain, from a clot, not just from poking your brain with your finger tip while you're elbow deep.
So if you are in the percentage at risk, then you should rightly seek preventative medical help without shame.
If you are in the tiny minority of those who don't pick their own nose, (who I call liars) but like to make sure pipes are scraped clean, you can always pay someone to do it. According to the records inscribed on a papyrus scroll from ca. 1330 BC, the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen provided the food and lodging of his own personal nose picker and paid him handsomely. Or if you are qualified to pick someone else's nose there is always the possibility that could start your own business and advertise everywhere from a printed sign on your house, to Linkedin. Let me know how it goes.
