Why is it a reflex to continue to scratch something that is already irritated when all your really doing is furthering the irritation?
I remember when I had chicken pox, lathered with chamomile lotion and forced to wear oven mitts going to bed just so I would not scratch. My parents had to keep reminding me throughout the day not to irritate the sores any further but I remember thinking “why is it so itchy if I am not supposed to scratch it?”
It’s a reflex I understand that, done to remove dead skin from your epidermis. I still wonder why the reflex is so pronounced when dealing with things that scratching does not really help rather only furthering the irritation. Something like a chemical burn I have experienced at work from lye used on the pretzel buns, it drives you up the wall at first with being itchy but I dare you to scratch it and find out how much it will begin to burn. The only solution is to rinse the area with something acidic as lye is basic and will be neutralized. If you had scratched the area first prepare yourself for the ride of you life because it will be 10x worse feeling then if you hadn’t.
Even acne which feels good to scratch really shouldn’t be touched at all as the bacteria which causes the irritation is likely to spread causing further outbreaks and irritation. I have tried so many times to wait out the sensation of wanting to scratch but this seems to cause further irritation, not of the skin but of the mind. It starts as a dull barely noticeable thing but the longer you try not to scratch the more intense it seems to get. When it finally reaches that point of being unbearable being the only thing I can focus on I always give in. I find the irritation of the skin is bearable compared to the nagging irritation of the mind when trying to ignore the reflex to scratch.
I have come to assume that this is some type of challenge, a test of your will power. Mind over matter as some would say but when the physical irritation is much easier to endure then the mental counterpart having any mind left is definitely a challenge.
Even just sitting here thinking of scratching makes me itchy all over, ignoring it is becoming unbearable. Screw it I’m scratching despite knowing I’ll only be furthering the irritation, this matter overcomes my mind.
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