34 replies to this topic

[ThatAnnaGirl]

Feeling really discouraged about the whole thing. Prom is a week away.

[xgirl]

Any chance you can get some time in the sun or in a tanning bed? It's not an ideal band-aid in that it's harmful to skin, but if you can get some minor burning, you may be able to peel a lot of that away. I did this for my wedding and no one could tell I had bad back acne.

Obviously you need to get to the root of the problem and stop picking, but in the short-term, I hope you can have a nice prom. Can you get a shrug of some sort to wear over your dress?

HUGS. I've been there. It's hard

[grace_w]

I have suffered with picking for years. While I finally wised up and eased off of my face, it only made me go at my back and arms more fiercely. I am brutal to my skin, and have the scars to show for it.

I have been in exactly your place. Living at the mercy of an uncontrollable urge to get each and every last raised spot scratched, poked or squeezed away. Picking is a drug. It's hold over you is unimaginably strong.

I hit rock bottom one night staring in the mirror at hundreds of bleeding marks up and down each arm and covering every inch of my back I could reach. The first step to stopping was realizing what made me start. Picking soothed my anxiety, and gave me a warped sense of control. I could stop the racing thoughts and wild ideas in my head when I was set in the quiet trance of methodically "cleaning" my skin.

Once I saw that I was using picking to cope, the whole situation shifted. Controlling anxiety is not easy. But it's worth considering that you may be fighting a battle you can't win on your own. Anti-anxiety drugs and medicines for OCD exist for a reason: they help.

In the mean time I had to break the actual habit. It was all about out-smarting myself. I got a pair of mittens, and rubber-banded them to my hands when the urge was especially intense. I cut my nails as short as humanly possible. When I found my fingers straying to skin I clenched them in a fist, flicked at the pads of them or sat on them. In the beginning, stopping for even 30 seconds was like torture. Small victories are still victories. And every time I gained back control, I said to myself: I can stop this. I'm in control.

There is no magic to quitting. You have to make the choice, and fight every minute. Don't beat yourself up for slipping at first. Acknowledge mistakes are part of the process.

I found band-aids to be especially helpful. They healed and they protected the wounds (mostly protected them from me). I got a box of hydrocolliod bandages (from CVS) and covered every place I could think of. These are incredible at healing and preventing scars. The new process of washing, cleaning and covering the spots also helped me have a new methodical task to take the place of the picking.

Sorry I've written so long, I could probably ramble on forever, I just want you to know that you can break this habit. I would never have dreamed I could do it. But it's possible.

[ThatAnnaGirl]

I have suffered with picking for years. While I finally wised up and eased off of my face, it only made me go at my back and arms more fiercely. I am brutal to my skin, and have the scars to show for it.

I have been in exactly your place. Living at the mercy of an uncontrollable urge to get each and every last raised spot scratched, poked or squeezed away. Picking is a drug. It's hold over you is unimaginably strong.

I hit rock bottom one night staring in the mirror at hundreds of bleeding marks up and down each arm and covering every inch of my back I could reach. The first step to stopping was realizing what made me start. Picking soothed my anxiety, and gave me a warped sense of control. I could stop the racing thoughts and wild ideas in my head when I was set in the quiet trance of methodically "cleaning" my skin.

Once I saw that I was using picking to cope, the whole situation shifted. Controlling anxiety is not easy. But it's worth considering that you may be fighting a battle you can't win on your own. Anti-anxiety drugs and medicines for OCD exist for a reason: they help.

In the mean time I had to break the actual habit. It was all about out-smarting myself. I got a pair of mittens, and rubber-banded them to my hands when the urge was especially intense. I cut my nails as short as humanly possible. When I found my fingers straying to skin I clenched them in a fist, flicked at the pads of them or sat on them. In the beginning, stopping for even 30 seconds was like torture. Small victories are still victories. And every time I gained back control, I said to myself: I can stop this. I'm in control.

There is no magic to quitting. You have to make the choice, and fight every minute. Don't beat yourself up for slipping at first. Acknowledge mistakes are part of the process.

I found band-aids to be especially helpful. They healed and they protected the wounds (mostly protected them from me). I got a box of hydrocolliod bandages (from CVS) and covered every place I could think of. These are incredible at healing and preventing scars. The new process of washing, cleaning and covering the spots also helped me have a new methodical task to take the place of the picking.

Sorry I've written so long, I could probably ramble on forever, I just want you to know that you can break this habit. I would never have dreamed I could do it. But it's possible.

Thank you SO. MUCH. Your story sounds like mine, and is so inspiring!

[grace_w]

Definitely feel free to message me if you hit rough patches (you will!)

I haven't talked much about my experiences with picking, but since I began to realize it was a symptom of something greater and not my fault or a sign of my weakness, my outlook has changed. I'm much less ashamed and I'd really love to help other people reach the same place.

here are some other thoughts:

I wore a wrap to both my proms. In the end, the actual prom was crowded, dark and full of people, and no one noticed my skin. (And I promptly changed when the dance ended and parties began)

I use Hibi-Clens wash in the shower in the AM, and AH lotion after. I also got this wonderful oil from CVS- skin treatment- that has vitamins A & E and calendula, all super for healing.

Epsom salt baths at night were also great. They reduce bacteria and redness.

Before special events I take a couple ibuprofen, which reduces redness and inflammation.

AND- don't pick the scabs! This is THE hardest part, because scabs seem desperately to want to be picked. That's where the band-aids helped. Even with all my willpower I couldn't resist scrubbing away a dry, flaking scab. Not only are you setting back the healing process, you're making it worse by irritating a delicate area. In reality wounds heal best when they are kept constantly moist. The hydrocolloid band-aids do this and they literally heal wounds in half the time.

good luck!

[tallguy19]

I just wana say honestly and im very serious and i mean it your skin doesnt look bad at all, it seriously doesnt to me i would even notice it i swear, i think we are our own harshes critics, i mean i understand how you feel though, everyone on tihs site probably wakes up first thing in the morning and checks to see if there skin is better, we do this everytime we encounter a mirror too! funny thing is since we do it so often its almost impossible to track the progress or see a difference from day to day to day when in reality it can be a huge difference from say now and 5 weeks ago, my main point is in all honesty and im not trying to be nice or anything just telling the truth it doesnt look bad, and there is nothing gross or disgusting about your skin, i wouldnt even notice it if you were talking to me, secondly everyones gona focus on your beauty cause ur so PPPPPRRREEEETTYYYYYY and cute, hehe alright thats my input LOL

[geoffie]

good job! i cant quit picking either but im forcing myself to because im getting started on accutane and i have to do something noe.. its really hard but not impossible.... also like to compliment you on your beautiful eyes and in your before pictures you still looked very attractive... but congrats!

[ThatAnnaGirl]

Thank you all for the encouragement! I went to prom and WORE THAT STRAPLESS DRESS! It felt good.

Here's a pic, everybody loved the dress, and honestly, I've been too busy to pick!

 CIMG7469_smaller.jpg   452.15K   90 downloads

[Time Won't Heal This]

DAAAAAAYUUUM! Congrats and hope u had fun!

[ThatAnnaGirl]

DAAAAAAYUUUM! Congrats and hope u had fun!

I did, thanks! Now to work on keeping my back mark-free! I had a breakout today and totally picked the mess out of it.

[airforceone]

Are you single?

[ThatAnnaGirl]

Are you single?

lol.

[ThatAnnaGirl]

Oh gosh, any advice on helping stop pick at my arms and back?! I'm having the worst time of it.

[Gutterflower]

Oh gosh, any advice on helping stop pick at my arms and back?! I'm having the worst time of it.

Best thing I can really suggest is wearing a top that covers up all the areas you're prone to picking at, and try not to look in mirrors when you can avoid it. In your initial pictures your acne looks very similar to mine, and I'm a chronic picker (trying to stop... yesterday was not a good day for me!). Aside from that, distract yourself with something interesting and not mindless (don't watch TV or a movie, because people do all sorts of bad things when they're in a TV trance... eating, skin picking, you name it), go for a walk where you're physically moving and can't really pick at your skin, or visit the site and chatter with the people on here. While you're on here, you're conscious of looking after your skin so you're less likely to pick at it. You're beautiful, by the way! I am disgustingly jealous of how pretty you are! You've been blessed with good looks so take care of 'em.

[Timehealsall]

Do you get pitted scars from your picking? if you do, maybe thats a great reasont to stop?