Join me for a new 30 day challenge!

Posted October 31st, 2012 by B.hopeful
A little background- I am a finger picker. All fingers. I've done it since I can remember. My husband knows. 3 years ago he got me to stop by giving me incentive- If I stopped for 45 days he'd buy me a present. I ended up getting a red tail Colombian boa!! I stopped picking for about.. Idk.. 200 days? My snake ended up dying. I was so upset I picked the night he died. I then became pregnant in January. Around March I stopped picking. I wanted to stop for my son. My son is 8 weeks old and we've encountered some financial issues and I picked. I WILL NOT let my son see my fingers mutilated. If he picked up this habit because he saw me doing it I'd never forgive myself. Thanks to the last two times i have quit my fingers are exceptionally better. I can continue and they can get worse... Or I can stop saying "tomorrow, I will quit." Everyday because if I keep doing that, it will never happen. I know I can do it. I've done it before. I've recognized my triggers and when something comes around I will find a new outlet. My goal is to stop picking my fingers. My incentive and motivation is the little tiny love of my life... My son. My damage is the thumb, index finger, and middle finger on both hands. Not extensive damage, but pink, "irritated" skin. Not bloody and raw, so I feel like progress will come quick as it always does. I always see great progress in the first 4-5 days- the first day is always the hardest though. I am almost through the first day. If anyone would like to join me, lets do this! Feel free to share your story. Your damage. Your goals, and your motivation. I will update as much as I can. I'm a "list" kind of person so I made a book type deal with 30 days marked in it and space to write in each day. I will not fail my son. :-) 30 days... Here I come! Join me!
‹ Life story of arm & hair biting & picking for 13 years one of those moments... ›
On November 16th, 2012 Romy said:
Hello. I have been picking my face for about 4 years and I am almost 30. Before then, I had picked the occasional pimple but it wasn't a problem. It started becoming a serious problem when I stopped taking birth control and developed cystic acne for the first time. I became hyperaware of my skin because of it, examining it constantly. Even though I went back on birth control and the cystic acne is long gone my awareness of my skin remains high and my threshold for what I pick is dramatically lower. I now pick even the smallest bumps, little tiny blackheads that I never would have bothered with or even noticed before. I feel totally out of control. I can relate to comments in a lot of the posts. I isolate myself socially due to extreme embarrassment. When I am in public I tend to avoid making eye contact. Somehow I feel that if I can't see a person's face, they cannot see mine. It's crazy, I know. I have band aids and ointment on my face almost every night. I worry that my partner will get fed up with me, not because I look horrible, but because how I feel about my skin prevents me from being myself. I didn't always have this problem. I am writing in to take the 30 day challenge b/c I will try anything at this point. Hopefully connecting with others in the same position will help. I don't have the money to see a therapist who specializes in body focused repetitive behaviors such as skin picking. I did see a general counselor available through my health plan, but she just wanted to put me in anxiety classes. I took one, but it didn't help. The main reason I am anxious is because I have an out of control skin picking habit! 30 days starts now...Thank you for starting this B.hopeful!
On November 15th, 2012 B.hopeful said:
Oh my goodness the time really gets away from me :-( On the good note I haven't picked and I don't even know how many days its been... 17! Whoa I'm half done. Well I've been super busy but I've made time to keep my nails looking fabulous and that's probably my best secret. I can't show off my long, pretty painted nails when my fingers are bloody. My son is also starting to realize mommy has bright things on her fingers. He's starting to look at my fingers because my nails are bright- I don't want him seeing bloody raw skin and thinking its okay. So this is it. Icant ever go back to it. My fingers look like I have never picked. I'm really excited about it. So that's my secret- my son (whom I would do ANYTHING for... He keeps me going and made this happen), pretty nails and a busy life. I don't know what will work for you all but I hope and pray you've found it. I hope you are all doing well. I read this thread often, I just don't always have time to post. You are all an inspiration. I hope to see more updates on here. If you've failed, if youve succeeded, I wanna see it all. Hope to chat soon. Peace and love<3
On November 12th, 2012 goal orientated said:
Hi. I'm a face picker. Been this way for approximately ten years. In this 30 day challenge I am breaking it down to four days at a time... Making it 32 days in total. This is because I have seen a rule about succeeding within four days to work as the foundation to kick the habit for good, on YouTube. Hope eveyone else succeeds. Good luck all.
On November 15th, 2012 B.hopeful said:
If 4 days works for you then break it down into 4 days!!! Is acne the issue? No facial products ever helped me until I started using something that sounds ridiculous. I used to pick my face too and now have nothing there to pick lol. Ready for it...? Honey. I wash my face with honey. Research it. I used to have cystic acne and I've been using one or all of these things on my skin- honey, brown sugar, white sugar, ground oatmeal, and baking soda. Nothing but natural things. I highly recommend it. Give it a try:-)
On November 17th, 2012 goal orientated said:
Yes it is in response to adult acne. Hmmm I am wondering will honey make my hairline all sticky? x
On November 18th, 2012 B.hopeful said:
Just rinse rinse rinse!!! It's not as sticky as people think...
On November 9th, 2012 Katastrophe said:
Okie doke. So I want to try this 30 day challenge. Or I'll go for 7 days at a time, just add up to forever. Because 30 makes it seems so long & stressful... I think I'm gonna cry actually... I've been wanting to stop. & my bf I've been with for months now is really trying to help me. But he's 2 hours away from me so we don't see each other often :( . I'm an emotional picker, a bored picker, everything picker. I even twittle my hair strands between my fingers, end up pulling a few hairs out here & there if they squeak really "good" (like quiet pickles I guess? Lol). I pick my chest, upper arms, upper back, legs, groin, sometimes my face... My chest is REALLY bad. Has been for years. I even got so bad, in March I had a staph infection on my chest. I cry over it, but I can't stop. I put together a collage of my chest acne as my phone wallpaper, it says "STOP PICKING!!!" I did that once I read some things off this site. It helped me, maybe for a day or a little less. But I went back. So tomorrow, I will start my 7 day challenge... Wish me luck :( I'll be back, I'll definitely need something to do & someone to talk to when I get the craving, like I do now...
On November 15th, 2012 B.hopeful said:
How are you doing?!! Update!??
On November 8th, 2012 sholou said:
Hello My name is Shona. I have been picking my skin and lips for 10years or more now. That's almost everyday for 10years. I do it when Im nervous, angry, sad, happy, scared.. I do it all the time. I also do it throughout the days, from when I wake up til the minute I go to sleep. I have no mirrors in the house except a teeny one for applying make up because it only spurs me on to pick more. I dont particularly have acne issues. I pick my face (sometimes), chest (the worst!), back, thighs and the length of my arms. I am covered in scars, scabs, blood blisters, blood under the skin and bruises. I have tried to stop so many times. The longest Ive gone is about 3 days I think. But your post has made me want to try again. I am getting married in 18months time and I dont want to get married looking like this! So tomorrow (no money today) I am going to buy a pair of gloves and wear them 24/7 to see if I can curb the habit. Wish me luck!
On November 12th, 2012 goal orientated said:
Hi sholou, I have the exact same incentive as u, and yes I have been in the exact same picking history.
On November 15th, 2012 B.hopeful said:
Sholou and goal oriented I am so curious to how you're both doing. Shona- I've given in to picking my lips a time or two... (Yeah a lot more lol) and the only thing that helped me stop was Aquaphor. I know it sounds weird to use for Chapstick but it makes your lips SO irresistibly soft, so soft you can't pick- and with aquaphor on them, you literally CAN'T pick. It's a fantastic moisturizing barrier of the fingers. I no longer pick my lips because of it. Hope that helps..
On November 8th, 2012 B.hopeful said:
Oh man the days get away from me. Well today was day 9 and I'm still going strong. I reprinted my nails and made them super pretty again. My fingers look fantastic. Like I said before guys... The first day is always the hardest. It gets easier each day. Sometimes I occasionally catch myself searching but catch it. If my hands are dry it seems as though I'm more apt to search and try and find something but lotion and keeping them moisturized prevents it. I hope everyone else is doing well. Feel free to check in here. I'd like to know I'm not alone in this challenge :)
On November 8th, 2012 B.hopeful said:
Repainted**
On November 5th, 2012 B.hopeful said:
Day 4 was a success, day 5 was a success, today was day 6 and it also was a success. Sometimes it's hard to get on here with an 8 week old. The little guy is my best friend and totally distracting so, sorry that some days ill be gone :-/ Icant believe tomorrow will already be a week. I'm really proud. My son really is such an inspiration to me. For him, I will do anything. I have a piece of cuticle sticking up just begging to be picked. You know... I'm leaving it 100% alone because even touching it is going to be an unneeded temptation and I didn't quit just to fiddle around with temptation. Im so proud and eager to not pick i may not clip it off just to have jt there to remind me i can do this. im in this for the long haul. i am not giving up. this is it. i was done picking for good 6 days ago! Donna all I can say is the first day truly is the hardest. Everyday after that gets easier. Yes, you may relapse but next time, you'll be able to go longer because YOU KNOW YOU CAN. You quit for only one day? Cool. You did it for one day, you know it's possible. Next time quit for two. Keep a journal. Come to this site everyday and update. I may not be able to respond but I at least check this thread at least once a day whole my son is nursing. I am eager to see where everyone else stands in their battle. I am sharing my victory, but I've also shared my failures here. This is a team of support because at one point, we all thought we were the only ones in the world who picked. So if nails help, you go get your nails done, girl! And make them fabulous! Get bright colors and jewels and make them pop. A rubber band on my wrist curbed my temptation and now I don't even wear it. Everytime I tried to pick I'd snap that sucker and it would make me stop. A stress ball also helped. I didn't even go out and buy one, I filled a latex glove with flour and called it good. The first day, like I said, is going to be the hardest. It's going to suck. And you might fail. This time around it took me 4 "first days". Granted I wasn't picking my fingers until they were bloody anymore but I'd pick the top layer and to me, that is still picking. So everyday I would say "alright then. TODAY is the day!" And I failed. 4 times. But I finally kept at it because I knew eventually I would get it if I DIDN'T GIVE UP. That's the key. You read I've relapsed twice. Third times the charm and I'm not about to get discouraged about the past. I'm using it to learn and be my encouragement to not fall back into this habit. You can do it. Try your hardest and if you happen to slip up, just wake up tomorrow with an even stronger mindset. If it takes you 1 first day or 100 first days, you will get it. Hope this helps in some way. I started rambling, sorry. Keep us updated. If no one else reads this, fine, but I read it everyday and I'm here for you.
On November 5th, 2012 B.hopeful said:
Day 4 was a success, day 5 was a success, today was day 6 and it also was a success. Sometimes it's hard to get on here with an 8 week old. The little guy is my best friend and totally distracting so, sorry that some days ill be gone :-/ Icant believe tomorrow will already be a week. I'm really proud. My son really is such an inspiration to me. For him, I will do anything. I have a piece of cuticle sticking up just begging to be picked. You know... I'm leaving it 100% alone because even touching it is going to be an unneeded temptation and I didn't quit just to fiddle around with temptation. Im so proud and eager to not pick i may not clip it off just to have jt there to remind me i can do this. im in this for the long haul. i am not giving up. this is it. i was done picking for good 6 days ago! Donna all I can say is the first day truly is the hardest. Everyday after that gets easier. Yes, you may relapse but next time, you'll be able to go longer because YOU KNOW YOU CAN. You quit for only one day? Cool. You did it for one day, you know it's possible. Next time quit for two. Keep a journal. Come to this site everyday and update. I may not be able to respond but I at least check this thread at least once a day whole my son is nursing. I am eager to see where everyone else stands in their battle. I am sharing my victory, but I've also shared my failures here. This is a team of support because at one point, we all thought we were the only ones in the world who picked. So if nails help, you go get your nails done, girl! And make them fabulous! Get bright colors and jewels and make them pop. A rubber band on my wrist curbed my temptation and now I don't even wear it. Everytime I tried to pick I'd snap that sucker and it would make me stop. A stress ball also helped. I didn't even go out and buy one, I filled a latex glove with flour and called it good. The first day, like I said, is going to be the hardest. It's going to suck. And you might fail. This time around it took me 4 "first days". Granted I wasn't picking my fingers until they were bloody anymore but I'd pick the top layer and to me, that is still picking. So everyday I would say "alright then. TODAY is the day!" And I failed. 4 times. But I finally kept at it because I knew eventually I would get it if I DIDN'T GIVE UP. That's the key. You read I've relapsed twice. Third times the charm and I'm not about to get discouraged about the past. I'm using it to learn and be my encouragement to not fall back into this habit. You can do it. Try your hardest and if you happen to slip up, just wake up tomorrow with an even stronger mindset. If it takes you 1 first day or 100 first days, you will get it. Hope this helps in some way. I started rambling, sorry. Keep us updated. If no one else reads this, fine, but I read it everyday and I'm here for you.
On November 5th, 2012 Donna said:
How do I stop picking for 1 day? I've done it since 12 yrs old. I usually wear fake nails which curbs it but I want to save some money. So i took off nails. Now I have dots all over my face. And I can't keep fingers off face
On November 5th, 2012 Donna said:
How do I stop picking for 1 day? I've done it since 12 yrs old. I usually wear fake nails which curbs it but I want to save some money. So i took off nails. Now I have dots all over my face. And I can't keep fingers off face
On November 3rd, 2012 MegSula said:
Ok I'm joining on this thirty day challenge. November 3 will be day 1. Hopefully the fact that I tore apart my skin tonight will keep me "on the wagon" easily for a few days. I know I pick my skin when I'm stressed. I've made the skin right in front of both my ears bleed regularly at work when I'm having a stressful day. throwing cover up on bleeding skin is horrible and I do it every day. I so hope we can do this together. I never realized tht this was a type of disorder, I just thought it was something I did. Picking my face at the end of the day calms me down and that's a problem. I need to deal with stress is a less destructive way so ok. Here starts my 30 day challenge.
On November 2nd, 2012 B.hopeful said:
So... Day 3... And no picking. I did my nails quite fabulous today so that always helps :-) I spent the day with my angel and was distracted with his smiles and giggles so he reminded me all day why I wasn't picking. Plus I showed my husband my fingers after I did my nails and it doesn't look like I've been picking at all so I am making tons of progress in just a small amount of time. That always makes me feel better. Tonight I'm knitting my little monkey a panda beanie. Kept my hands distracted. I feel so confident that I've beat this. I've stayed extremely hydrated and rested and my skin is healing miraculously fast. I'm so excited. I hope everyone else is doing well. Even if you've slipped up don't beat yourself up. Pick yourself back up and start again. We can do this. Day 3 is in the bag!
On November 1st, 2012 mschafer87 said:
I'm joining you in your 30 day challenge!! I tried at the beginning of October and have kind of fallen off the wagon. I'm folding laundry right now so cant write much but I'm excited to get on here and type more tomorrow! As of now though, my challenge has begun. Hoping not to pick tonight! Good luck!
On November 1st, 2012 B.hopeful said:
Mschafer87.. Welcome and good luck. It's nice to have people around who know about our struggle with it but to actually have people who we can talk to in depth about what we do to ourselves and how we want to stop makes it so much easier. I think of all of you when I start to search. How I'm not alone :-) and how we can all overcome this! Speaking of laundry... I need to go fold mine now lol.
On October 31st, 2012 B.hopeful said:
Day 1 was yesterday. I caught myself mindlessly searching to pick 6 times. Didn't pick. Day 2.. Today- I've mindlessly searched a couple times but haven't picked. My nails are chipped and need to be painted so that will help to not pick.. Having pretty nails :-) I too am an emotional picker. Doesn't matter what emotion. Happy sad bored anxious angry exuberant, doesn't matter. I'm really disappointed I started up again. (Did not, have not and WILL NOT) take my disappointment out on my fingers. This is so important to me so I believe this is it. I did not stop picking for good in 30 days, I stopped picking for good yesterday. It it good that there is motivation for us out there. Lets support each other and not give up. We can do this. I just read earlier that two steps forward and one step back is still one step forward. :-)
On October 31st, 2012 olivegreen said:
Hello! I'm so happy you have such a positive attitude!! I also have a young son (will be 3 in January) and he is my main motivation for quitting. My official quit date is September 12, 2012 although I am still in the process. I have tried quitting before with no long-term success, and I attribute that mainly to being not totally committed to it. My damage is mostly anything--scalp, fingers, arms, legs...my goal is to be totally compulsive-picking free, with no more urges to pick despite my emotional condition. (I am an emotional picker--pick when I'm angry, pick when I'm sad, pick when I'm anxious, pick when I'm happy...etc) My motivation is, like you, my son. I also want to be the best, healthiest mommy I can be for my boy, and I feel that picking is a huge hindrance to that. I also don't want him to end up being a picker!! Thirty days from now I would like to be one month closer to total pick-freedom. I feel I have made a lot of progress over the last month and a half, but I have more to go. B.hopeful--you can do it for good this time, and so can I!
On October 31st, 2012 B.hopeful said:
My post above was intended to go under yours ^^^^^^ sorry !!
For information on the skin picking disorder (Dermatillomania), symptoms, causes and treatment methods, get the Complete Guide to Skin Picking Disorders.