Support for My (and everyone else's) Cause: Face Related Dermatillomania

Posted February 22nd, 2010 by Ginger_Snapp
Grrrr. From all the research I've done, I am one of those boredom/perfectionist pickers. Any blemish on my face or neck.....well. You all know how it goes. I try to pick at my back and chest too, but there harder to get at and hurt more, so I can usually keep myself away from those. My face though......its getting to be a problem. A few months ago, I finally realized that its affecting my life. It got better..... but not all the way. I finally realized that picking = bad, not picking = good. That didn't help too much though. Sometimes I can keep my self awy, more often not. I started this project of thirty days on the first of February. I am a VERY organized person. I have daily and weekly lists and projects and goals. It really helps, but....I went on vacation. A competition for my debate team. I got cut on the first round, and my schedule, lists and plannings were all obsolete because I wasn't in my normal routine - So I just stopped caring. Its gotten progressively worse over this week, and I started contemplating the idea that it is a mental thing, so I researched it, and came here. Tomorrow....is my new day one. I'm planning on wearing gloves whenever I can, make up and anything I can to make the picking stop. Any suggestions? I would love for anyone to reply, even just to talk about your own problems. Your support would be the greatest thing ever. Well....wake up Caden, cause DAY ONE STARTS IN THE MORNING! :)
‹ I bite for blood. Am I sick or what? Just hung up the phone ›
On March 2nd, 2010 hopeful_4_bette... said:
i can relate to you so much and i wish u luck !!
On February 26th, 2010 Green said:
Well I'm trying my hardest to keep away from my face and neck too. I've managed to MOSTLY keep away from my nose area ha... gotta start somewhere, I guess? My face has started looking a little better lately and I've been exfoliating like crazy instead of picking. I find it really hard to not pick AT ALL, because I do it unconsciously... then once I do, I feel like I've already ruined TODAY so why not keep going? So, I've been trying to convince myself that even if I slip up a little bit, all is not lost and I can still feel good in reducing. I feel like I have to constantly remind myself not to pick, and why I shouldn't... repeating that I won't do it today, and that does help. Thinking about it TOO much though tends to get me focused on it and once I feel or see something, it's hard to resist! Anyway, good luck to you and tomorrow is a new day for me too...
On March 1st, 2010 Ginger_Snapp said:
HAHA, We could be twins....
On February 23rd, 2010 40daysfromnow said:
OMG I just destroyed my face. I am with you on the 40 day thing. I was at day 3 but then went back to day one, and then back to day 1 again. I'm so sick os day ones! If I get to day 7 I will be fine I think. I'm going to try to post my progress. You should do so as well. Like a competition. Let's see who goes the longest.
On February 27th, 2010 Ginger_Snapp said:
Sorry, my internet has been freaky and weird, so I've been writing in journals instead. since we last checked, I made it to day three - and then back to day one. Now Im back at day three, as of today. My skin is looking really good, and Im at a debate competition so I have too go. Check back in later.
On February 27th, 2010 wildflower said:
way to go ! good to hear your skin is looking really good and that you are on day 3. that is where i am too now. i am watching and listening to the news about the earthquake in chili and the impending tsunamis threatening to hit many areas in the pacific and am very anxious as can be observed by my hands wanting to be scratching at my skin ! this underscores how external issues can so seriously bbe triggers for this kind of affliction. i must be strong as must be everyone at this anxious news breaks. good luck all! and of course heartfelt empathy to all those impacted by this catastrophe and those to unfold.
On February 28th, 2010 Ginger_Snapp said:
I was so tired I didn't even have the strength or will to fight it tonight. I picked a lot, but not badly because I didn't have a lot to pick at. I think I will decide if it's day 4 or 1 tommorow, depending on how much damage my face has sustained after all the swelling and redness goes away. Nighty Night! P.S. I was the first alternate for the people going to nationals (two) in my district competition today. I think that made me feel invincible, so I picked. Goes to show it doesn't always have to be bad.
On February 25th, 2010 40daysfromnow said:
So far so good
On February 26th, 2010 40daysfromnow said:
day 2 done! Well, almost done. A tip: brush your teeth not looking in the mirror, then after you wash your face, run away from the mirror before you get tempted. Also, if you get temped during the day, paint your nails? They will be wet for a while.
On February 26th, 2010 40daysfromnow said:
Day 3! my skin is safe while i have my makeup done. The hardest part is at night when I'm bored and have washed my face. When I woke up this morning after not picking last night my face looked so much better. Just keep in mind that every day you don't pick, your skin will look a lot better. I like to put a number on it. I tell myself that in 10 days of not picking at all my face will be normal. So every day is 10% towards that goal. now Im about 25% there! I don't want to ruin my progress.
On March 1st, 2010 40daysfromnow said:
I'm almost done my day 4. Skin is looking pretty good. So for all of you that haven't made it to day 4 yet; it is worth the restraint. Noticable change in my skin. I feel so much better. I have been having less coffee...
On March 2nd, 2010 40daysfromnow said:
I miscounted.... I'm actually on day 7 now! I don't think I have gone this long in about 5 years! The first 3 days were the hardest.
On March 2nd, 2010 Ginger_Snapp said:
good for you! day 5 for me
On March 1st, 2010 Ginger_Snapp said:
Day 4. Picked on day three, but there really wasn't much there and I was so tired, I let my self keep going on the sole condition that NOTHING would be picked today. And it worked. My skin looks pretty good, I got a pimple at competition on my forehead, but even it wasn't to bad. I did pop it, but didn't continue to squeeze so it was fine. Usually, I have this pathology that the more I squeeze, the more pus comes out even though clearly there is none left. So I didn't do that, and I was pleasantly surprised at the result. What else.....OH! Apparently I pick at other places besides my face, but I just don't get satisfaction from them because they offer no pus. I discovered this at the same time that I found a string of random mosquito bite looking bumps on my arm, even though I KNOW I wasn't near any mosquitoes. Oh well, as long as I'm not dying.....I put some bandaids on them, and now I could care less. If only I could do that with my face......
On February 23rd, 2010 Ginger_Snapp said:
Im with you. I know what it's like to completely destroy your face. It sucks. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME THIS TIME. Im determined. Sounds awesome to me :)
On February 23rd, 2010 wildflower said:
power to you ginger_snap! i'm rooting for ya!
On February 22nd, 2010 Ginger_Snapp said:
(Sorry for any mistakes, Im wearing gloves) I thought I did pretty well today, so far. I barely picked any at school and I only gave in after I got home to pop (well sort of, it wasn't ready so it didn't pop) one small thing on my forehead. Then I put on my gloves and ran. I would go put on some oil control - thats really slimy and benificial- so thats always good. But I dont want to go near a mirror. My mom says she's really happy with my face today and I cant bear screwing that up. I think she might get mad at me for the small pick on my forehead. But she's okay with it. She wants me to also join a group to sit up straight. Hell, maybe I will if this one works. OOooooo I was just touching my face, gloves back on NOW. Here to a good rest of the night.
On February 23rd, 2010 Ginger_Snapp said:
Ooooooo good rest of the night. I got ready to take a shower and put on the gloves before I went into the bathroom. I got all of my things ready for after the shower and jumped in. I didn't even look at my face. I was in the shower, shaving, and I was so proud of myself, thinking about how I was going to post this as soon as I got out and how if I picked, then that good feeling of satisfaction would go away and I would have to report my failure. So - I did all my face stuff with my gloves OFF and the mirror all foggy. Then I pulled on the gloves. I didn't really need them, but there was something immensly satisfying about pulling them on and knowing that DAY ONE IS COMPLETE!
On February 22nd, 2010 vacant-mind said:
I tried the 30/40 day thing too...I lasted maybe 24 hours and that was it. It felt good not picking but oh man once I gave in I just couldn't stop. I really want to beat this thing. Im going to try putting on ointment like polysporin EVERY time I want to pick, so that instead..I wont want to touch it cause it's slimey, and it heals at the same time. I duno we shall see how it goes...thought I would throw it out there...
On February 22nd, 2010 wildflower said:
i hear ya! and feel for ya! i feel that finding this place and making yourself accountable here with others dealing with the same issues will certainly help. not feeling alone and reading about what is working and/or not working for others can't help but help. wearing gloves whenever you can will help, too, as will putting makeup on because you won't want to touch yourself and remove it and therefore reveal your blemishes. taking tips from others here and sharing your experiences here also can't help but help. best wishes with "your" day 1!
For information on the skin picking disorder (Dermatillomania), symptoms, causes and treatment methods, get the Complete Guide to Skin Picking Disorders.