positive ending?

I've realized over my 20 years of skin picking that the simple way to stop it is to practice "self control." For me, I can't deal with a pimple and feel like I must eradicate it. But...if I had some self control, I would let nature do its work and heal it. After all, typically I make a much bigger mess of my skin than if I just left it alone! Crazy right? I DO think that seeing a psychiatrist is a great idea as they could provide some cognitive behavioral therapy.

Hey, I have gotten to the point in which I am just over it too. I am in the process of trying to quit for good right now. I have started a blog, only a few days ago, to help with this. Please join me... we can give support to each other and any others who want to join. You can read a little bit about my story on the blog and my thoughts on stopping and how I have gotten where I am today. I have not had a crazy bad pick in years yet I have still been disappointed in myself when I let it get slightly out of control and can start seeing the effects on my skin again and want to hide from people. What is your story? nomorepicking.weebly.com I just wanted to add that I do think it is possible to quit and I feel I am close. You can definitely do it too!

I take zoloft right now and it's really worked for my depression but it has not helped at all with my picking. Do you think I should up the dosage or find something new? I'm just not sure what to do. It's so frustrating. I feel so trapped, especially when I don't want to go out without a cardigan or if I go to a special event in a sleeveless dress and have a panic attack because I forgot my cardigan to cover up my arms. I just don't know what to do.

People certainly do get better. I really have gotten a whole lot better in the past year. But try not to think of it as quitting, that implies that it is something you can "just stop" and it is setting a bit of an unrealistic goal when you're trying to get better. Take things one step at a time and be positive/happy with every bit of progress you make. Be happy you even found & posted to this forum, it takes guts to talk about this. I recommend seeing a psychologist/therapist. Doctors & dermatologists were no help for me because they just tried to treat the physical issue & they all told me to "just stop." But this is really a psychological issue that we have to work on, so seeing a psychologist will be a big help. In the meantime, try starting a written log for at least a week or two with information like when, where, why, & how long you pick. Then, once you're more aware of your picking & why you do it, when you start to pick remind yourself that you do have a choice...that you do have 'self control' (as the commenters below said). Remind yourself that you have a choice to either continue picking & causing more harm to yourself OR you can stop what your doing and feel more accomplished.