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almosthealed , 29 May 2009

photo experiment

Hi, someone mentioned taking photos as a way to be accountable. I did that as an experiment once, and it didn't work for me. I decided I would take a digital photo every morning --hopefully it would make me stop and be an objective way to keep track of my "progress" or lack thereof. It ended up making everything worse, I felt more guilty, more depressed, and it didn't stop me from picking at all, it just intensified the cycle of being guilty, stressed and ashamed. Anything that feels like punishment, that makes you feel worse, you should just stop. Punishing yourself or feeling more guilty is not the way to stop picking. It just makes us feel worse (which propels more picking) and doesn't do any good. But there was one thing productive that came out of it... They were really awful photos--the kind where you hold the camera yourself, terrible lighting, bad perspective, you know the kind of really crappy photo. Plus, it was just "documentary" so I didn't bother smiling. So I just looked really awful and kind of sullen in all these photos. And then one day, for some reason, I wasn't even thinking about it, I was smiling when I took the photo---and I looked so much better! It was so weird, it suddenly occured to me that just being happy, and having a happy expression could make me look so much better, and feel so much better. It made me realize that all the obsession with the picking and stopping the picking, aside from the picking itself, was making everything so much worse and making me feel worse about myself. Its like I punish myself by believing I can't feel good or be happy (let alone look good) because I'm picking. I don't HAVE to let picking make me depressed. It is really a problem that interferes with my life, but at the same time, it is a cycle that snowballs. If I don't let how I feel about my picking take over, I can actually feel better, let myself be happy, and then picking has a little bit less control over me. During the time that I started the photo experiemnt, I was really depressed--the depression and picking fed off eachother. I pulled out of the depression (mostly through yoga, and some life changes), was still picking. But I entered a phase for a couple of years where though I was still compulsive about picking, I was able to disassociate from my general outlook better--I was still pretty happy, even though I was still pretty ashamed by the habit. I guess what I am trying to think about is what real changes have happened that have enabled me to stop picking. The pure will power to stop has neve gotten me very far, nor has obsessively telling myself to stop.
10 Answers
cherrycolalola
June 11, 2009
I like what you said about letting go of how you feel about your picking. It's a good thing to be reminded of. Thanks. I tried the photo thing too and had the same reaction. it's important to separate our hapiness from how r skin looks. I've been thinking about mirrors in the same way as photos lately. Choosing to not look in them bc I don't need to be reminded each day how much I'm supposed to hate myself. Has anyone tried this? Trying to avoid all mirrors?
almosthealed
June 11, 2009

In reply to by cherrycolalola

I've tried avoiding all mirrors. Once i covered the mirrors in my apartment. This was during a particularly bad phase, and it didn't take me too long to take the covers off. When I moved into my new house, there literally was only one mirror, on the back of a door, in terrible lighting. We didn't have any of our furniture yet, it felt like we were camping for a couple of weeks! This really helped me nt pick in front of the mirror because there simply wasn't one. I wanted to resolve to no longer pick when we got mirrors (new house, new start, another resolution), But I did pick again. For me, avoiding mirrors has been a boost at times, but doesn't really "cure" my problem. I think Ive said elsewhere, its really a combination of things that has helped me really almost stop picking. But whatever helps at the time, of course do it. Yes, I sort of mentally retrained the way I regard mirrors as well. Try to stop punishing myself, thinking negative things everytime I look in the mirror. As my skin has healed more, this has gotten easier. I try to only notice something positive when I look in the mirror, even if it means I have to stand 6 feet back! I try to just put on the mental breaks if I start ging down a negative thouht pattern. Its so basic. But its something I can practice and get better at. What is odd is sometimes, when my skin is better, I actually have MORE negative thoughts than when I have scabs. When I've been picking, I look awful of course, but I can think, its from picking, if I stop in couple of days it will be better. But if my skin is healed, and I see scars or unevenness or blackheads, etc, I feel worse about myself b/c "this is how I really look" "I am permanently damaged" "Ill never look better than this." My skin has been healed most of the time for about 6 weeks, and I'm getting used to and more positive about how I look, even though I can see scars. Actually, they ARE fading. It really is amazing how your body can heal itself when you support it. That is another mental angle I've been using--think in terms of healing, of taking care of myself, of soothing myself, both mentally and physically. Not punishing yourself for picking is so important. Though I've "stopped" for abut 6 weeks, i still pick! Its a process of refining, paying more attention, learning how not to pick. For me at least, cold turkey will always fail at some point, so I have to think more flexibly -- but also be very persistent.
cherrycolalola
June 11, 2009

In reply to by almosthealed

Congratulations on doing well these past 6 weeks! A lot of the things that have helped you have helped me too! Flexibility is definitely an important part. I keep trying to remind myself that what works today may not work tomorrow. The disease comes from so many things in our lives, so I think it's natural that it takes many different strategies to overcome it. I absolutely understand what you said about wanting to pick more when your skin is healing. The thing I'm struggling with right now is being afraid of relapsing, because I'm picking less and less and my skin is getting better and this is when I tend to start again. I was journaling about it this morning..."whenever I harp on looking/feeling better or feel on the verge of looking way better I slack and pick again. The perfectionist OCD person takes over. When I can't see major damage it's even worse. I forget quickly. It's like getting really sick from drinking. During you feel awful. Like you want to die sometimes, and you vow you aren't going to hurt yourself anymore, but then as soon as you're better you do it all over again. Addiction has a powerful way of making you forget". I'm trying to put on the mental brakes to. There's this quote I read somewhere about thoughts needing consistent energy in order to survive. I try to stop the negative thought patterns by not giving them that attention.
JeannieK
June 11, 2009

In reply to by cherrycolalola

(written in form of 4 verses per paragraph) Oh I know that come the evening light, When my guard is down and my day's not been quite right, Then I can find those digits just doing their dance, Having been caught off guard by their forward advance// Is it guilt, is it boredom, is it fear of success, On any day it may be more or less, Getting on a handle on it is so dadgum hard, What sets it off is often a chance wild card// I know it has something to do with perfection, I know it has something to do with compulsive correction, I'm pretty sure it has something to do with self-esteem, And I need to learn to be a contributing player on my own team// Little bumps, little scabs, little itches that taunt, Demon digits doing a dance that I do not want, Keeps me inside some days and from pursuing dreams, After the fact I'll be a little kinder applying bandaids and creams// The thing is when I'm busy and happy with my time, I don't view every failure as some horrible crime, When I give myself a break, doing something I actually enjoy, It's funny how my fingers are stilled from their ravaging employ// I know there is an answer and I both hope and play detective, I have so much going for me, it's not true that I'm defective, In the end there will be a lesson as long as I don't play a self-pitying fool, Find the silver linings and share them, remembering the golden rule//
JeannieK
June 12, 2009

In reply to by almosthealed

Thank you! That is what is so funny. I've had writer's block since I quit my full time job to do Mary Kay and write full time and so I DO think that part of the reason for my demon dancing digits is because I have not been creative!! Almost healed, what did you do to get almost healed? I just signed up for the 10 counseling sessions. I'd say 'cross your fingers' but no reason to get them active in any way!! ;-)
cherrycolalola
June 12, 2009

In reply to by JeannieK

I love the poem. I think it's beautiful! Almosthealed I relate to your goals about trying to reexamine who u really are and how u treat yourself.We truly arent defective and there will be a lesson in the end. I feel like each day we dont pick we learn a million lessons.Its in an erykah badu song( im really into the inspirational music thing right now haha) the lyrics are "peace and blessings manifest with every lesson learned. If your knowledge were your wealth then it would be well earned" Healing from this is changing everything for me. It's exhilarating and scary at the same time. I'm coming to realize that although I would rather do without the pain, part of me takes comfort in it. Not just the high from the endorphins, but the also the way it grounds me mentally. I know myself well as depressed. I'm so used to it that I feel something is wrong when I don't feel anxious or sad. Sometimes it feels like I'm a bird in a cage that has it's door open. I could go out into the world, but it's too much space to deal with...to much freedom. And ive been thinking how this may be another form of ocd behavior.anyway my Mantra right now has been to just say yes.. To everything. The confusion, the space, the pain, the relapses. It's given me some peace. I'm so happy to get to talk to you all about it. Everyone is so supportive. If hate got us to where we are individually then I think it's love that's gonna get us out together
JeannieK
June 12, 2009

In reply to by cherrycolalola

"Sometimes it feels like I'm a bird in a cage that has it's door open. I could go out into the world, but it's too much space to deal with." Oh my gosh, cherrycolalola, that is me! I quit my job and am on an exciting path and set to go after my dream only...I'm not going after it. it's hard to get out of the house and on many days when I have a great schedule my little demon digits go at it and then I have an excuse to stay in. I'm also grateful for the pain and I've felt lately that I'm coming to that climax point and while it's unknown, I'm also feeling ready for it for a change. Bring it on! =)
almosthealed
June 12, 2009

In reply to by JeannieK

JeannieK--I'm kind of writer too, I'm a PhD student, so basically I am an academic writer. The stress and anxiety of writing definitely contributes to my picking. I love the poems--they are so funny and light hearted, even though they are kind of tragic! That's how I feel about picking--its so absurd I feel like its a cruel joke! cherrycolalola--how I managed to get better is actually a very hard question to answer, its was such a process, and in the end I know somethings that helped and somethings that didn't but I can't say for sure what exactly did it. I am going to think about that question some more, and put up another post up in a new thread. thanks guys, its so great to have people that actually get this!!!
almosthealed
June 12, 2009

In reply to by cherrycolalola

The way you are trying to cope through working with your own thought process sounds very similar to how I approach it. I had a teacher who said that when you want to stop a car, you TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS FIRST. Before you can stop, you have to just let go of however you are feeding that process. No matter how habitual a thought pattern is, you are spinning them with a consistent energy. Its that awareness, that noticing of what you are doing that makes it possible to simply cease, take your foot off the gas. I have the exact same thing about picking more when I am actually getting better. Relapsing is so frustrating. But I think somehow I got to such a point of frustration with relapsing that it became a turning point where I managed to push myself further to beat this habit/addiction/compulsion/masochism. And what is weird about it is how quickly I get arrogant! Its like as soon as I've established some control, or my skin has gotten a little clearer, i start to think i can get away with picking just a little bit, or just looking in the mirror closely for awhile, etc. Another thing that is helping me is thinking about how I will feel if I beat this for good. Right now, I have improved so much, it is already more than I thought was possible at most points of this whole addiction. I think if I can really stop picking, I can do anything. That will be such an amazing feeling. Now my goal is not only to "stop picking" (how many times have I told myself that?) but to really change how I look at myself, how I treat myself, what I believe about myself. It is such a silly thing when you think about it. This crazy little habit that rules my life somehow. But it truly does. I had a pretty major health issue happen about a week ago, that I totally didn't expect and has been very difficult. it did cause me to pick some more, but I'm still pretty stable. This major health thing, that everyone around me recognizes as hard, I've taken off work, etc is, in my mental world, on par with my picking. They both equally compose my mental state, my state of well-being, how I am trying to emotionally and physically cope. I am now in therapy with my partner to get through this (it is something that isn't long term or permanently damaging, thank god, just an emergency situation that I'm now recovering from). I never would have dared go to a therapist when my face looked really bad. Funny, huh? Now I'm normal enough to face a therapist!!!

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