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wildflower , 14 Mar 2010

In a nutshell

We have CPD – Chronic Picking Disease – Dermatillomania. It is chronic, compulsive, self-harming behaviour afflicted to one or more parts of the body. It is unhealthy and dangerous. We are NOT alone. Many people of all ages have this affliction and little is done about it by physicians and dermatologists, likely due to its psychological basis. Since its basis is psychological, it needs to be addressed psychologically first, and then behaviorally along with medicine if required. That means, I believe, it needs to be acknowledged first, then understood, accepted, and embraced – all within our minds. Then solutions can be explored and considered as deemed appropriate. Then choices can be made with determination, commitment, purpose and self love. Sometimes, with this awareness, we can tackle this on our own with a good support system. Other times, professional help might be needed in the form of psychotherapy, behaviour therapy, hypnotherapy, or counseling to name a few. It can be overcome! This is a tough world we live in and frustrations and anxiety will always be abound. In spite of that, we must take proper care of our bodies and do no harm to them. BE KNOWLEDGEABLE – Learn about your skin and issues with it. BE CLEAN – Proper skin care is simple and need not be expensive to fend off infections and diseases, DO NO HARM – Don’t pick, don’t even touch. Apply only healthy products. Seek professional help when appropriate. Tend to skin issues gently and with love. LIVE WELL – Eat well, take vitamins and nutrients. Hydrate. Avoid sun exposure. Exercise. Sleep well. SEEK SUPPORT - Reach out to others who understand and talk about it. Research – never stop researching issues. ABOVE ALL ELSE - Be loving and kind to your self. Conquering CPD is possible!
19 Answers
wildflower
March 16, 2010
having come to this conclusion has really helped me. i hope it will help each of you. this site is fabulous. there is so much information here and we can support each other through this. strength and determination be with you.
wildflower
March 18, 2010

In reply to by wildflower

by all means, it is not an easy affliction to overcome. so far, i have done no damage on my mission to not pick in the 40 challenge but lately the urges are strong. pimples and bumps are presenting themselves and my fingers find them whether sensations of their presence subliminally call them or my fingers habitually seek. it must be a bit of both. whichever, i am feeling compelled to scratch at them to get rid of them but from my historic past experiences i know that they will not clear up quickly anymore. my skin just doesn't heal as quickly as it once did. either that, or i simply keep at the wounds much longer than i should. so now i must fight the urges and not allow for an "accident". i must busy myself today and keep mindful to not make war with my skin again and fight for continued peace with it. do it no harm today. today is my day 23 and i really want to make it to day 40 and beyond. i have been doing so good and my skin is looking much better than it was. my sores have all healed over and the pink reminders of them are fading. i have not slept with bandages on for many days whereas i had been requiring them for many years and it feels unbelievable to be free of them. i never want to get to that state again. wish me success. :)
40daysfromnow
March 18, 2010

In reply to by wildflower

Wow 23! That's sooooo good! That proves that you can make it! Urges come and go, as you know. The urges will probably be less tomorrow. Just use all of your tips and tricks today to get yourself through this day. Each day you have strong urges and if you don't pick it is more of a victory than a day when you have little urge to pick. So use today for an opportunity to be proud of yourself and reach a goal. If you are really struggling, perhaps grab a book and go in public. Go to a cozy coffee shop and have some herbal tea. You probably won't pick in public. Maybe go for a stroll around town and window shop. Buy a card(s) and write to friends and family. Anything to keep you busy and preferably in public. I find that helps me :) You can do it! -HUGS-
wildflower
March 18, 2010

In reply to by 40daysfromnow

i did get out and about with a friend and successfully distracted myself. the urges i had earlier are gone, actually, so i don't think the rest of this day will be so bad. many thanks for your kind words and support. your advice is good. and you are right, urges come and urges go and after 23 days they occur less and less but can be strong, still, when they come. i still can't believe i've come this far along without scratching off what i usually would have by now. i know i'd have at least 9 sores that would need bandages overnight on my face alone if i break down and pick and or scratch. i don't want that. the pimples are so small at the moment that only i know they're there. why make it bad? but before i would. but i don't want that any more. i want to make it to 40 days to make that goal i've set for myself. i will make it through this day !! ((hugs)) right back at ya ! many thanks!
wildflower
May 28, 2010

In reply to by wildflower

i am over 60 days now with only a little picking and yes, there still are urges. :( and they can be strong. i think they will always present themselves and will always need to be overcome. i can proudly say that i have seen pimples and whiteheads come and run their course naturally!! that is, without me scratching them and or picking them turning them into a bloody mess that needs bandaging to heal them. a whitehead that was persistent wasn't there one morning and there was absolutely no evidence of it ever having been there! i couldn't believe it. i'd never let any bump, pimple whitehead or blackhead last a day with my knowing it was there before i'd take matters into my own hands and get rid of it. i never knew what it was like to leave one alone and let nature take it's course. now i have and i'm amazed. i never believed i could do this and now i have so i know others can too. there's nothing special or different about me. so ... i really hope this helps anyone contemplating making a commitment to choose a path toward conquering this compulsion. late in the game i found this url on this site. it provides a lot of information on the options available -- http://www.skinpick.com/stop-picking-my-skin .....
wildflower
June 04, 2010

In reply to by wildflower

i really do believe that it is possible for this compulsion to be overcome. feeling like i have managed to do it for the most part - picking only 7 spots in the last 100 days compared to requiring approximately 20 bandages nightly for years makes me feel i have overcome it - i cannot say enough how important all the following was to me in the process .............................................................we must take proper care of our bodies and do no harm to them. ....................................................... BE KNOWLEDGEABLE – Learn about your skin and issues with it. .................... BE CLEAN – Proper skin care is simple and need not be expensive to fend off infections and diseases, ....... above all else .... DO NO HARM – Don’t pick, don’t even touch. Apply only healthy products. ....................... Seek professional help when appropriate. .............. Tend to skin issues gently and with love............. LIVE WELL – Eat well, take vitamins and nutrients. .............. Hydrate. ............ Avoid sun exposure. .......... Exercise.......... Sleep well............. SEEK SUPPORT - Reach out to others who understand and talk about it. ............. Research – never stop researching issues. ABOVE ALL ELSE - Be loving and kind to your self. ....... Conquering CPD is possible! ..... Believe !!
kmj
June 05, 2010

In reply to by wildflower

kmj I picked for about 45 minutes today. It beats 4 hours. My urge is strong right now and this is helpful. My husband is out of town and I am with my girls. Easier to get away with. So, I'm trying to not even touch. I need a shower. Feeling clean will make me feel better but I'm afraid to go in there. I am going to try in the dark and use a timer. I'm also going to read http://www.stoppickingonme.com/.
wildflower
March 19, 2010
So many of you posting are in your 20s or there about. i hope you are reading all the posts here, every one of them, that is - each separate post - and take this seriously. Also read each menu on this site thoroughly to know as much about this ailment, disease, condition, addiction, what ever you prefer to call it, as possible. There is a wealth of information here and many courses of action to take. Just make sure you make a commitment to do something about it now. Without that you can be sure to be me down the road, at 55 years of age with it not letting up all those years. It is not going to go away on its own. It is going to take work. At least you have the information at your fingertips and knowledge is power. at least you understand you are not alone. at least you know you have a support community, likely more than one by now online, to receive support from. i know at this point in your lives you are under much stress and have lots of anxieties. unfortunately, these do not let up. it is undoubtedly as a result of these that you are taking it out on your skin, which ever part of it. that is not right. that is not wise. that is not healthy. and it is not going to change unless you rise above it and seek the help that you need to stop it before you are still talking about it at my age with who knows what kind of scars and/or disabilities because of it. take action now and be committed to it no matter how hard it is and with your successes help others through it too. it is time this is out of the closet and we are overcoming it and helping others with it. we need more success stories. be one of them.
wildflower
March 20, 2010
consider the 12 STEP PROGRAM. consider BODY TALK THERAPY. consider AVERSION THERAPY. if you hear of another approach to help with this, this post would be a good place to put it. most of all though, what ever approach is chosen, COMMITMENT will make it work. SUPPORT will certainly help too so keep posting your success stories and trials.
wildflower
March 21, 2010

In reply to by wildflower

debfl555 has said in her post that NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine), a specially modified form of the dietary amino acid cysteine thought to help the body make the important antioxidant enzyme glutathione, is helping her with her battle with skin picking. something else to consider !!
wildflower
March 24, 2010
it is possible! i'm at 4 WEEKS tomorrow with NO PICKING and it feels fabulous. my skin is all healed and i no longer sleep covered in bandages. i wish this success for everyone !! <3 <3
wildflower
March 25, 2010

In reply to by pitbull_grl

thank you! i wish you the same success. i wish everyone with this compulsion the same success. i also hope this success lasts and lasts but feel that even if i slip up i know that if i've made it this far once, i can do it again. a failure will only be a setback and my outlook will be to not let that setback be today, or tomorrow. :)
wildflower
March 30, 2010
5 weeks under my belt today !! 5 more days to fulfill the 40 challenge !! i'm serious in saying that if i can have this success, i believe just about anyone can. it is basically committing to a healthy plan. i hope my words and success up to now inspires.
wildflower
April 04, 2010
i made it! 40 days! i truly believe it is possible for anyone to conquering CPD. if i can do it, so can anyone!
wildflower
June 14, 2010
i hope this summary is helpful for all the new folk that finds this site .... if you feel it is off the mark, by all means provide your comments ... if you find it sums it up and helps you on your path to addressing the issue that's great .... it's an insidious problem to deal with, but i really do believe it is possible to conquer ... best wishes, all !!
wildflower
July 13, 2010

In reply to by wildflower

i believe we must realize our own responsibility in addressing this compulsion and not feel so much that outside help is necessary. sometimes it might be necessary, but i sincerely believe we are not truly rising to our potentials to help ourselves. people have immense potential to overcome adversity. we are resilient. we just must put in a sincere effort.
hakunamatasha
August 27, 2010
this post was really helpful and comforting. Its true that this is definitely a psychological disorder that is very hard to control but NOT impossible! Good luck to everyone out there like me. Do not lose hope! You are not alone! :)

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