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anonymous31894 , 23 Feb 2011

help

I am beyond sick of this and looking for help...does anyone know of any books about this? I would buy the one on this site but I only have my dad's credit card and he doesn't believe this is a real disorder. Anyway, if I could buy it used for cheaper than that might work but I can't find it anywhere. Also, I wanted to share with all of you that apple cider vinegar breaks up scar tissue, which I'm sure we all have from this disorder, and can be used to regenerate skin.
11 Answers
sho1234
February 23, 2011
My dad thinks the same. I was going crazy inside a week ago--I was fed up - completely fed up that I keeeep marking my skin. They are starting to fade- I use dilluted lavender oil in a basin and dab round my face. egg white/honey face mask. Cucumber juice on face. Mashed banana on face. Tomato juice on face. I use 2 of these methods twice a week. And the lavender thing everyotherday. These really work if you can leave the face for 1-2 weeks. Bit of garlic rubbed on affected areas of skin 2/3 times a day works great. I know I cant keep going round in this cycle becasue theres always going to be little imperfections there. I've spent months, damaging my skin- I know that if i stop thinking about it etc. I meen how many times do we need to use our fingers on our skin to make it flawless--its just not going to happen becasue we think everytimes the last time. It never will be. And ive accepted that- I just no i f i obsess over something small-or look close to mirror it will always esculate into a wound etc. We cant afford to do this because we have this problem. If i do notice a few bumps from far away from mirror i'll just get out the garlic or whatever-rub it on a little everyday- then it' l go/look much better. At least we can put trust in something natural instead of using our fingers. Then we wont cause scars etc. Its tough at first but you can do it. x x
MsBlueSky
February 24, 2011
Wow, I've never heard of the apple cider vinegar thing. You can bet I'll be looking into that. That's really sad that your dad doesn't believe it's a real disorder. It definitely is. It is a form of self-mutilliation. A lot of people, including physicians, don't understand what it is or how to treat it. Very sad. You don't need to buy a book about it. There are many free resources that will help you to understand what it is. Check out this online book: http://books.google.com/books?id=dCwpAiGycekC&lpg=PA124&dq=compulsive%20skin%20picking&pg=PA124#v=onepage&q=compulsive%20skin%20picking&f=false As far as treatment goes, the best solution would be to talk with a psychologist who is familiar with PSP so that they can tell you if medicine would help curb urges. Plus, emotional concerns often (especially in my case) encourage PSP. If you have a lot of emotional crap suppressed from years and years of awful experiences, you really need to work through them in order to be healed. There's no quick fix. But you are not beyond repair. Take it from me. If you have any questions or just want someone to talk with, please let me know. Cheers, BlueSky
lexyw
February 25, 2011
what do you do with the vinegar? can i shower/bathe in it? lol. anyways, i just bought these two books last night on amazon: FOREVER MARKED: A Dermatillomania Diary by Angela Hartlin and Pearls: Meditations on recovery from hair pulling and skin picking by Christina Sophia Pearson. i'm pretty sure when you buy from amazon, the credit card bill only says "amazon.com" so you could probably even tell your dad it's something for school. i get the books in a few days and hopefully they're good!
anonymous31894
February 25, 2011

In reply to by lexyw

haha I was thinking the same thing, so I probably will end up buying one..let me know which one helps if you could! And I have just been dipping a Q tip in and applying to affected areas...if you mix it with cooled green tea, it also reduces redness! Add olive oil to make skin soft. Also you can makes a mask: 1 tsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tsp green tea, 5 tsp of sugar, 1 tsp of honey, and 2 more tsp of sugar.
H
March 01, 2011
i am with you. It is so disempowering, but for me i felt so disgusted and knew it was going to ruin my life that i turned the pleasure of picking into a deep pain through surrender. I have not had the urge to harm myself for four days and i was picking at my skun for over 5-6 hours a day for 11 years. Also try tp ask yourself, how do you see yourself in ten years time? this one also helped me. If you only had a week to live, would you waste your laast minutes by skin picking or self harm? That was a massive realisation for me. Good luck
anonymous31894
March 01, 2011

In reply to by H

thanks..i know, forever i thought that it would just end in college- having a hall bathroom so i can't pick in there and a roommate, so less time to pick in the room, but it has really caught up with me that it will not just happen without my effort. when i think ahead i don't see myself having this problem as a mother or a professional in the workforce, so where in my dreams am i stopping it? well, right now. i'm about to finish day 5!!!! the thing is, as my face is clearing i still find myself at the mirror---i'm not picking but just the fact that i am still walking over..i have caught myself doing it when i am bored/want to procasinate and i really need help conditioning myself against that response. any advice?
lexyw
March 01, 2011

In reply to by anonymous31894

hey there! i think i told you about the books i ordered a few days ago...the came in the mail and they're both great!! forever marked is a memoir and a bit more "real/upsetting"...just cuz it's really a girl's story and it's very sad (and even sadder realizing that all our stories are similar!) the other book, pearls is wonderful! really moving and thought provoking. i would classify this one as more positive/motivational. but, i haven't finished the other one yet, so you never know :) i'm really happy for you for being on day 5!! i'm finishing day 1.5 right now - i had to go in .5 increments since i was feeling really overwhelmed with full days. but yes, i also have intense urges when i'm procrastinating or bored. i've been trying to do push ups or situps when it's boredom. and if it's procrastination, i've been trying to let myself take a break fully - cuz i feel like procrastinating, but i don't feel like i can totally step away from what i should be doing, so instead i stay in the middle and pick. this way, i read a magazine for a bit, or go for a walk, but whatever it is, i'm completely taking a break. sorry for rambling on. bottom line, good books! and congrats - good luck on day 6!
anonymous31894
March 01, 2011

In reply to by lexyw

haha i literally do the same thing when i'm procasinating, but, ya i have resolved to just like take a nap or something if worst comes to worst. thanks for the book review, i'll definitely look into them! Good luck on your half days, i hope it works for you. Day 6 is going really well--i'm in class from 1020-4 and ALWAYS when i come back, my first response is to go to the mirror and see how my face is looking, and even though I haven't been picking I've still found myself walking to the mirror BUT today I recognized that urge and just totally avoided it until now cause i had to reapply make up to go out..another great thing was, running late this morning i didn't have much time for make up and was able to put it on minimally pretty quickly. great incentive to keep going :)
lexyw
March 03, 2011

In reply to by anonymous31894

hi! how's your day 7 (?) going? i'm on 4.5! i'm also noticing an improvement in my face, but only from afar. still when i look up close i see a TON of stuff i could pick. so i'm trying to avoid the mirror actually cuz i don't know if my willpower is quite strong enough to avoid some of these things growing in there right now. but, i've been reading that pearls meditation book and reciting one of the mantras to myself throughout the day. it's really really helping! hope you're still on your streak, and if not, that you're starting again! good luck! oh, and i get super bored/antsy in class too - every day off and on from 9-2:30 :(
anonymous31894
March 06, 2011

In reply to by lexyw

Hi- I made it to day 10 and I'm still going! How about you? I'm very interested in reading the Pearls book, so I'm probably going to order it soon if I don't see it in any local libraries- I would love to hear from someone who has stopped for 20 years. Going out with minimal make up is very doable which is exciting and just refreshing/one less thing to worry about. I have red marks from my last pick binge before starting this challenge but I know they will fade. I go home to see my family in 12 days and I just know my dad will be so happy to see I haven't been picking while at school! And one of my friends came to stay with me this weekend(why I haven't been posting) and I didn't have to sneak away from him to apply/reapply makeup/pick. yay! So many incentives to keep going. I currently have a zit but have no desire to pick it because I used tea tree oil once and it dried it out pretty well..(I found in the past that using it 3 days in a row completely kills the zit before it forms to a whitehead). I have been so excited with all the natural products that help zits/scars/skin because its a lot of things that I already have. Hope you're still going strong!
lexyw
March 09, 2011

In reply to by anonymous31894

hi anonymous - i was doing really really great. but, slipped and picked on day 8. and i had a terrible day today....BUT, you should def get the pearls book. omg, i practically sleep with it under my pillow. i'm so happy for you that you had a great time with your friend! oh, on the upside, i still haven't picked my face (my legs got it bad this time) so i haven't really been wearing make up either. isn't it so nice? esp. cuz then i know i'm not further clogging my pores with make up! good luck with the next 12 days - it'll be worth it. congrats :)

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