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nomorepickingplease , 04 Mar 2011

Stopping for good this time.

Ok. I can do this. I am not going to do what I usually do and wait until tomorrow to try again - I am stopping NOW. I don't care that I have already picked today. Although I am halfway through the day I am going to make this day 1. I am going to be really strict about not looking at my skin or touching it apart from when I put my makeup on in the morning. This has worked before for a few days, but I've never made it past day 3!!! Wish me luck! I am going to update this every day - join me in doing this if you want to and we can support each other!
117 Answers
llama06
March 04, 2011
Ok, I am with you. Decided this afternoon that this has to stop. Forever. I have tried SO many times before. Even managed 10 days once. And then rewarded myself by picking! I have been trying to stop for the last few days, and then managed to destroy my face about an hour ago without even really realising it. It is really upsetting my boyfriend, and I just can't seem to stop. I just make excuses as to why I've done it yet again. I came across this site after googling how to stop skin picking. Hoping to god that with a bit of support, and actually forcing myself to write this and actually admit how bad this problem is, I'll be able to find the strength to kick this. So I am in. Going to go home and get rid of all the mirrors I can, except the ones I need for getting dressed, makeup etc. But they're in really bad lighting so don't pose a danger. Updates everyday yeah? Here goes day 1. Good luck. We've got to be strong enough to do this.
sho1234
March 04, 2011
Exactly what ive been thinking. Its stopping now! Good luck. Lets be free for the summer!
lexyw
March 04, 2011
hey guys! i'm in - and looking forward to replying and reading this thread every day for motivation! i've spent so many years drowning under the weight of my picking...i think i'm ready now to fight back (and kick ass too) - thanks to everyone on this forum for making me realize i'm not alone :)
nomorepickingplease
March 05, 2011
Day 1 - It's just turned midnight and the good news is I haven't picked since I decided to stop at about 2 this afternoon!! Am also done with the bedtime routine and in bed ready to sleep so hopefully will start day 2 without any disasters. I am so pleased you've all decided to join me in trying to stop - together I know we can do this. I reckon we should come up with some creative distractions and rewards for ourselves along the way. Making it to Day four will be a big day for me because I've never made it that far before - will have to think of a good treat for then! Today was exciting for another reason too, because I told my mum about my picking. She's visiting at the moment and I just decided to tell her - she sort of already knew because she's seen me do it, but didn't understand until now that it's so difficult to stop and all the ways it affects my life! She's also going to try to arrange for me to see a cbt therapist over easter which would be great, but that's three whole weeks away and I'd really like to spend those weeks pick free which I can't do without you all so keep me updated on how you're all doing!! I have covered my bedroom mirror and I think you should all do the same. Also have been wearing an elastic band around my wrist to fiddle with which is quite good. And if I accidentally forget I'm not supposed to be touching my skin EVER AT ALL apart from to put makeup on, and I start feeling around for a place to pick, I tap myself three times which is actually really helpful. I think even as I start feeling my skin I start going into that sort of trance-like state and tapping my skin snaps me out of it quickly. Then I fiddle with the elastic band until the urge to pick goes away - which means I am fiddling with it almost all day long but I suppose in time the urge will go away! Hope these tips help you. Let me know if you find anything which works for you! Good luck everyone!!
flemiful
March 05, 2011

In reply to by nomorepickingplease

I'm on day 2 for not picking at my legs, but I'm gonna make this day 1 for not picking at anything else! I've been picking since I was about 6 years old (21 now), started with my feet, moved to my legs and arms, to fingers, and then my scalp. I've managed to stop picking at my feet and at my arms for a few years now. I still pick my fingers, legs and scalp. This is gonna be tough, but I'm gonna do it! Starting now, no more excuses, no more picking, no more scars external, or internal. Let's kick this guys! I'm in!
nomorepickingplease
March 05, 2011
it's the middle of the night an I can't sleep for some reason - it's too hot or somthing. Anyway I have the strongest urge to pick so I just thought I'd post on here again. I have been scratching a bit but not really done damage - normally this would have turned into proper picking a while ago so I am trying to stay positive! Usually when I can't sleep I just pick for an hour or two until I'm tired but I am NOT going to do that now, no way jose! Am annoyed with myself for scratching but since it's the first day I'll let myself off this time and make sure it doesn't turn into something more serious. I might put some gloves on...... right they are on! It's difficult to type. I think t is now safe again to try to sleep. Goodnight!
llama06
March 05, 2011
OK, so I also made it through day 1. Also gave nearly all my mirrors to my boyfriend to hide. The ones I have left aren't ones I usually use for picking so the habit to sit in front of them and pick for hours hasn't been established, so hopefully will be easier to resist. It was still hard as I was taking my makeoff last night though. Especially as I can see loads of bumbs that I just want to fix! Arrgh. I read somewhere that someone had made a ball out of rubber bands to have something to fiddle with, so I made one as well. Found it actually really helps just to have something else to do with my hands. Realised that I tend to pick at my face a lot when I'm not thinking bout it, like when I sit and watch tv. Anyway, I woke up this morning with a huge spot with a whitehead. Since I can't stand walking round with them on my face, I decided to fix it, but I was really strict about not carrying on and touching anywhere else on my face (also really hard!) and I used a tissue so that it doesn't get infected or anything, coz that always makes me want to pick more. So that was day one. Onto day two. Really don't want to still be doing this in 10 years time. I'm only 25, and if I don't quit now I'm going to destroy my complexion forever. Really need to fix this, so I'm going to keep updating every day. Even though its embarrasing having to talk bout it, even anonymously online!! But congratulations to everyone who made it through day 1. 'Nomorepicking' you're going to make it to three weeks. Just remember I'm going through this too, and I know how hard it is. You're doing really well. :)
anonymous31894
March 06, 2011

In reply to by llama06

I felt the same way about signing up for this and posting but it has really helped me on my journey to day 10 and I enjoy reading everyone elses stories/struggles to remind me others are with me as well. Good luck you can do it!
llama06
March 05, 2011
Ugh. Bad moment. Just started picking at a scab. Managed to stop and put anit-septic on it, but feeling frustated at myself. Even as I type this I am justifying it to myself that its infected, and it will heal quicker if I let the infection out. Stupid. Its only a minor set back and at least I haven't touched the rest of my face, but i'm annoyed that I let the justifications creep back in for a bit, becuase that's how I start. Ah well. *Deep breath* Keep going.
nomorepickingplease
March 06, 2011

In reply to by llama06

I always start justifying. Only I tell myself - 'that wasn't picking that was itching' or 'that doesn't really count'. I obsess a lot about what counts as picking, where I last picked, etc and I've noticed over the time I have been trying to stop picking I seem to think about picking a lot more. Like, all the time! Arggg
nomorepickingplease
March 06, 2011
Day 2 - oops. Not so good today. Not awful, but bad enough that I think I might have to start back to day one again :( have been constantly scratching all day - only lightly but enough that I slowly got more and more agitated until I spent 20 mins picking just now in my bathroom mirror... am pretty annoyed with myself. I think I get complacent too easily. I manage one day and think, yeah this is eaaasy and then it all goes wrong :( Will be more vigilant tomorrow! I'm just going to wear gloves I don't even care if I look stupid. So anyway it's back to day one - I wouldn't have started over if it had just been a small slip up but I was picking in the mirror for long enough that I knew what I was doing and I just thought 'i don't care' and didn't even try to stop myself. I;m glad it wasn't for too long though! How is everyone else doing? Better than me I hope. I don;t know about you but I often feel that once I've picked just a tiny tiny spot I might as well give up completely - that's sort of what happened today. But we mustn't think like that! Llama06 I know how frustrating it is to pick at one tiny scab like that but try to think about all the times you didn't pick today and keep positive, otherwise you'll do what I just did and give in completely! I am taking it one day at a time - am not thinking ahead any further than just tomorrow. If I can just make it through tomorrow I'll be so happy! Good luck everybody and well done to anybody who managed a day pick free - you are an inspiration to s all!
nomorepickingplease
March 06, 2011
Oh, and everyone remember: IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY, TRY AGAIN. Even though it is really hard! One day we'll do it!
llama06
March 06, 2011
'nomore' bad luck. Stay positive and think how much better it is that you stopped after 20mins! That's progress in itself. Having said that, I said I was going to do this with you and, if you're anything like me, starting over when the rest of us are on day three (or whatever it is now) will allow you to tell yourself you failed, and therefore give up! SO: If you're back to day 1, so am I. That way you still have the support to hopefully give you strength when you feel like giving up. Think maybe you should cover your bathroom mirror too? And keep wearing the gloves! I think the first week will be the hardest. I have also found that deciding to stop picking is making me think about it ALL the time. Think we've just got to break the initial habit. Maybe we're thinking too long term at the moment. Maybe take it one day at a time. Possibly even hours! Would it help if you drew up a chart, and got to cross off a box for every hour you didn't pick? You'd even get to cross off a whole chunk of them for when you were asleep? Might make you feel like you were achieving something, and give you the motivation to hold off picking for one more hour, so you get to cross off your box. Might not work for you, but that sort of thing helps me sometimes. Good luck, and stay positive. Here goes day 1! :)
nomorepickingplease
March 07, 2011

In reply to by llama06

That is so good of you thank you!!! And the good news is I made it all the way through today hurray!!!!! One whole day :) I think I will make a chart like you said - crossing off the hours will be fun! Plus I think you are right about thinking short term. I can't cover the bathroom mirror because I live with housemates but what I did this evening was leave the door open and keep the bathroom lights off! Which worked :) Thank you again so much for starting back at day one with me I feel even more motivated now!
nomorepickingplease
March 07, 2011
DAY 1 - Hurray! I made it through the day and weirdly didn't feel too much of an urge to pick! How is everyone else doing? If I make it to the end of tomorrow I am going to paint my nails as a treat :)
llama06
March 07, 2011

In reply to by nomorepickingplease

Well done. :) I'm sure the second day will be just as succesful. I'm feeling positive about stopping this time. Before, I've always set myself goals like 1 week or 10 days, and then once I've made it, I lack the conviction to keep going and 'reward' myself by picking again! But this time, every time I go to the mirror, and start thinking about how it's ok to just pick one, I tell myself that I have STOPPED now. I don't do that anymore. It's an absolute no. That's not to say its easy! I've nearly done it so many times, and I still find myself continuously checking my skin in the mirror. But i'm managing not to pick. Just taking it one day at a time. It's helping to write on here as well. It makes stopping seem more real, and something I have to stick to. Is there anyone else following this thread and stopping? Think it helps to have support from people experiencing the same thing.
anonymous31894
March 07, 2011

In reply to by llama06

Hey "llama"- I am! And I'm on day 11! Following this is literally the one thing that has made this time different and more successful than any other. I relate to everything you just wrote! I found that finding myself in the mirror is my big problem even though I'm not picking, I'm still subconsciously looking for something pick and one day I could very well meet my downfall but I am conditioning myself to, if I end up in the mirror, to apply medication right away so help instead of hurt. working well so far.

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