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nomorepickingplease , 25 Feb 2011

What do you do INSTEAD of picking? I need to get rid of this nervous energy!

Hi I am pretty new to this forum so first I want to say it has been so helpful and encouraging so far, so thank you all! I have been trying harder than ever to limit my picking over the past couple of days and I'm doing ok - skin's looking lots better and it's mostly just older scabs now not new raw ones, which is great! Problem is I am feeling ridiculously anxious/on edge all the time. I feel like I want to tear up everything and anything now I am trying not to tear and pick my skin. Literally I can't sit still - I feel like I have so much nervous energy and I don't know what to do with it! Does anyone have any suggestions about what to do instead of picking to get rid of all this anxiety?? I want to punch something it's horrible! If I can't stop this feeling I know I am going to start picking again. Longest I ever managed was three days but I never usually manage longer than a day without picking. It's just so difficult! So yeah - what do you do instead of picking?
8 Answers
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nomorepickingplease
February 25, 2011
oh and also my skin is so itchy from healing arrrgh it makes the whole thing so much harder!
Zoe89
February 25, 2011
Exercise is generally good for people with anxiety. When you are anxious your heart beats faster and you become out of breath. Going for a brisk walk will make you feel better because it naturally has the same effect (so it kind of tricks your body) and rids you of some excess energy. Don't let your guard down after exercising though. It's not a cure but it helps you feel better. Fresh air and vitamin D is good too.
hottsoup123
February 25, 2011
In class I've been picking apart erasers. That really helps there.
lexyw
February 25, 2011
i'm itchy too!!!! it's terrible cuz then i scratch absentmindedly and all of a sudden, what do ya know? i'm picking! things that have sorta helped...i make a point to always keep both hands on the wheel when i'm driving - that's a bad time for me. also, i'm not a very good driver, so hopefully that keeps me safer! i like the erasers idea...bubble wrap is an extremely fun thing to have around the house. pop pop pop - and it's not your skin! also, i've been trying to make it a ritual to drench my legs in vitamin e and put leggings on right after so it soaks it in better. puncturing the vitamin e pills is pretty fun too.
lexyw
February 25, 2011
also knitting and doing push ups. also, i give myself a manicure almost daily (no tools, just nail polish cuz we all know what tools will lead to).
kizzi
February 28, 2011
I'm playing with elastic to keep my hands busy, but I totally understand, I feel totally desperate to examine and pick at the moment, like i'm craving that "pick time". Good Luck. x

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