new here..

I'm new here, and reading all the posts here makes me feel like I could cry. I'm a 23 year old woman in the Toronto area, and I've always felt like a freak for the way I pick at the skin on my face. I've done it since my early teens - about 10 years now!!! I feel jealous when I look at other people with flawless complexions. I find myself absentmindedly running my hands over my face and if there any little bump I feel the need to get if OFF my skin, so I pick it off. I'm really good with makeup so I usually can cover up what I've done to my face, but lately I've started picking at the ingrown hairs on my legs, arms and bikini line and it's scaring me that my symptoms are getting worse. I've always been a worrier, but lately I find myself getting anxious about a lot more things that are happening in my life. I've battled depression and come through that, but my self-esteem has taken a down-turn with the worsening of my symptoms. I have a degree in psychology so I was pretty certain that I was displaying OCD compulsions, but I had never heard about dermatillomania until I looked it up online. It feels good to know that I'm not alone, but it's disheartening to know that so many people suffer through this for such an extended amount of time. Since I'm in the psychology field I feel in a way like I can't seek professional help... like I should know better, be able to help myself or something. Really, I know that's not realistic because they would be supportive, but I feel such shame that I can't control these compulsions. Every year at New Year's I've made a resolution to stop picking, and I want to make THIS the year that I'm successful!!