21 days to break a habit

[biggyshuny2]

hi this is Ismel from Ghan n Ghana isaHIPC country as a result of that there is no work to do. i wanna work with u so pls think bout it i hope u grant myreq. sucessful.

[buffy]

Just starting today (July 13) but still only four days behind the rest of you. The scary part is I only pick at night so the true challenge will be after hours (when it's dark)...I must say I'm a bit nervous but in an excited/ inspired sort of way. Some how this approach seems so much less lonely than me yelling at myself in the car!

Here's to tonight!

Buffy

[bd8300]

good luck Buffy and biggyshuny2, don't worry a/b being 4 days behind-there are still 17 days left(over 2 weeks) -by July 31 we should all be pick free and scab-free if we stick to this plan...smooth skin here we come.

Tomorrow will be day 4 for me.

Some inspiration for everyone-to help us break this habit think about all of the wonderful things we will be able to do for our skin, how much time we will save, how little make-up we'll have to use and how quick it will be to apply it, not being self concious, being happy and not disappointed w/ ourselves, tell eachother about our success, help others...the list goes on, feel free to add other benefits we should be looking forward to so we can motivate eachother more.

This is going to take hard work, dedication, patience, will power, faith, diligence and of course, our prayers God.

Luv u all,

Lisa

[anne]

Hi all, well my infection I told you I had was draining out some so it was kind of hard not to pick yesterday. However, hopefully it is gone now, there is still some swelling but much better. To help me stay pick free I am covering my mirrors for a few days. I don't really have the urge to look at myself today as I 'm not going anywhere. I really have to go out and see alot of people next week so I'm hoping this will do the trick. It's just hard to trust your skin to heal up when you've had an infection, but then I can't trust myself a lot either. Covering the mirror for awhile will give me peace. I have so many things to look forward to when I'm pick free, actually feeling pretty again and not feeling so guilty all the time! Feeling like I actually have some self discipline will be great! Well I'm starting my day 1 again today so it's not too late for anyone else to join!

[skigirl]

Hi Anne

I'll start day one with you today. Been trying and trying to quit since the 21 days started, but have been struggling big time. So I'm glad there's someone else who is at the same starting point as me. Glad your infection is starting to heal also!

Skibum

[girl1818]

hey...i'm gonna start today too! I didn't join before because i was afraid that i wouldn't be able to possibly go 21 days without picking...but i'm gonna FORCE myself to go beyond what i think i can do. So here goes...

[buffy]

I did it! Got through day 1! That's actually alot for me since it's been about six months since i've made it through one night without some form of picking. And even back then it wasn't a special effort like this one...I was only able to if I happened to fall asleep early on the couch...or some other accidental reason.
It feel like I can actually do it this time and it feels pretty good. The other thing to look forward to is that my existing marks will do a great deal of healing/fading by then....so not only will i feel better and not have new picking marks, but I think I might look healthier in general. Plus I'm trying to combine this with an extra walk everyday on my lunchbreak in the sunshine (not direct sun, just a few healthy rays), extra water, smoothies, a new vitamin regimen, and lots of omegas and flax seed oil. I'm rooting for everyone. i know we can do this!!!!!!

[Missy81]

Thanks Lisa! I am going to give this a good try. Please forgive me if I post alot, it just really has helped me these past few days since I found the board. I am really going to need yall's support!! My left arm had a few spots that were healing nicely but yesterday I picked off the scabs, ahhh frustrating!! My Right arm is almost perfect, except for the fact that it is covered in little white scars. That is the part that I hate the most (scarring)! Both of my legs look great except for the scars. I am having a lot of anxiety about the scarring that I have done to my skin. Which is causing me to pick at my face again. I hate picking at my face, you cant exactly cover it up, like you can with your legs or arms. Anyways, its nice to know that i can be completely honest here. Today I will try to be pick-free. I wont think about tomorrow or 6 days from now. I will focus on being pick-free just for today.

My Mantra for the day: "I wont pick today no matter what."

[moratorium]

Hello to all the new recruits! Missy, girl1818, buffy and skigirl, it shows great resolve to set about conquering this affliction, thanks so much for joining us on our pursuit. buffy congratulations on your first whole day, you've taken a big step! My skin is already massively improved just from these few days of healing since I started. I am feeling much more positive. I know how miserable life can be when you're so self-conscious about all the marks and scabs. I am determined to see this through because I don't want to get that low again. Healing is much better for the skin than any so-called 'correction' I could grant it.

anne, glad to hear the infection is under control. I'm sorry it was such an inhibiting factor for starting your picking Sabbatical. You will feel so much better when you see your friends with a whole week of healing behind you! You're a fully paid-up member of 'Ugtopia' now.

I can't believe I am on day 5 and still feeling strong. I'm going to beat this thing!

[bd8300]

hey girls, good job to those who are done day 5 and welcome to those who have just begun-you've all made the right choice. I got throught the day w/out picking also, my forehead is completely clear, but my cheeks need a bit of work still but things are healing.

I need some advice-last summer i got a pimple (under my eye area) i poked at it and it has been an existing spot since.Sometimes i let it dry and fall of, but then i sqeeze to see if n/e thing will come out and the cycle of waiting for it to heal comes again. Well i know the best advice is don't even lay a finger on it so i guess i'm going to keep pushing.

Good luck to everyone and let's all work to become ex-skin pickers.

Luv y'all,

Lisa

[moratorium]

Hi everyone, I'm now on day 6! I can't believe it, almost a week. The crustations from the heavy picking session that triggered me to amend my ways are starting to come off, I can say in all honesty, I want these to be the last skin injuries I ever have to endure.

To all the newcomers, inspired by M's suggestions, I've created an accompaniment little target sheet for the chart for you to print off and fill in, it's really simple and helps you visualise your goals.

>>>CSP GOAL SHEET<<<

Here's one I filled in, remembering how I was feeling at the start of this ordeal:

>>>What my goal sheet looks like<<<

Good luck to you all, and please don't worry if any of you have trangressed and picked, it's never too late to start again, this is about challenging our own inner strengths to change an aspect of our lives we are unhappy with.

[bd8300]

Hey Moratorium on on day 6 as well. Thank u so much for all of the inspiration and the goal sheet-u r something else! and i'm sure i speak for many on the board that it's a blessing u are a part of this 21 day battle w/ us. Your positivity, your progress, and the way u encourage everyone is truly wonderful-just what we all need. Take care, good luck on day 6 and thanks again for being such a good role model for us all!!

[girl1818]

first of all, let me just say that all of you that have been pick free for 5 or 6 days now are total inspiration. To know that you guys can do it makes me want to try even harder. Yesterday, i went the whole day without picking my arms. The longest i have gone is 4 days, so the true test will be when i get to that fourth day. Today, i am going to occupy myself with other things...no matter what it takes...so that i don't get the urge to pick. Good luck on today people

[moratorium]

Awww... Lisa, that's so very kind of you to say. The feeling is completely mutual, you have been a great inspiration to me also, and all the others who've been so encouraging. I can't believe this time last week I was excoriating nearly every pore in the T-zone and now with the help of my new addiction for making pick related web media , and of course the incredible response here from fellow sufferers I feel like the part of my brain responsible for mindless picking is slowly being completely suppressed.

It's taken a lot of soul-searching, and I am several web pages better off , but I feel I'm really finally tackling the dissorder head on. I looked into a magnifying mirror today (horror of horrors!) which usually spells one thing, but I really felt calm and objective, the picking urges just weren't there. I think I am beginning to switch off the part of my brain responsible for picking. I KNOW I can go on to day 21 and beyond now.

[anne]

Hi guys! Welcome newbies, buffy I read your other post and we are about the same age and I know what you mean about your skin not bouncing back as well. I actually am telling myself I will get professional help for my scars(two indented) and blotchiness after being pick free for ahwile. I looked at prices at a spa for intense pulse laser with a combo of microdermabrasion and you can get a session of each together for $100. You get it every 15 days for 4 -6 treatments. I may do this or get a doctor to do it. I think $400 is not bad to help and we need to reward ourselves for being pick free! Me and my husband are not rich, but my husband knows the grief my skin problems have caused me and wants me to be happy. Of course it would be great if after 21 days of being pick free I didn't even need it you never know. It's been years since I was 21 days pick free. Just writing that is so sad Well actually I am happy because I've been pick free today and even though I still look crappy my mind is at peace. Check back in later