How many of you are "out of the closet"?

[Wee One]

oh my god the exact same thing happened to me - i was playing a strip poker game thing (it wasn't really poker it was more like everybody get yr kit off!) with some friends and a guy i really fancied and i had just picked that day so i couldn't take my top off and i had to pretend it was because of high morals and how i only wanted my boyfriends to see me naked (god it was so embarassing!) they kicked me out the room but then felt bad so made me come back in!

yeah i may tell my boyfriends but i don't let them see me without make up on till we've been seeing each other a long time and my face is looking particularly good that day!

one of my friends had just broken up with her boyfriend and was really depressed so she went to the doctor and came back with some antidepressants. i'd been suffering for years and was considering getting help for about 2 yrs but was a bit scared of the whole process and everything, then when i saw just how easy it all was i decided to go to my doctor. she was really sympathetic and really helped me and then when i knew that i had ocd i then told my friends. i felt a bit like i was stealing the limelight from my friend with the depression though as it was all so close in time but my friends didn't see it like that.

i'm just wondering, what is it about getting help that u're afraid of? i mean i would probably tell you to see someone but that's only because i've done it myself and it made such a big difference to my everyday life. i don't just mean antidepressants, because to be honest i don't like them very much, but the cognitive behavioural therapy was really good, and free with the NHS!

but seeing someone isn't essential. i mean the reason u see someone is to discover things about yrself that u didn't realise were there - i mean certain thought processes. there are plenty of books about it. maybe u'd rather read about it and think about it all without discussing anything with strangers.

i don't know, i seem to be telling u to get help, when u said before that u didn't want to. u see when i got help it wasn't over the skin picking, it was about my ocd, it was really getting me down as i had to do everything a certain number of times and i mean everything. just trying to stop doing things repeatedly didn't help, but understanding why i did them did. so i hardly repeat things at all anymore. maybe it's the same with picking. just trying to stop it isn't going to really help in the long run, but maybe understanding why we do it will. and i don't mean just that oh i'll look better after, i mean, why do we want to look better after.... oh u know what i mean right? i dunno, i should probably take my own advice, because i still pick loads. i mean i feel i can't really get help with this because i've already exhausted all my help with my ocd problems! but u can get cbt (cognitive behavioural therapy) worksheets that u fill in and it helps you analyse things. i dunno, eventually if you want to get better you need to take the bull by the horns, or something like that.

anyway, does anything i say make any sence?

Em x

[Krib]

Yep, it makes sense, thanks Emma!

Yeh strip games aren't good for pickers it seems! The guy I was with called me a "pussy" and I had to pretend I hadn't showered for a bit and would smell- bad excuse!!! Probably worse than the picking!

I know I'm getting closer to getting help, definitely. I only realised recently CSP was a medical problem that could be helped, so I think I just need time to think things through and build up the courage to tell people and get help. (I was in denial until now!). But I'm pretty sure I will, mainly cos of places like this board on the web. It's amazing how honest people are, I think that's the key to starting to help yourself. Also, as I said, my mate's having cognitive-behavioural therapy at the moment, I've even helped him fill out his sheets and stuff, so he'd be able to help me out with it.

I think the CSP has improved quite a bit from when I was younger. I haven't had an entirely red, bloody face for quite a while. But it still affects my life, even rules it some days, so I know that I have to take the next step and see a doctor (all the doctors I've ever had have been shit though!). I think with a little more time, I will. I just need to feel 100% ready to see this thing off.

Cheers,
Kx

[ashenn]

i think docs are overrated anyway, Krib. none of them can really help you kick picking. they can prescribe meds or advise breathing excersises, but ultimately you're the one that has to decide to do it.

sounds like you've had some rought luck with men? they're such bastards sometimes. i can't believe that people can be so effing RUDE!! ...as if them pointing it out will make the situation any better.

funny, it sounds like we all have lots of 'boy-friends' but have trouble with 'boyfriends.' ...in about 3 months i'll be shacking up with 3 boys, too. should be interesting, being that they are all handsome young bucks and should be attracting equally handsome ladies to the house.....meh.

i get so sick of comparing myself to every woman i see. stupid picking.

[Krib]

Yep, I'm just waiting until I know I can face doctors with all their lame suggestions and immediate drug solutions! At least I know what CSP is, that's a start- just have to pray *they* do (unlikely in the UK?!).

I guess I've had some crap blokes yeh, not exactly supportive!?

Living with guys is great though- no bitching or flailing hormones! Heh heh.

I know exactly what you mean about the comparing thing though. I think it's the first thing I do when I see women, makes me feel so friggin' shallow dammit! But I automatically think 99% of women are more attractive than me anyway, so there's no point in thinking about it

My housemates talk to me about "fit" women (and men as one's gay) and what they fancy about certain people, but I'm used to it now, I look out for potential suitors for 'em! It's nice to feel that they trust you. For them to know they can happily live with you is often more than they could stand with a girlfriend, so I'd take it as a compliment!