How can this happen?

[Froglet]

Cheers, might do that some day! ;D Its nice to talk to people bout this. Only pickers can truly understand!

[pinto123]

froglet and rachael:

thanks for your thoughts. especially the one about having a sense of humour about this (which i don't; only guilty and shame) and about accepting ourselves, flaws and all. but if we accepted ourselves flaws and all wouldn't we just leave our skin alone? isn't there something about this horrible addiction that makes us try to get the "bad" out? does anyone ever feel like someone else did this to them? like do you ever look in the mirror and say how the f*** did that happen? i think this is related to dissociation, more than OCD, but just thought i'd pose the question. thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts/feelings. how i wish this forum was around 20 yrs ago when this hell first happened for me and i thought i was the only person on earth who had this problem. i was also thinking it would be helpful to post a list of understanding dermatologists, ones that are familiar with CSP and can factor that in to treatment options. what do you guys think?

[sunshinefunk]

I think a list of derms would be great. I used to go to this old man doctor. My face was a little bad, but not much. I wanted to get rid of the pimples. He gave me this topical ointment that just made me break out worse. My picking made it REALLY bad and my face looked sunburned, even though it was January.

So, it looks like crap and i feel like crap and I go in for my check up. My doc said (NOT LYING) "Does your face bother you as much as it bothers me?"

I just nodded, left, cried, hugged my parents, cried, and then never saw him again. Bastard. My parents bought me proactive and sent me to a nice dude. I don't think he understood skin picking, though.

He was nice at first, but then, everytime I went in, he kept saying "I can tell you pick. Stop doing that." He even seemed to get irritated after awhile. Then, he made me cry too. Nice guy, but man, words hurt. Never saw him again either.

Sigh. No docs understand. And they are supposed to be the smart ones.
-sunshine-

[Krib]

Bloody hell! That's unbelievable! That guy should be sacked right now!! I hate docs too.

Yes, a sense of humour does help, it's the only way I get through the questioning about it! But I can't usually laugh about a bleeding face when I'm about to go out and face the world, just feel like an idiot! As for tweezers- I'm addicted! I go mental if I lose em.

[rachaelskate]

Man what a jerk!

I cant believe a dermatologist said that stuff to you!!!!

Yeah those topical medications never worked for me. I take minocycline, and I am on birthcontrol, and I just now have started to not get anymore pimples, but I still pick at "bumps" on my face"

I was just about to start picking when I stopped myself, yes stopped myself after one pick, and I havent picked in 3 days
so I guess that is progress right?!!!!

Hope everyone is well