Skin picking and depression

[Icyblackkat]

Hello,
My name is Rebecca and I've been a member of this board for awhile yet haven't posted in years. My life has been going through many changes since I was last here and frankly I had lost this website for quite some time, I had even forgotten about it until very recently when I went in search of the forum.

Anyway I was wondering how many of those who have a picking OCD also suffer from depression? I know I can count myself among those who do. I was previously on anti-depression meds for about 5 years before I decided to go off them as they weren't helping the depression and actually caused me to pick more than I have ever before and since, and also they made me quite dizzy most of the time. I still to this day feel the emotional sting of depression along with the physical sting of my skin picking. I know there are others like me and I would appreciate it if they could speak up and post on this thread. I believe if we work together we can help each other along with ourselves so that we can move on from this and begin to heal (both figuratively and literally.)

As Aesop once brilliantly said "United we stand, Divided we fall"

[ladynite]

I am a skin picker and have been medicated for depression in my life several times. I feel that people who are depressed often have more of a propensity to figuratively and literally pick themselves apart. Initially, right after my skin picking session, I feel a great sense of relief...knowing that I got all those impurieties out of my skin. However after I am done picking at my skin and I take a step back and look at what I have done to myself, I feel even more depressed and want to cry. I am currently not on depression medication and my picking is worse than it has ever been before...I feel that if I were on medication I might not pick as much, yet then again, I may pick even more....because doesn't depression medication make you more neutral to certain situations...so wouldn't you not care that you were picking your face or that you look like a monster afterwards? Oh well...that's all for now

[blondie88]

I have a severe case of depression last year.. it had been building up for months (possibly years?) and then one day I couldn't take it anymore. I snapped. My CSP skyrocketed to an ultimate high, I distanced myself from friends, and yeah I also went on anti-depressants too. They sort of helped, since I wasn't as depressed when I picked anymore, but that only made me want to pick even more... Even if I DID look like as if I'd had a run-in with a lawnmower or something, I didn't really mind it at all.

Actually has anyone found that they feel more "secure" when their face is covered in scabs/scars? For some reason I do. But that might be because I'm used to it.. and definately not used to having good skin. Oh well.

I think I'm falling back into a depressive stage. I've been off the meds for a few months now, but lately.. well I haven't been feeling too good with myself. ah well.

Good luck everyone

[Dee13]

Blodie88, hang in there. You may want to check with your Dr. if you can. When we are off meds thats when problems can get worse. It's not our fault our brain can't make the right chemicals without help. Think about it like it's not a Diabetics fault that they can't make insullin well.

[kay]

I often wonder about depression and whether it's the cause or the result of my picking. I've never been treated for it, but I'm sure I suffer from some degree of it. Lately my life has been very stagnant and I find myself even more depressed than usual. I know that I must keep very busy, or I'll sink lower; however, when you pick, as you know, you hide... making it a self propagating cycle. I'm hiding right now and not looking forward to the day/night ahead... I know it's going to be hard.

[Dee13]

Kay, I think picking can be one of the symptoms and we make it an outlet for something that becomes a habit. Try to get out and about to help yourself and break the cycle. Finding a good support group or Dr’s can be a big help as well.

Dee

[jh]

www.x2.cjb.net
www.impactforumz.proboards79.com

[Weirdo13]

I feel your pain. Depression runs in my family and I got the genes. It started in middle school and most likely will have it for the rest of my life. Right now I'm on a combination of medications that works for me. But if I forget to take my pills even 3 days, I'm a psycho.

[zitdigger]

I am 28 and I have picked forever I don't think I will ever stop I have tried everything except anti-depressants Im too scared incase I become relient on them. I am suffering with depression at the mo I have been single for 5 years and my friends are dropping away as they seem to move on with their lives and have lives. I am still in the same rutt I was in when I was 20. My ex has got married and moved out I still live at home and spend every night in bed with my TV. I have a huge black cloud above my head and its not like I have the worst life but I can't get excited or have fun anymore. I attack myself when stressed or after a day at work it is like a release then I hate myself. Someone must know what makes us do this it has to be an illness there are too many people doing it now. I always thought it was just ME! Its great this site is here don't feel so much a freak now! Any replies are welcomed..

[Dee13]

Hi zitdigger, how about changing your name to something that is nicer about you. What sort of work do you do? Can you think of things that make you feel better? I know it takes a huge effort to force our selfs to do things. You are a unique and special person with a lot to give. I hang out at

skinpicking.proboards77.com/index.cgi

Dee

[janet]

I feel as if all I've been reading is my own thoughts, feelings, and experiences, it's scary!!! I "feel" as though I might have depression but not sure? I have a really hard time building new and meaningful relationships with others and for the past 2 or more years, the ones I have left are deteriorating, fast. I also hide for days, sometimes weeks. While I hide I keep saying to myself, as well as counting the days, "o.k. now today is such and such day so..... in about 5 or so days my face should look "better" or at least descent enough for me to go outside and join the outside world. But of course then I will soon pick again as soon as my face starts to look better. At the same time, as I hide my life away I find everyone else (friends and everyone else) are out there living their lives. I'm also 28 and still live at home and I'm not where I want to be in my life, to say the least. I find it hard to live with this and have a normal fulfiling life that I share with others. I mean how can I be happy and pretend everything is great and that I am fine when I truly am not! It's very sad and it's a constant struggle within myself. All I know is that I can't keep waisting more years than I already have!!!!! It scares me to think that "this is it" for me, that this is how my life is always going to be like. Things (and I) have to change. The only problem is I don't know how!!! I'm still searching and won't quit until I find an end to this cycle and I am free from the prison of misery. So for everyone who also goes through what I do I just ask you not to give up because I refuse to give up!!!

[Sara29]

I've never posted before but I connected to the people in this thread and felt the need to drop a line. I am also depressed and I have battled it for the last 10-12 years. I also pick at my skin which has gotten worse over the last 3 years as my spots are more prone to getting infected now. I am currently "waiting" for my skin to heal so I can go face the world... I've burned many days/weeks/months waiting for skin to heal and/or my depression to lift. Meds no longer work for me either and I am forced to take things a day at a time. It is wierd to see friends and ex's marrying, having kids and getting on with their 'lives'. I fight the feelings of lonliness and a crumbling self-confidence- Depression always seems to be waiting around the corner for you.. I really wish there were better meds that were a more permanent solution. It is difficult to have an accurate perspective on life when depression is such a constant factor... It is hard to relate to people that have real or more normal lives. - I also refuse to give up and I want to encourage others to "hang in".. Our Father is faithful and he knows where we are.

[Courtney]

I have just found this site, i didn't realise other people had the same problem. I often feel really bad about myself after i have picked. What can i do? i really want to stop, i have kept trying for about 4 years now. Any tips? i really don't want to tell anyone because it makes me feel so ashamed. I don't think i know anyone who would understand. i often do it when i''m stressed or bored. Does anyone have any tips they could share? I would be grateful. x

[herMom1973]

I am waiting for verication on this board. It has been about 3 weeks now? How long does it take?
Courtney, I have a 10 year old daughter and we talk about this and last night she said the exact same thing you just did. That she is SO MAD at herself after she does it. I am really worried she is going to have depression. I am also looking for tips that can help her stop!! ANYONE?

[sore skin]

I just found this board and have exactly the same problems and frustrations with my skin as everyone else here. It is a relief to know that I'm not alone.

I scratch, pick, pop and do anything I can to get my zits to feel less itchy or pressurized. After all the doctors I've been to who have done nothing, I am surprised they all just say it's acne, and just say "stop picking." They prescribe antibiotics to work momentarily then the problem returns again. I also have major depression, and due to my scars and zits, keep to myself most of the time, here alone in my apartment. My life has been altered by this picking and even if I like myself, I am embarrassed to have such damaged skin. I want to stop and am glad there are others here to understand me, since nobody else does.