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Post by blondie88 on Jan 17, 2006 5:58:25 GMT -5
Oh I haven't posted here for a while.. but gah, my CSP has gotten even worse than it was before. I've gone back to using Retin-A (I used it for about 2 weeks sometime last year.. didn't bother continuing) and so far my forehead has cleared up a bit. Anyway. At first I thought that I only picked if I was depressed. I underwent a pretty bad phase last year as I was sitting final school exams. But nope, even after returning from a wonderful day out with friends, I was drawn to my mirror for a "pick-fest".  It's funny though, but I feel comfortable when I pick. It's relaxing. Unfortunately I'm beginning to get more and more used to this habit. I hardly leave the house because I don't want to be seen. I'm less social. I'm still depressed. And I pick my scalp (not as often though) and back too, but they're nothing in comparison with my face. Sometimes I can pick around 5 times a day - constantly trying to extract gunk from the same spot. I've hidden most of my mirrors, and all sharp objects (metal rulers, tweezers, etc), but I still can't help it! I even picked infront of the reflective toaster the other day, with the edge of a knife! :cry: Please help me, this is the 6th year of my CSP. I don't want it to continue for any longer. I haven't even had a boyfriend for 3 years because I'm ashamed of myself. I KNOW that I'm an attractive girl, but why do I do this to myself? There's a guy who I like, and he likes me too, but I've declined all offers to meet up this week because of my face. I'm starting university this year too. I don't want to live with this CSP governing my life. I haven't gone for more than 5 days without picking, for the past 4 years or so. Help? |
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Post by Dee13 on Jan 17, 2006 8:24:59 GMT -5
Sorry things are hard just now. Starting University will be a big change and your chance to change your routines. If you like the guy take a chance and once you get to know him more tell him about your picking. I think it's about 25% of the population can have picking issues, we are not that rare.
I have used some odd reflective objects as well. We are compulsive perfectionists and we can use that to overcome our picking. Our greatest weakness can be our greatest strength.
Hang in there and find something else to do when the urge overcomes you.
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Post by dee13 on Jan 17, 2006 8:27:05 GMT -5
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Post by anonymousartist on Jan 17, 2006 15:37:44 GMT -5
That idea that you should put off seeing this guy until your skin is better is very much a perfectionist one. I have that feeling too a lot of the time, but it's not a good urge to act on, because if not now, when? Make some plans to see this guy and don't back out on it. I honestly don't even think most guys care much about these things, and I hope he wants to see you for more reasons than the condition of your skin.
Like dee said, University does help to change the picking habit because if you live with other people who aren't your family you probably won't want to pick in front of them, and you'll be too busy as well. You can't judge yourself if you can't stop 100% at first. Hardly anyone can, and that's why we have support forums in the first place. Love yourself and be gentle with yourself. Give yourself positive reasons to stop, not "I'll be too ugly for a boyfriend if I don't," because you want to reinforce a healthy attitude within yourself.
You make agood point about picking being relaxing. But what other things can we do to relax? What about a walk or a nice bubble bath and/or relaxing music? Try giving yourself a nourishing way to relax that will make you feel good during and afterwards.
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Post by blondie88 on Jan 17, 2006 19:04:39 GMT -5
That idea that you should put off seeing this guy until your skin is better is very much a perfectionist one. I have that feeling too a lot of the time, but it's not a good urge to act on, because if not now, when? Make some plans to see this guy and don't back out on it. I honestly don't even think most guys care much about these things, and I hope he wants to see you for more reasons than the condition of your skin. Like dee said, University does help to change the picking habit because if you live with other people who aren't your family you probably won't want to pick in front of them, and you'll be too busy as well. You can't judge yourself if you can't stop 100% at first. Hardly anyone can, and that's why we have support forums in the first place. Love yourself and be gentle with yourself. Give yourself positive reasons to stop, not "I'll be too ugly for a boyfriend if I don't," because you want to reinforce a healthy attitude within yourself. You make agood point about picking being relaxing. But what other things can we do to relax? What about a walk or a nice bubble bath and/or relaxing music? Try giving yourself a nourishing way to relax that will make you feel good during and afterwards. I'm in Australia though, and here we don't really live at uni, so I'm still stuck with my family lol. I'm trying not to pick as much, and so far I haven't been picking in the centre of my forehead (Retin-A has CLEARED IT UP! ;D). I'm planning to continue with the Retin-A this time, and hopefully my entire face will clear up.. well to the extent that my open pores look almost invisible. I still can't kick the habit of touching my face, my back, or my scalp. I admit I've been doing it lesser than usual, but I'd prefer cutting it out completely. With that guy, lol, I'll probably meet up with him in about.. 2 days or so. I can't help it, I've had an open wound on my forehead for the past week and it still feels like as if there's a blind pimple there! It's finally beginning to heal though, after much much much picking. Only one person aside from my family knows about my CSP. I don't think I'd be able to tell anyone else about it. Especially since I want to get rid of this problem sometime in the near future - I wouldn't want the person to still think I had CSP. |
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Post by anonymousartist on Jan 18, 2006 1:24:34 GMT -5
Oh. I forgot to mention, I think when I used Retin-A the dermatologist told me it could take up to a month to work completely. After I was on it for a while I had to use it less because it dried my skin. But it is damn good for getting scabs to disappear faster.
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Post by jmdw on Aug 23, 2006 15:39:14 GMT -5
Hey! I'm starting uni this september and am really trying to work out a way of controlling my CSP. I came back from holiday a few weeks ago and had great skin, but now I've gone and picked it to bits yet again. Its always my face and shoulders.
I go through phases of it being controllable where I can not pick at all for a week but by the end theres always a few little pimples and before I know it Ive spent an hour and a half at the mirror picking. I dont want it to be like this next year so Ive vowed (again) to stop picking and am just gonna see how long it lasts this time.
I think I ve been picking for about 5 years and I'm always seeming to cancel plans with friends and skip school because of some massive scab on my face.
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