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Update
Dec 1, 2003 0:08:17 GMT -5
Post by Stef (Incubabe) on Dec 1, 2003 0:08:17 GMT -5
Well I was so sick this holiday that I couldnt even get the energy to pick. So I went 4 full days without it. I picked a little tonight...I think it was nerves from the test tomorrow and the fact that I broke out while I was sick. Good news though, my arms are just about completely healed. There are maybe 4 or 5 new picks on each arm from tonight but other than that they are completely clear. I just need to pray the scars will fade and then I think I'll be okay. They look so good I don't want to ruin them! My legs are looking better too. I cut that picking more than in half. I havent stopped completely on my legs but it's not enough that I'm really worried about it. I've been in really good spirits since I got better too. I got to see Ryan today after not seeing him in like 5 days. It killed me not to be able to see him because of the holiday and then because I was sick. Im praying that the stress of school doesnt get me picking again but I really feel like Im starting to beat this. Im not going to give myself a marble tonight but Im definetaly going to work extra hard for one tomorrow night. So far I have 8 marbles for 11 or 12 days. ;D
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Update
Dec 1, 2003 8:48:12 GMT -5
Post by Carree on Dec 1, 2003 8:48:12 GMT -5
Incubabe-
You are doing great, even if you were too tired and sick to pick! I did really well this weekend too. I was gone for the weekend and even though I was not really busy I was around family and didn't even think about picking. I also picked a little on Sunday night but I didn't do too much damage.
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Update
Dec 1, 2003 10:49:13 GMT -5
Post by Canuck on Dec 1, 2003 10:49:13 GMT -5
Congrats to Incubabe AND Carree! I'm definitely going to have to steal your marble idea, Incubabe. Marbles are so pretty. If they're inspirational to me, too, that'll be a big plus. Keep up the good work, girlies!
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Update
Dec 3, 2003 18:09:12 GMT -5
Post by tryingreallyhard on Dec 3, 2003 18:09:12 GMT -5
Hey, I like your marbles idea too, and the quarter idea as well. I think I'll try the quarter thing, that way when I've gone a long time without picking I can buy myself something really nice that I really really want. Trying to think REALLY positive here.
I want to join in this Zero Tolerance thing too! Either that or I'm gonna need an intervention.
The last month has been terrible for me; my face looks like a mine field of open wounds and scabs. I have a dermatologist but the acne medication I'm on is not really working so it gives me more stuff to pick. I tried to make an appointment but my dr. is booked until mid-January. Now that I've found this website and message board I'm even willing to admit to my derm that I do in fact pick my face. When she's asked me in the past I gave a quick 'no' response, mainly because I was ashamed. Now that I know I'm not alone I don't feel quite so bad. I may even take a print out from these pages to keep in my pocket for strength on the day I do get an appointment.
Now, with or without my dermatologists help I have to prepare myself for holiday get-togethers with family, friends, co-workers, strangers, etc. I'm also especially anxious about my husband's family seeing me looking so bad. This means I've got to really allow my face time to heal, no setbacks, no excuses, not even once! All of the mirrors in my house are covered with towels at the moment. I have a bottle of astringent here on the desk as I type - I think it helps me to be aware and alert to my picking. I've removed the last safety pin from my purse, every last tack from the junk drawer and anything else sharp that I might be able to get my hands on. Tomorrow I'm going to go buy a bunch of those rubber thimbles from the sewing store and I'm going to wear them on my fingertips whenever I sit to read or watch TV or drive a long distance. I don't care how silly I might look, it's bound to be better than having my face torn to shreds, right? Oh,and I also bought one of those facial spa things so I can treat my skin nicely without being in front of the mirror. Any other suggestions that people might have I will certainly welcome! And good luck to anyone else trying the ZT approach. I'll do my best to keep you posted on my progress!
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Update
Dec 5, 2003 12:30:21 GMT -5
Post by tryingreallyhard on Dec 5, 2003 12:30:21 GMT -5
Anybody there?? ! I hope you guys are doing well and having a successful ZT week. If not, let's hear about it, maybe we can help each other. I'm happy that it's Friday and I actually feel really good. I haven't picked my face at all in the last couple days. Oh, I've been tempted though, let me tell you!! But no picking allowed! Huge accomplishment for me! I get more quarters! Yipee! I will attribute this success to a great extent to this website and message board. Wow, am I glad I stumbled across this wonder on the web! I also think my silly idea to slip balloons on my fingertips seems to be working. And there's a plus-- not only is my face healing, but if I put a dot of lotion on my fingertip before putting on the balloon then later my cuticles are moisturized and they feel and look better than ever too! And my new Homedics facial spa is great for gently cleansing my skin without having to actually touch my face. No touching = no picking for me. Yaaay! Happy Friday everybody!
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Update
Dec 6, 2003 3:21:04 GMT -5
Post by Stef (Incubabe) on Dec 6, 2003 3:21:04 GMT -5
I picked last week. I guess I was making up for the time I lost LOL. Good news is its not that bad. I just killed a spot on my face though because it was all inflammed and it hurt like hell. I wanted to make sure I got everything out of it so it wont come back and I think I hit the bone LOL. Not really but its still gross. Luckily it should be gone in a few days. Plus im planning on getting back on track with my marbles.
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Update
Dec 7, 2003 23:11:24 GMT -5
Post by tryingreallyhard on Dec 7, 2003 23:11:24 GMT -5
Woo hoo, it's Sunday night and still no picking for me! The scabs on the healing spots are starting to itch and I want so badly to scratch them and pick the scabs off. But I'm not touching my face. I'm not touching my face. I'm not touching my face. I'm not touching my face.
I'm cleansing with my facial spa thingy, toning with diluted apple cider vinegar (read somewhere that it helps to reduce scarring), and using my balloon technique (you guys really should try this!). I'm also committed to washing my pillow cases once a week and spraying them with Lysol before going to bed each night (don't want to get unneccesary germs on my face). And I'm pulling my hair back into a ponytail away from my face when I sleep too. Sweet dreams everybody!!
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Update
Dec 11, 2003 20:38:12 GMT -5
Post by tryingreallyhard on Dec 11, 2003 20:38:12 GMT -5
Okay, it's Thursday evening and I have to admit that I picked. But only a couple spots and I stopped before making them red and ugly. One spot right between my eyebrows had been a huge sore cystic type bump with it's own pulse before I tried the ZT approach last week. Leaving it alone for almost a week allowed the redness and swelling to go away, but left behind a nasty looking blackhead type thing (I knew there was something in there all along!). I could not stand it. I picked and it came out like soft-serve ice cream. Gross! Then I stopped and dabbed some diluted apple cider vinegar on the spot. It closed up nicely with an almost unnoticable scab and the redness is now gone. So, now I'm back to ZT again, no picking this evening. That's good! Tomorrow will be good too. I've learned that really regular cleansing, toning, etc. makes me feel like I'm doing someting good for my skin and beats my urge to remove the 'impurities'. Gotta stick with it. Take care everyone!
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Update
Dec 12, 2003 21:13:34 GMT -5
Post by Canuck on Dec 12, 2003 21:13:34 GMT -5
tryingreallyhard,
Good to know that you're on the right track for ZT! Let us know how you're keeping up. Hopefully the holiday season will keep you too busy to pick, or even think about picking!
I started with ZT in October and my picking has decreased by at least 75%. The first month was an enormous struggle -- lots of ups and downs. Now, everything is pretty much under control (with a few slip-ups here and there) and it doesn't require that I put so much energy towards it.
So, I guess my advice to you is to really, really work hard on ZT once you commit to it. It seems impossible some days, I know. But it's possible. Even after a bad day.
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Update
Dec 14, 2003 0:14:15 GMT -5
Post by Stef (Incubabe) on Dec 14, 2003 0:14:15 GMT -5
Hm...well I was doing really well. Since Ive been sick for a while my arms were healing really well...then I went mental the other night and picked and picked and picked and decided that was my last pick session like that for the rest of my life. I've been working really hard to stop and I'm forcing myself to sit for 5 minutes and I can feel and stare and my skin but I can't pick. No matter what I get fixated on I can't pick. It's so hard but I think it's good for me. I'm adding on 5 minutes each night so hopefully when I get up to like a half hour I'll be able to actually go about my life without wanting to pick. I still have more marbles than beads too! So I've only been picking about half as much as I used to.
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