Please Read-- looking for ZT partner

[peculiarpetunia]

hi readytoquit. I just saw your post on scarreddaisy's thread too.

the last few days have been much better for me. All the major stuff has healed, my skin is looking ok with minimal makeup, and I am paying a lot of attention when I get tired or stressed. I am in for the 2 weeks.

Please keep posting and tell me how you are, everybody.

[workinprogress]

Hey Peculiar Petunia:

Congratulations on your success. Way to go.

I have been pick free on my face since joining ZT. Gosh is works. My buttocks and scalp are a different story so I guess I am not officially ZT. I will committ again. Maybe I can go 2 weeks also.

wip

[Lucy]

I'll join you for 2 weeks. I am so tired of not being able to do the things I love just because of my skin. I go 2-3 days and then pick a little now. I want to now stop forever too. If we can get through weeks of not picking, then we can get through the rest of our lives.
Keep your head high and stay strong. Keep pushing on
2 weeks!!! We can do it.

[peculiarpetunia]

thanks for posting guys. I really look forward to reading about how your days went.

I just slipped and did my face for about 15 minutes. BUT I haven't done arms or chest at all for a couple days. (with PMS!) tonight I watched tv for a while and instead of slipping into picking, I manicured my nails which i haven't done in years. (I pay sometimes to have it done)

I bought some new manicure supplies to inspire myself.

One thing that helps me is to think about my skin as a seled envelope keeping out germs and keeping me confident. When I pick, I feel like I really make holes in that protective barrier, so when I have stopped for some time, I like thinking about being al sealed up and safe.

OK: two weeks.

keep me posted. love knowing you're there.

PP

[Lucy]

I haven't picked anything today. I hope everyone is doing good. I hope I can keep it up for the whole two weeks, I'm so tired of feeling this bad. Good inspiration peculiarpetunia, that's what I've been doing too.

[peculiarpetunia]

Things are a lot better since I began posting here.

I havn't done arms and chest for 4 days or more, and they look great. Like, good enough that if it was warm enough for a tnk top (it's not-- it's snowing here in ny) I would wear one gladly.

I have minorly picked my face everyday for 5 to 15 minutes. This is FAR less than usual (an hour? more?).

Basically, there are a few almost-healed things that I haven't let heal all the way, but I haven't done any new damage (with PMS--I can't stress this enough).

Also, I have seen things that I would usually attack. I am just letting them be-- when I am out and about, I make sure to note that everyone with good skin has some tiny irregularities and bumps. Doesn't matter-- just part of your skin.

One final piece of good news, just a litte while ago, i went to pick some tiny thing on my thigh and realized that I haven't been doing that either. My inner and outer thighs, hips, and butt are never so bad, but before bed I usually pick them a little to amuse myself. But not this week!

I have nailed down more particulars of my triggers:

Tiredness
PMS
financial worry
thirst (weird, but true)
indecision

Please write often.

PP

[workinprogress]

Hi
P.P. I second it. You have given me alot of inspiration. I am kind of at the same place in my thought process. I posted about triggers before I read yours. I am really curious about them. Anyway. I am still PMS also.. I am a week late (not pregnant) and I feel horrible. Luckily the prozac helps with my PMS.

I am zt with my breasts and face...since I started posting..my butt is a different issue and my scalp also. I put diaper creme on my but zits/scabs vs. vitamin
E and the desitine really works.

take care

[peculiarpetunia]

wip: I, too have raging PMS. I ate my weight in salt and my weight shot up 4 pounds. My stomach is so vloated I could be 5 months pregnant.

I havent picked my body at all. My face has been very minor and everything is almost healed. Sure, it has a splotchy look, but it is much better.

I went in Sephora the other night (there's one here in nyc that clses at midnight!) I intended to buy some sort of home peel, or treatment for the marks left on my face. I found something by philosophy that used a combination of vitamin c powder and hydroquinne.

As I was about to spend my 50 bucks, a salesgirl warned me that if I have sensitive skin, that stuff would irritate me. She reccomended some expensive Rose toner which I did not buy since I have cheap health food store rose water, but here's the good part:

I claimed I wanted the product because "I had a skin problem that has pretty much cleared up but left marks"

and she said she didn't think I needed it because the marks were minimal, and looked just red, not purple or brown, which meant they would heal soon.

I could have kissed her.

I decided to save my money and just be very gentle to my skin. I think the best thing for it, next to no picking would be to give it a break from all makeup. If I am good for another few days, I will be able to do that.

goodnight

[Lucy]

That's so good!!!!
I haven't picked either today, kept myself pretty busy. I have red splotches and swollen bumps from picking on wednesday but didn't break skin so those should heal quick.

[peculiarpetunia]

OK, my face is looking great. I have done some teensy little scratching "just to remove old flakes of skin", but really ot's almost all clear.

I had a slip up tonight on the arms. 2 minutes total. Have to say it was unbelievably satisfying, but I knew I would have to report back here. Breasts for 5 seconds removing flaking skin again.

But it is all ok. Just put some astringent and lotion on my arms, but really, its not even swollen. OK, it will all be ok (she tells herself).

I think I will get my period in the a.m, and that should make everything easier.

really am pickinh more than 90% less than usual.

[Lucy]

Me too. I slipped tonight on two spots on my arms, (the spots that were swollen) I caught myself and put on some gloves for as long as I could.

[peculiarpetunia]

Good news: went out all day with NO makeup. Haven't done that in...prob. over a year. Skin is not perfect, but within normal range...
also, got my period, this ending worst time of thepicking month.

bad news: boyfriend mildly upset me on the phone and I was overtired, decided to pick just one thing on my arm...20 minutes later.

oh drat.

well: the face is good, and breasts have been left alone except for 10 sec. today.

ok.

[peculiarpetunia]

aack.

I got frustrated after an unsatisfying experience at the hair salon and even though (very inimal makeup today) I kept noticing how good my skin looked all day (it looked like skin, not makeup!)

I just picked my face for like 20 minutes. I mainly "cleaned out" pores, I didnt reopen anything that was healing.

Shit. I am so exhausted why didn't I just go to bed sooner. And I think i am getting sick. I have a sore throat. shit.

ok. go to sleep. start over.

[Lucy]

I hate days like that. Sometimes I had to tear myself away from my skin when I'd feeling down.

My progress is really good. I haven't picked from the last time I posted hear. (tiny scratching but nothing to break skin or cause swelling) I think that I have been able to control myself by keeping busy and trying not to think about picking at all. It's hard, but I think I may be able to do this.