Post by Sage on Mar 26, 2004 14:46:33 GMT -5
Hi everyone,
I'm new here, so I don't know if this subject has been addressed already, but I'd like to get some feedback on something I've been examining in myself: readiness to quit. I think this is a huge component to being successful. (My definition of success would be to manage my urges and behaviors to the point where it did not interfere with my life, with occassional relapses to be expected.)
Anyway, I've been thinking about and talking to my therapist about the fact that I am not completely ready to quit. But, why not? Picking has interfered with my life so much and I've been doing it for so many years. The level of damage has escalated over the past several years and I've created a number of scars on my face. I've often been homebound for days at a time because I've created holes in my face that needed to be kept bandaged. I don't understand what it will take for me to hit bottom. And I'm really freightened about what bottom might be.
All these years I've been waiting until I feel ready to quit and it has finally dawned on me that readiness is a state of mind that I can achieve. What I mean is I will probably never be ready if I just wait for it to happen. I need to make it happen. I need to change my thoughts and beliefs about myself and this disorder. To start with, I'm looking at all the ways picking has effected my life negatively: all the missed appointments and social engagements, the impact on my relationships, the anxiety, guilt and shame, and the physical scarring. I'm also trying to imagine myself not picking. What would my life be like? How would it be better?
Getting back to the feedback I'm looking for, I wonder if any of you have any techniques, exercises, etc. that helped you get to the point of readiness, or even any thoughts on the subject.
My supportive thoughts go out to all you zt-ers and to those of you who are not yet ready.
Sage
I'm new here, so I don't know if this subject has been addressed already, but I'd like to get some feedback on something I've been examining in myself: readiness to quit. I think this is a huge component to being successful. (My definition of success would be to manage my urges and behaviors to the point where it did not interfere with my life, with occassional relapses to be expected.)
Anyway, I've been thinking about and talking to my therapist about the fact that I am not completely ready to quit. But, why not? Picking has interfered with my life so much and I've been doing it for so many years. The level of damage has escalated over the past several years and I've created a number of scars on my face. I've often been homebound for days at a time because I've created holes in my face that needed to be kept bandaged. I don't understand what it will take for me to hit bottom. And I'm really freightened about what bottom might be.
All these years I've been waiting until I feel ready to quit and it has finally dawned on me that readiness is a state of mind that I can achieve. What I mean is I will probably never be ready if I just wait for it to happen. I need to make it happen. I need to change my thoughts and beliefs about myself and this disorder. To start with, I'm looking at all the ways picking has effected my life negatively: all the missed appointments and social engagements, the impact on my relationships, the anxiety, guilt and shame, and the physical scarring. I'm also trying to imagine myself not picking. What would my life be like? How would it be better?
Getting back to the feedback I'm looking for, I wonder if any of you have any techniques, exercises, etc. that helped you get to the point of readiness, or even any thoughts on the subject.
My supportive thoughts go out to all you zt-ers and to those of you who are not yet ready.
Sage