Post by anonymousartist on Jun 28, 2005 15:40:17 GMT -5
Hi. I'm not anywhere near detroit so unfortunately I can't help you but I think it is a wonderful idea to start a support group. Also, a lot of us here sometimes talk via IM (AIM, MSN, Yahoo). This is a very good board to go to for support (though it is kinda slow lately) and its helped me a lot. I mean I still pick, but I don't regularly zone out in front of the mirror. And I know there's nothing crazy wrong with me because so many people do this, so it helps me keep hope of stopping completely one day (maybe today).
I also have a problems with anxiety. There is a thread about inositol in the therapy/meds board. I did some of my own online research and figured since it is a vitamin precursor present in a number of healthy foods it wouldn't hurt to increase it in my actual diet, and it really seemed to help when I was doing it. Who knows if it really was the reason or not, but like I said, couldn't hurt to increase eating some foods that I didn't mind eating anyway. I really also do think that having a good diet is a really important part of mental health, because I used to eat nothing but crap and I always felt like crap, and when I eat healthy and get exercise I can balance myself. So, try to make it a goal to get at least a half hour of moderate exercise as often as possible (even if its just a walk) and eat nutritious foods if you don't already. Maybe also try some meditation as well? This is something I don't do as often as I should but I feel like it helps. My problem is my mind never shuts off so I have a lot of trouble with worrying about everything. Meditation is a practice in shutting out thoughts. I know that for me, picking can be a way of dealing with anxiety, and there has to be another way to cope or I'll just get more anxious.
There are also breathing exercises you can do to reduce anxiety. Anxiety attacks can become panic attacks when you hyperventillate, so for me, just holding my breathe for a bit helps relax me. And keep in mind that whatever is causing the anxiety, is probably something everyone is afraid or self conscious of. They just don't always talk about it. There is no reason to be afraid of being afraid (wow I think I just contradicted roosevelt. Oh well!)
Sorry I sort of just started rambling on. Anyway, good luck, and keep posting.
--Becca
I also have a problems with anxiety. There is a thread about inositol in the therapy/meds board. I did some of my own online research and figured since it is a vitamin precursor present in a number of healthy foods it wouldn't hurt to increase it in my actual diet, and it really seemed to help when I was doing it. Who knows if it really was the reason or not, but like I said, couldn't hurt to increase eating some foods that I didn't mind eating anyway. I really also do think that having a good diet is a really important part of mental health, because I used to eat nothing but crap and I always felt like crap, and when I eat healthy and get exercise I can balance myself. So, try to make it a goal to get at least a half hour of moderate exercise as often as possible (even if its just a walk) and eat nutritious foods if you don't already. Maybe also try some meditation as well? This is something I don't do as often as I should but I feel like it helps. My problem is my mind never shuts off so I have a lot of trouble with worrying about everything. Meditation is a practice in shutting out thoughts. I know that for me, picking can be a way of dealing with anxiety, and there has to be another way to cope or I'll just get more anxious.
There are also breathing exercises you can do to reduce anxiety. Anxiety attacks can become panic attacks when you hyperventillate, so for me, just holding my breathe for a bit helps relax me. And keep in mind that whatever is causing the anxiety, is probably something everyone is afraid or self conscious of. They just don't always talk about it. There is no reason to be afraid of being afraid (wow I think I just contradicted roosevelt. Oh well!)
Sorry I sort of just started rambling on. Anyway, good luck, and keep posting.
--Becca