Team UK - Kick the Pick!

[Froglet]

Hey everyone!
Hope everyone is fine and dandy!
Im doing a little better... my icky sores I inflicted on my face are finally subsiding. They don't seem to be so infected now which is good. I find it impossible to leave a sore alone, when it is constantly throbbing on my face. That little voice that tells me it'll be better if I dig goes into overdrive! Anyway, hopefully it'll be easier to leave them to heal now that they don't feel so bad.
I bought myself a bike yesterday with the intention of using it to A. Get around the city in and B. get some blood pumping through my veins! Its been so long since Ive done any kind of exercise, and I very much want to lose weight for my summer holiday. Plus, Im sure some fresh air and exercise will help the skin too. I just went for a ride and Im knackered ...but kind of in a good way.
Playinwithfire...
Good idea about going out and treating yourself, I think its the best thing you could do. Men can be so selfish sometimes! A friend of our family left his wife and two kids recently so he could go off and 'Find himself'. I mean, what the hell is that about?! I don't often hear about women deserting their families to go off on some self discovery... some men are just poo!
Breaking up sucks though... I have been hurt in the past and wow, I had never knew anything like it. Glad it happened though... what doen't kill you makes you stronger and all that. I think if you don't go through your share of bad guys, then you won't be able to appreciate the good ones when they come along!
Anyways, thats enough rambling from me! Good luck with your gig Krib... and playinwithfire...when is the autition for X factor you crazy lass? If you end up on TV you have to let us know!
Lx ;D

[Supervixen]

Hi everyone! I haven't picked my face for over 24 hours ;D
Playinwitfire - men suck I have decided. Good luck for the x factor! Haha if I could sing I'd audition too but they'd just laugh at me.
The beautiful goddess in my avatar thing is Shirley Manson from Garbage. I'm going to see them again at Brixton on june 9th so I have exactly 3 weeks to get my skin looking good.

[Froglet]

I think it is funny that the beautiful goddess Shirley Manson, struggled with Body Dismorphic disorder for a large part of her life. There she is, in the stupid girl video looking bloody lovely, and the whole time it was being filmed she was freaking out, and locking herself in the dressing room coz she felt so ugly!
Helps remind me that when I think I look awful, with the picking and everything, its rarely as bad as it seems! We are our harshest critics!
Hope everyone is doing well,. My skin is healing, but I think Ive been over doing it in the shower with my scruby cloth... my skin is getting a bit dry and tight! Ah, if its not one thing its the other!
Im feeling good anyway... so near to finishing my film... only three backgrounds left to draw! Yay!
Lx

[soulauctioneer]

hey everyone!

playinwitfire, yeah breaking up is tough, one of the hardest times of my life was coming out of a four year relationship, it doesn't seem like it'll get better but you just have to believe that it will, and it's true, what doesn't kill you does make you stronger, possibly a little jaded but definitely stronger! hope you're feeling ok... and lots of luck for your x-factor audition!

Shirley Manson is on my list of idols, it's really reassuring that someone who has stuggled so much has managed to overcome it and still be hugely successful (and criminally attractive), it's nice to know that there's some hope for everyone. (i'm also a total groupie and find myself checking their site daily for news of a tour - some of the best gigs i've ever been to, horribly jealous that you have tickets for the brixton gig supervixen!)

Well, after a week's holiday in Amsterdam with some friends i'm doing pretty well for once! there wasn't much opportunity for picking while I was away, tying up the bathroom for hours was definitely not worked into the schedule, it was hard for the first few days but got easier as time went on, I mean it's not like I was totally pick-free but it was certainly a drastic cut down, had a little bit of a session last night when i got back but it's so good to see my skin looking clearer that I was pretty careful and don't think i did any real damage, just have to try really hard not to give in. I'm ready for a battle with myself.....bring it on!

Froglet, i'm going to go to the degree show cause a friend is displaying her work, i'm looking foward to seeing your film, I think i'll go to the film house thing as well, I went last year and really enjoyed it, so why not! I just completed a little film of sorts myself for my degree project, a short piece with music. It was my first attempt and all I had was one camera but I reckon it's something I'd like to get more into. It'll be good to see how people that know what they're on about do it...

Hope your gig goes amazingly Krib, what sort of music do you play?

les x

[Froglet]

Hey all,
Hows it goin? For the first time in ages, I had went for my shower without taking my tweezers with me! I read this great thing written by someone who used to pick, and it was really helpful. I really feel like I might be able to do it for good this time! Yay!
If anyone else is interested, I put the address in a thread on the tips for quiting forum. Try to read it all, its very interesting.
Les, good work for not picking... try to use the holiday as a head start! Now that your skin has calmed down, it will be a little easier to leave it I hope.
I hope you enjoy the film show, there's a lot of good animation this year... one of my friends is doing an amazing stop motion anim. You should see his set and puppets... they're so realistic! I really am in awe! Not seen any of it moving yet though... but Im sure it'll be great.
Mine is about a Siamese cat chasing a bird..., so if you see it, I hope you'll let me know what you think! ;D
Well, gotta go do some work, or I won't be in the film show atall!
Hope everyone is doing good! Keep up the good work!
Lx

[Supervixen]

Froglet, I read that online book and so far have not picked for two whole days ;D Thank you for posting that link!
I spent the two days torturing myself by staring at each and every pore any time I passed a mirror. I had fantasies of picking, and it feels like all I've thought about is how much I want to pick. It was terrible but Hurrah! I've made it to the two day mark I am now going to perhaps cover all my mirrors up so I don't unnecessarily tempt myself.
I hope your gigs/degree shows/whatever you're all doing are all going well.

Ooo and I have a quick question. Because I'm nosey. What are your skincare regimes, and what products do you all use? I have yet to find a regime/set of products that I am happy with. So I'd appreciate any ideas!

And PS I am very happy with all the love Shirley is receiving!!

[Froglet]

Hey ladys,
S'been a while! Ive had a crazy week, was in bed with flu for a few days,...short but intense, still recovering. Got a big huge ulcer on my tongue which is killing me right now, its so sore! handed in my completed film for assessment yesterday! Im so excited that I am finally done with uni! Yayayayay! ;D ;D :DStill got my degree show to go...
Im doing pretty good with not picking still. My face looks so much clearer. I bought some mineral makeup too, which is so much nicer to use than greasy foundations. Would def recommend you guys treat yourself to some! www.corycosmetics.com/
This website offers cheaper makeup than the bare essential minerals, and they are just as good.
SuperVixen -
Like the new pic! My skin care regime right now is fairly basic... I use an acne soap that contains a little sulphur, and gently cleanse with it. I use an exfoliater cloth once a week or if I really need to. Then I just moisturise. I always use neutragina as it doesnt clog pores and it has sun protection. If I get a spot, I dab a little boots ACT emergancy blemish gel. Helps dry up the spot.
If I really need to pick a spot, lm now going to wait till its at a head, and only take of that - no deep digging or squeezing. Then spot gel straight on top. I did it this morning to a hangover spot, and its gone now.
Well... I hope everyone else is doing well... its been a while since some of you guys have been around! Hope to hear from u all soon,
Lara x

[playinwitfire]

hi every1 havn't been back for a while have now finished exams wooh.

Hope everyone is well!! My chart has got 2 days left, I have picked on four days so far.
Then again what do you truly constitute as picking? I've tried to be pretty hard on myself caus I think it's needed!

I didn't make it to Xfactor on wednesday cus i got in a panic bout all my psych exams d nx day one of which was a retake so I had like 4 hours of exams it felt like eternal man!!

I got a couple of supa websites for uz which i came across surfin today:

www.hilary.com/ kool mag website

www.sommeinstitute.com kool skincare like renewing deep cellular stuff wit loads of goodness
but buy the actual products elsewhere on the net cus quite pricey!! I'm giving it a try tho

anywayz these are my latest finds..well i call them finds

cyaz all l8r xxxxxx

[Krib]

Hello again m'dears!! It's been ages since I could come on here, I've had so much bloody work! But finally, uni is over! No more work at all. Feels insane! I'm not ready for the real world yet!

I've still got to read the link Froglet posted, I've actually got time to read it now, it sounds like it'll be helpful. I've been doing alright with my picking recently, been going 3 or so days without getting sucked into a trance for hours. I've just avoided mirrors with bright light, and tried to keep busy etc. I'm hoping to keep it up now my stress levels are down again, though having more time alone with days of nothing to do- it's gonna be hard curbing the fingers to the face. And stress will rise when I start applying for jobs over the next few months

It's weird though, I think the compulsion's faded slightly recently, it's definitely loads better than when I was 17-ish. Unless I'm absolutely knackered or quite miserable, it's much easier to tear myself out of a trance and pick for minutes rather than hours. I'll read the stuff on that site and think of the holiday coming up soon and hopefully it'll reduce even more...I'm feeling pretty confident this time!

I hope you're all doing ok, looks like we're all busy as we're not as regular with the posts now Have you had your film shown yet, Lara? I hope it goes well, would be interested to see it, minor problem that I don't live in Scotland though! Bet you feel the same about the end of uni eh?- "Great....but NOW WHAT!??".

My birthday gig didn't happen in the end as a couple of our band members were burgled that day while we were practising Had computers and cameras stolen, bastards! Bizarrely though, our "quiet night in" turned into a fully fledged party for me, which was so great! I haven't bothered with parties since I was a wee lass! It was absolutely mad, a typical student deal, with a makeshift bar (a plank of wood balanced on chairs), and someone gave me an enormous paper mache turtle shell ;D Interesting! The bar was eventually knocked over completely, but I was too drunk to even realise by that point, hehe

Anyway!? We play indie-poppy-rock type stuff, soulauctioneer, a range of stuff really, can't quite categorise it exactly! A few soft, slow numbers too, but all our own songs (bar covering a song by the Ramones and the Supremes!).

We played the week after in the end, the first song went well, people seemed to really enjoy it, though I was getting a load of silly remarks about being a female drummer, blimey, it's the 21st century here, dunno about in that pub though! "I was reading an article about female drummers, there's a lot of you now, eh? We need more of 'em eh?". Yeh mate, don't single me out now will you!?

The second song we had to stop after a few seconds as one of our guitarists was out of tune. He took about 10 minutes to tune up (something wrong with the guitar!), by that time we were nearly being booed off!! So that one was eventually rushed and lacked the confidence of the first. And then we didn't have time to play the third song as we were ushered off! (It was an open mic night though, we were stopping some others from playing, so understandable really!) But we're going to play again, we loved it, the technical glitch was just an annoying fluke. It felt brilliant to be up there performing!

Hope you're feeling better about the break up now playinwitfire, trust the old cliche about time healing, vvv true

And well done too, some of you are getting less picky by the day by the sounds of it, I think we're making progress here folks!

Right, well I'll be on here more regularly now I reckon, so I hope to hear how you're all getting along soon.

Ciao for now,
Cx

[Froglet]

Hey all! Long time no post! ;D
Been so busy with end of uni stuff, feel like Ive a hundred n' one things to remember!
Was doin so well, face was lookin so good, but after a drukin row with my man, I woke up feeling hungover and crappy.... yup, you know what comes next!
So now, Im tryin to hide what ive done under probably too much make up...and its not really working! Got one of those rudolf nose spots that wont hide, plus I scrubbed so hard at my skin with an exfoliant cloth, its all dry and peeling... so the make up is just caking. Aaaaargh!
Im hopeing it doesn't look as bad as my compulsive pickers mind thinks it does...
Trying to leave it alone now, and not pick new ones... but its difficult to resist 'tidying' the old wounds. Managed to make the one on my nose worse by peeling skin that wasn't so lose, thus increasing the size of the thing.
Ah well, what can I do!? All will be well in a few days - its amazing how fast skin heals when ya let it! Gonna try even harder this time, coz it felt sooooooo good to have clearer skin. Im so close to beating this, I know it!
Hope everyone else whos not checked back in a while is ok.
Krib,
I know what you mean about the compulsions fading. Ive definatly improved loads since I was that age. I think teen angst coupled with bad acne and family problems where the start of it all. Picking was a way of escaping the crap, and controling my skin. Now, Im pretty happy, so I guess the picking is just a plain old habit.
Well, goota go... my boyfriend is obviously needing attention... hes standing next to me with a tampon up his nose, and a crazy look on his face....pretty mature for someone who is graduating!

[Supervixen]

Hey everyone!
Hope you're all doing ok?
I've been pretty stressed the past few days (ex is being a dick) and therefore haven't really made much effort with not picking. But I'm feeling stronger now and really really want to stop. For real.
I have a holiday in about 2 weeks time and it would be great (actually it would be an effing miracle) if I managed not to pick til then. I wonder how clear my skin would be? I dream of having smooth milky clear skin. But I'd settle for just non-scabby non-red skin.
I am also on the look-out for a new foundation. Any recommendations? I have quite pale skin (underneath the redness!).

[Supervixen]

Wow. I made a whole post without using a single smiley.
;D
Just to make up for it.

[Froglet]

Hey Lady! ;D
Glad to hear you are feeling stronger. Not good about the ex though. Men are a pain! How are things with you anyhoo... with you anyway? Everything going ok with your pregnancy I hope?
I have actually managed to stay relativly pick free these last couple of weeks, that my face looks about normal! My chest, though not perfect, is looking a hell ofa lot better too... I don't know how I did it! Yay! I guess it was just sheer will power. Now all I have to do is keep it up. I am trying to stand back and look at myself from a far when i want to pick. When you are so close to the mirror staring at pores, they seem much worse. I try to remind my self that they are not noticable to others and imy obbsessed brain is making them seem huge and gross!
ANyways, I recommend you check out the mineral make up link I mentioned a few posts ago... its pretty good stuff!They do lots of shades, and You can order lots of samples first! Cheap postage too, considering its from america. Anyways, gotta go, up early for work tommorrow! x

[shihui as guest]

i hope i'm not too out of place here!

lara, thank you for all your support you've left in my journal. glad to hear that you're doing well!

i hope the rest of you in here are doing well too. all of you seem so close to one another

[Froglet]

Wecome Shihui! ;D
Of course you are not out of place!Feel free to join in whenever you feel, I would certianly enjoy hearing from you!
It has been a while since you have posted, who are things?
Have the meds been helping any?
I am still on a roll with the no picking. I still pick, but very little. I am actually going to be brave and wear a strappy top out tonight for the first time in years! My skins not perfect on my chest, but with some carefull application of makeup, im sure no one will notice in a dark bar.
Its still really difficult though, I want to pick so much, but I so want to be clear for my graduation photo, its keeping me going!
I hope things ar well in the world of Shihui! Keep us posted will you?
Hope everyone else is doing fine too!
XXX