My dad suggested...

[Laura]

I was speaking my dad about my picking problem, and he had the same problem when he was younger, although not as severe as mine. So in some ways he understands what I'm going through.

He suggested that to kick this bad habit, to start up a new habit. Instead of doing something destructive like skin picking, or nail biting, try playing with my hair instead. So now when I get the urge to pick, I twiddle my hair in my fingers, so I keep my hands busy, so I can't pick my pimples.
The only down side is that when I go out, I look like I am flirting with everyone when I twiddle my hair! Oh well, better to look like a flirt than look like a pizza face!

[musician]

Hi Laura-

I've seen a few posts with suggestions about what to do with your hands rather than pick, and my own experience is that I don't pick when my hands are otherwise occupied. Be careful, though, that your hair twirling doesn't become hair pulling, which seems to be a compulsion related to picking.

Some things others have suggested to keep their hands busy:

- beads
- sandpaper
- velvet
- silly putty
- knitting/crocheting

Other suggestions?

[Laura]

Thanks for the warning about the hair pulling. I do like plucking the hairs out of my legs, because they are unwanted, so I am compelled to get rid of them.

But the hair on my head is different. I don't feel the urge to pull it out. I do get compulsions to scratch my scalp, but thats all. So when I go to pick my face, or scratch my scalp, I will find a peice of hair to twiddle in my fingers, or maybe even plait.

I have tried wearing bracelettes with plastic beads, nice bright colours, so they are fun to play with and keep my hands busy. But the problem is when I can't wear them because they won't match my clothes!

Hmmm... I don't think I would try the sandpaper one... I could end up hurting myself more with that.

Velvet... I don't have any in the house, but I could probably improvise with something else.

Silly putty... again my family don't own anything like that, but I will try to find an alternative.

Knitting... well, I can knit because my grandma taught me, but I am 18, and people might think I look strange!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few other things I thought of:

- wearing bright colourful rings (works the same as beads), and you are more likely to see your hands when you move them to pick at something
- rubbing lotion on your skin instead of picking it
- buy some keychains with things on them that will help keep you distracted
- get a pen pal or two, so that instead of spending hours picking, you can use that time to write letters, and it will keep your hands busy also
- buy some colourful band aids with cartoon characters on them, and only use them to cover bad picks (not regular cuts), and they will also be a loud reminder of what you did, so it may stop you from repeating that picking behaviour

I hope some of these ideas may help...

[Teresa =)]

hi Laura... ur dad tip is very good.. my mom also gave me that tipe always evne she has never been a picker.... she say make ur hands busy .. she say piant, draw, read or use that stress balls... she is always looking to gave me something to have my hands cover....i dont remember right now what she suggest me ... but it was good lo.. i keep the stress ball..
kiisses
teresa
pd: u are on summer now right? so i may ask where r u from?

[Laura]

I live in Melbourne, Australia. Yep, its Summer here... gosh I love the warm weather!

But I've been really bad the last few days.

I gave up on ZT on Jan 2nd. *sniff*

I have been picking and picking... worst of all my face looks like crap. When at Christmas it looked so clear.

I hate what I do to myself.

[Teresa =)]

hi!
i am also in summer , i live in sudamerica, right on Perú... some pple dont know well it is so i tell is near to argentina and brazil under the usa! lol
well sumeer are always toguht cause is soo hot and is a porb to use the skirts as short as i want.... mhhh
well i undersnatd who we feel after a mess and remembering oh i was so good... well think in the future i will be better and it will be a close future
i am getting tired for my positive acttituted somethimes but i cant abandond it
kisses:-*
Teresa