Diet affecting picking?

[Marly]

Hello all,
Im new to this board and Ive been a picker for about 4 years but I have recently become more aware about my condition and this has helped keep it under somewhat better control that it was.

Anyway, I also came across a really helpful website for Trichotillimania (hair pulling disorder which has been said to be related to skin picking) that featured a mans diet (http://jkdietpage.tripod.com/fundamentals.html) which helped him become Trich free in a matter of a month..

Although I have not gone fully on the Kender diet, I have been taking more notice to my diet and I found that my sugar intake really affects my picking..when I eat any kind of sugar in a few hours I have terrible urges to pick. Unfortunately, I have had trouble keeping off ALL sugars..it is difficult..but my question to all of you is: has anyone felt that you were affected by any food on Kender's list or any other foods in general? Also, I'm curious to see if perhaps all of us pickers have similar diets?? And if this is the case perhaps we can pinpoint what not to eat or what to eat faster.

Anyway, just some ideas... everyone stay well and don't pick!
-Marly

[anonymousartist]

I don't want to totally put down this diet ('cause I really don't know if it works, and I hadn't thought of my diet affecting my picking, though I have heard that sugar can cause acne), but I do have to say good luck on eliminating corn syrup from your diet if you live in the US -- I was allergic to it when I was young and I practically had to live on rice cakes (maybe with the low carb craze you could have better luck).

Also, I think his recommendation of using excessive vitamin C is a bad idea (you can cause yourself an allergy from heavy consumption). For one thing he says it has to do with acid making it not work, but if you think about it, most fruits that are high in vitamin C are also highly acidic, so that just doesn't make sense, and your stomach is also much more highly acidic anyway, as it should be, and that's where any vitamins you take are going to go. It just seems like an invalid claim.

[seabreeze]

I have noticed a dramatic effect that diet has on me in relation to picking. After realizing that I had anxiety,and that I pick when highly anxious, I started reading about anxiety and foods. I have completely changed my diet and this has reduced so much anxiety and picking right there. It was very difficult for me at first but I am so much better now. It has all been very gradual. What have I changed? I quit smoking (over 9 months ago) That was the biggest step and worst source of anxiety for me. I gave up sugar and caffeine and fast food. I drink mostly water and prepare healthy food and snacks. It has been totally worth it for me. BTW, the other day I went to a family reunion and had so much sugar and coffee. I woke up the next morning feeling so low and depressed. I knew right away that it was the sugar low I was experiencing. That used to be my every morning! Glad I learned from that!

"Would you start your dog's day with a cup of coffee, a sugar donut, and a cigarette?" Jack LaLane