Thank God I'm not alone

[some hope now]

Oh my goodness I just cried when I found this site. I'm 28 and have been hurting my skin for at least 14 years. Today, was escpecially bad. I had made a promise to myself a few weeks ago that I was not going to do it again because I was going to swimming with my daughter on our vacation next week and was finally going to take my shirt off again with my husband when we loved. I was so sad that I screwed up my plan again. I destroyed my skin again today. I just got in my car after work and it didn't stop until 3 hours later in the shower. I stood in front of the mirror in horror at what I had done to myself. I literally got on my kness and asked god what the heck was wrong with me. Because I was home alone I decided to do a google search to see if I was mentally ill or something. I've had it with this problem. I even call in sick to work when my skin is too damaged.

Tears, tears tears. All I can say is thank you for helping me to release some of this painful shame. I'm so embarrassed that I have this habit. I don't know who you all are but it really helps me to know that you are out there somewhere.

It still breaks my heart that I'm going to have to hide while I'm on vacation. My love life is horrible because of this problem. I just hide with it.

me.

[speedy]

dear somehopenow,
first of all, please excuse my sometimes poor grammar and spelling. As you can see on my profile, I´m from Germany
I know exactly what you feel like. I too found this site by googling about a week ago and was so relieved to see that many other people have the same problem. Although I did know that skin picking is a psychosomatic disorder (I study medicine), I never met a person who seemed to have this, and so I felt quite alone, like a freak, and never told anyone about it. Reading all these very personal confessions and seeing that quitting is difficult for other people as well really made me feel better. And it also encouraged me to try quitting once more. I did pretty good for three days but yesterday I had a "neck-attack" again. So don´t feel bad about yourself, it´s not your fault. Just try to keep the damage small. I have a few tricks apart from the ones on this site that may help you, depending on the way you pick.
1. When you feel the urge coming up, try to get into the public. I never do it when people are around.
2. Keep your hands busy. I quit smoking a few years ago, and since then my problem got a lot worse. I figured it is because I need something to fumble on when I´m stressed or nervous, so I tried fumbling with different things and it really helps. My favorites while I´m reading or working at the pc are putty and a small balloon filled with sand. When I watch tv I sometimes sew (holes in my socks etc., nothing spectactular )
3. Since I also pick my scalp I started putting styling gel on my hair when I´m at home. That reminds me and keeps me from going on when my fingers unconsciously touch my head.
4. A trick that is also used by therapists to help people with mild tics or obsessive compulsive disorders is very simple, cheap and you can take it with you wherever you go: put a rubber band around your wrist and pull it to make it snap against your skin every time you are tempted to pick. That hurts, of course, and that way your mind will, after some time, relate that uncomfortable feeling to picking. But: This does NOT help if you are the kind of picker who manipulates his/her skin because he/she needs to feel the pain (like skin cutters do)!

Well, I hope some of this will help you. I understand that you feel ashamed when you get undressed, I too scratch my back and neck very badly, as well as my face, sometimes also my breast and arms, but to a much lesser extent. I used to keep my shirt on or wouldn´t have sex at all during times when my problem was too obvious, or I would put tons of concealer on the spots but I found out that my boyfriend didn´t really care about it or at least he never said anything. Does your husband know about your problem?

[fcarea]

Hi some hope now,

Skin picking can be very embarrassing. Almost every picker (including myself) tries to hide their problem so that they appear to be normal to other people. I feel like a hypocrite saying this, but you should tell your husband about your problem. Do a Google search on compulsive skin picking, print out a page about it, and let him read it. This will help him understand that this is, in fact, a real health problem that cannot normally be fought with only willpower. Make an appointment with a therapist to receive the proper help.

Good luck!
fcarea

[mary ann]

I know just how you feel I to cried when I reciently found this and realized I'm not the only one, I wouldnt wish this one anyone, no one nice anyway I think I might wish it on all the people who ever made fun of me including my own family. My step father used to pick up his dinner plate off the table and go eat in the other room because he said he couldnt eat and look at my face it made him sick. But we hated each other any way
I am reciently married now and have a great husband who knows and is trying to help me quit I'm doing better not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but better. it helps me be good during the day because I know hes gonna look at my face when I pick him up from work and say well howed we do today. hes the first person who ever even tried to help me my x was cruel but I stayed in a 15 year abusive marriage bcause he convinced me I was wierd ugly and no one else would want me. HE WAS WRONG, so with the help of my husband, my doctor and knowing im not alone has be hopeful for the first time in my life of ever getting out from this hell we put our selves through.God-bless and good luck to us all