I Can't Do This Anymore!

[AMME]

Hey im Emma and im 14 ive been picking/squeezing my face for like 2 years now and haven't been able to stop. ive been on here before and got some tips but it only lasted about a week. The problem with me is that i have only small pimples and blackheads on my forehead that really annoy me cos i just want it to be smooth cos the rest of my face is fine. Every morning i look at my face in the mirror and cry cos its so destroyed. its holidays now and i havent gone out of the house cos of my face i hide behind makeup. I don't want to do that anymore. I use face washes and everything but nothing seems to help. im so depressed what do i do??

[Me2]

Oh Honey!

You sound so frustrated. I wish that I could send you a big comfort hug and a shiny box to put all your troubles in. I started doing this at 11 or 12 also. It was very confusing to me because I couldn't understand why I did it. I felt better while picking, but I felt so much regret and shame afterwards. We all want to be smooth here; that's everyone's problem as far as I can tell. The truth is, no face wash will make you stop picking. It sounds like your pimples aren't the real problem. Many of us have confided our habit to our doctors. When you can't stop doing something, you need to get help. Getting some help is a step towards recovering. Some people are afraid of the stigma attached to psychological problems and mental illness. The more you don't get help for the root of the problem (picking), the more of your time this problem will steal from you.

I can tell that you are a brave girl. Today I heard an Oprah guest say that she changed her life by doing everything she could every day to change her life. There are things that you can do.

As far as face washes...Use gentle stuff and light, non-comedogenic moisturizer. Drink lots of water, get fresh air, try not to wear concealer and cover-up as often as possible (even if its just a few hours in the evening) and try to keep busy-but not stressed. Do something you like, always have a book on the go or get addicted to going for walks. I don't know about you, but I can't walk and pick at the same time...

We are all here for you Amme. Stay in touch with us, and post when you feel the urge to pick.

Fay

[anonymousartist]

Sorry to hear you're so frustrated. We all are. But you're young, I think maybe you have a better shot because it's not quite as deeply rooted. Unfortunately it's also normal at your age (or any age for some people) to break out in that area. Sometimes no matter what we do changing hormones get the best of us (that's why some people break out just when PMSing or when they go on birth control while others clear up). If you look around I'm sure you'll find most girls around you have break-outs too. Blackheads are also something everyone has, they are just so minute no one notices, and believe me, no one is judging you for them or looking at them the way you look at them (except maybe another picker). I think skin blemishes are something almost all of us forgive immediately when we see them on other people even though we hate them intensely on ourselves.

Me2 gave some great advice. When you want to wear make-up try a foundation and powder with 5% salicylic acid in them and they may help to keep your acne down.

And keep posting with us! Tips are great but sharing helps even more.