Post by Iceman on Oct 30, 2004 7:46:01 GMT -5
I've done quite a bit of research on CSP and found out that most all the experts agree, the best way to conquer any of the obsessive/compulsive disorders is combination therapy. This means combining medication with therapy and giving your problem the 1-2 punch.
Of all the medication out there, the best SSRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor for battling CSP is Lexapro. It's the newest of the SSRI's and the most refined. I was taking Celexa but my psych recommended moving over to Lexapro as it has even less side-effects and a smaller required doseage. Also in my research i have discovered Lexapro has been proven to be the best for curbing the desire to pick. I've been on it for some time now and have not experienced any negative side effects. The main thing i think these SSRI's do is relieve anxiety and give you more of a relaxed, laid back feel so you are not so intense and your obsessions and compulsions calm down. Being that my skin picking was severe, i have not kicked the habit but have reduced the overall picking and can go longer periods of time w/o picking. Those with less severe picking may find Celexa gives them the boost they need to completely stop.
If you can't afford meds or don't want to take meds, then therapy is the way to go... in fact therapy is recommended as the one thing you should do even if you are taking meds. It's called cognitive behavioral therapy and its all about retraining your brain and learning positive coping techniques to replace the negative ones such as skin picking. This i have not tried, though i know i should. It requires some tough mental relearning and fighting head on against the urges but i believe that is precisely what needs to be done if one wishes to beat picking completely. A therapist is generally used for CBT, but there are self-help books which can teach you many techniques to try on your own. I highly recommend THE HABIT CHANGE WORKBOOK which is featured on a great skin picking links & books website which i will add link at end of post.
So that's the scoop, from what i've read and researched on the web, combination therapy is the way to go. Hope this is of some help to those wondering what the heck to do next. Check out my other rambling post from today for some advice about getting help.
Iceman
P.S. Here's the link www.self-injury-abuse-trauma-directory.info/Completed%20Files/Skin-picking-Links_&_Books.htm
Of all the medication out there, the best SSRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor for battling CSP is Lexapro. It's the newest of the SSRI's and the most refined. I was taking Celexa but my psych recommended moving over to Lexapro as it has even less side-effects and a smaller required doseage. Also in my research i have discovered Lexapro has been proven to be the best for curbing the desire to pick. I've been on it for some time now and have not experienced any negative side effects. The main thing i think these SSRI's do is relieve anxiety and give you more of a relaxed, laid back feel so you are not so intense and your obsessions and compulsions calm down. Being that my skin picking was severe, i have not kicked the habit but have reduced the overall picking and can go longer periods of time w/o picking. Those with less severe picking may find Celexa gives them the boost they need to completely stop.
If you can't afford meds or don't want to take meds, then therapy is the way to go... in fact therapy is recommended as the one thing you should do even if you are taking meds. It's called cognitive behavioral therapy and its all about retraining your brain and learning positive coping techniques to replace the negative ones such as skin picking. This i have not tried, though i know i should. It requires some tough mental relearning and fighting head on against the urges but i believe that is precisely what needs to be done if one wishes to beat picking completely. A therapist is generally used for CBT, but there are self-help books which can teach you many techniques to try on your own. I highly recommend THE HABIT CHANGE WORKBOOK which is featured on a great skin picking links & books website which i will add link at end of post.
So that's the scoop, from what i've read and researched on the web, combination therapy is the way to go. Hope this is of some help to those wondering what the heck to do next. Check out my other rambling post from today for some advice about getting help.
Iceman
P.S. Here's the link www.self-injury-abuse-trauma-directory.info/Completed%20Files/Skin-picking-Links_&_Books.htm