Days v. Hours

[Canuck]

I've been shockingly good about my picking the last two weeks or so, and though I don't really have any idea why (or hints for ya'll -- I'm sorry!) I have been thinking a lot lately about the way we set our goals. Are we setting ourselves up to fail?

What I'm getting at, basically, is that a day can be a long-ass time. So why not start out by setting your no-picking goals at hours? This is how I see it:

-I get up in the morning and -- viola! -- I haven't picked for 7 hours.

-15 minutes before I'm to leave for class, I'm about to get in front of the mirror and gouge myself. I remind myself that if I can hold off the 15 minutes, I can keep healing all through my three hours of classes today. I'm in class for 3 hours, plus the hour it's taken me to get ready, added to the 7 hours of sleep = 11 hours.

Seems like a bit more of an accomplishment than not even a half-day, doesn't it?

This probably won't work for everyone, but it seems to be working for me. It's breaking the habit of putting my face in front of the mirror every half-hour, without the pressure of being away from the mirror for an entire day.

[e]

hi canuck! i like the new figures you've added to your posts.

i totally agree with your note. many of us set our sights way too high. me, i've been content lately with not picking my chest or my forehead. i'd like to stop scratching at my back next, but i'm not pushing it.

and something hit me the other day that seems like huge progess. i was leaning in toward the mirror intent on getting out all the gunk in my pores, and i thought "wait a minute! i don't feel like picking because i have acne. i feel like picking because i have a DISORDER! holy cow! i have a f-ing D-I-S-O-R-D-E-R!!"

that admission alone makes me realize how important it is not to judge myself too harshly.

xoxo

[touchingpeace]

Hi there,
Thanks for writing about this. I definitely don't take all the numerous hours I'm healing, without trying, into account. Since, it is such a struggle it can appear as if the only real progress being made happens when you barely make it through temptation. I'm beginning to see that that is not true. My skin actually heals quickly. I only notice this when I have some space from picking episodes though. I know my body wants to heal and there is hardly anything I can do to speed that process along. It is happening when I'm sleeping, when I'm at class, and all the moments when I can be caught thinking about (and doing) something other than picking. Thanks again, an hour is no small accomplishment.

[angelkiss]

really good point canuck, i think you're right...also, you gotta remember that even if you do pick after those 11 hours, what's one slip-up after 11 hours of abstaining from picking?? usually to me, it means the end of the world, but really, even a whole hour of picking shouldn't erase the hours we spend holding ourselves back. time to give ourselves credit for our successes!

[Canuck]

I've morphed into thinking this way because, honestly, I am so sick of being mad at myself! I'm not beating myself up because I had one little pick (as you mentioned, Angelkiss) over a 24 hour period -- and, more importantly, I'm not calling the whole day wasted and just picking because, "oh, hell, I've already ruined my no-picking chances for the day!"

I'm still picking, don't get me wrong. But my picking has dropped at least 80 or 85%. And not being a complete scab face has made me incredibly more confident. It was nice, today, to walk home from class the long way because it's also the pretty way -- and not just go the short way because I wanted to be out of public as soon as possible.

I'm definitely not done with making goals for myself. I'm in the process of getting over picking, but there are a lot of other things that I haven't even started getting over. Ah, well. That's life.

[pickles]

Canuck,
That is such a wonderful idea! I have never thought of that! I am definately going to try it because I always go by days. And I have never made it a full day w/o picking. And of course I would always get mad at myself for not even being able to go an entire day w/o picking. Keep your ideas coming!!! ;D


pickles