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Post by rabbitmoon on Oct 7, 2003 21:10:43 GMT -5
hi! i was waiting for someone else to start this post but it wasnt happening so i thought i'd take the initiative. (sudden fear of having the day wrong again! agh!) i had a perfectly good day again- no picking- even took down my mirror- covers. thats kinda risky but i really think i can handle it. i am really stunned at how fast my complexion has been clearing so i mostly just stare at myself like an idiot. (!) well i hope all of you continue to do well also. cant wait to hear from you! love, rabbitmoon.
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Post by Heather on Oct 8, 2003 0:18:19 GMT -5
Good call, Rabbitmoon.
Bah, I said I was going to stop posting daily for a while so I could concentrate on my school work. What a dumb idea. The school work will get done. Kicking the pick HAS to be my number one priority.
I am thrilled to hear that day 5 was a success for you, Rabbitmoon. Seriously, you rule. I had a very minor slip up today (second one since I started ZT.) But I'm not going to give up. No way. I have another shrink appointment tomorrow. I'm actually looking forward to it. Man, this is hard for me! I'm going to get better. There just isn't any other option.
Good luck, girls. Please continue to post your progress! It's a lot easier to garner strength when we know we're all in this together.
Love,
Heather
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Post by Canuck on Oct 8, 2003 6:57:20 GMT -5
Alrightie, guys. Here's a little update.
I'm doing...okay. Actually, when I step away from my perfectionist side, I'm doing quite great. But, every day, I seem to have one stupid slip up. And that's driving me insane.
Unfortunately, I've been quite occupied with writing a horrid paper for the worst class ever, and it hasn't given me the opportunity to put my all into ZT. But, as my picking is nearly non-existant (just that daily slip, really) and I'm not being forced to obesess over not picking (because I'm busy obsessing over my paper), maybe it's a good sign. It sure would be nice to eventually be able to not pick and not have to think about not picking all of the time, too.
I've said it quite a few times before, but I will say it again -- if you guys are looking for a little bit of support, just knowing that you're not alone, my online journal is filled with my ramblings (more detailed than I post on here) about my experience with ZT. When I write it, I feel like I'm sort of addressing it to you all, so I invite you all to read. (The link is in my signature).
The next two days will be busy, which I consider a blessing. The less pick time = the better.
I hope you all are pleased with how ZT is going for you. I can't tell you all how excited and proud I am that we're all even trying this. Kudos to ALL of us. Kudos to being brave.
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Post by CuseFan on Oct 8, 2003 7:34:32 GMT -5
Hey Canuck! Thanks girl! Your online journal was great. I think reading that will help me alot.
My day was ok yesterday. The one scab on my back seems to be unavoidable. I picked and pulled at it after my shower.
I also decided to start pilates this morning. I bought a new workout outfit to inspire me, a small strap tanktop. Hoping I could wear it in public this summer, that my back will be all healed and beautiful.
One day at a time....
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Judeko
New Member
I'll get you, you wascally whitehead!
Posts: 6
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Post by Judeko on Oct 8, 2003 9:32:21 GMT -5
Well, I didn't have such a good day yesterday. I had a mini-pickfest on my upperarm and shoulder. For some reason a lot of little bumps have appeared there and I'm having trouble staying away from them. I've really just got to not touch at all. My hands go over an over my "bumps" and I tell myself that I'm not goint to pick at them, but then I'm just making the bumps worse by touching them and then of course I end up picking at them as they get worse. I'm going to follow Penny's lead and go cut off my nails today. I know that will help a little, it's just a vanity thing having nails anyway.
I also am going to go out and buy some silly puddy as suggested and place in in my hot spots...the computer and the car. Of course, keeping the silly puddy away from my 6 year old and 2 year old is going to be loads of fun (ever tried getting that stuff out of carpet). Hang tough, ladies.
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Post by basementchick on Oct 8, 2003 10:40:03 GMT -5
judeko,
i've also got those bumps on my upper arms. try scrubbing the area gently in little circles in the shower using bath gloves or a loofah. this got rid of the bumps for me almost instantly...no bumps, no temptation to pick!
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Post by CuseFan on Oct 8, 2003 11:37:58 GMT -5
judeko,
you can also use an exfoliant, something sort of "harsh". I use one that is made for smoothing out feet that has lots of "scrubbers" in it. I rub it round on my upper arms and my thighs, and the bumbs seem to smooth out...
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Post by rabbitmoon on Oct 8, 2003 12:47:19 GMT -5
the best exfoliant i have found is St. Ives medicated apricot scrub. the plain apricot is good to- i would use that if you have more sensitive skin. but the medicated is just stronger and tingly-er. i highly reccomend it for getting rid of bumps.
last night after taking down my mirror-covers, i had my typical round of searching every inch of my skin for imperfections. turns out i have some (of course) new, barely-perceptible bumbs just here and there in various places. not too many, but boy they drove me wild because i knew i couldnt touch them. i dont think im going to allow myself mirror-studies anymore. it REALLY makes things more difficult.
i think the next step for me is to focus on my diet and my routine so that i dont even get those bumps to begin with. i heard that citrus fruits are especially good for any skin trouble. im also starting to drink lots of water.
im so glad you all are still hanging in! dont beat yourself up for slipping a little. this is really really hard and everyone is doing awesome. when ever you mess up, take action immediately towards something you think might prevent it the next time.
good luck with the silly puddy, judeko!
thank you all so much for being supportive and being honest and being there.
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Post by Masha on Oct 8, 2003 14:53:17 GMT -5
It's good to read that everyone is doing so well. I also had just one little pick 6 spots on my body because I was very tired - that's a real danger for me getting undressed to go to bed when I am tired. But we can't let these little picks get us down or discouraged. It's the desire to have perfection (even perfection in ZT!) that is setting us up for failure. There is no perfection in this world - fullstop.
So it's great that our picks are little, they are in no way defeats, they are little victories. Remember the times when every little pick turned into pick-marathon. The fact that they are LITTLE or short is tremendous achievement. I want to make it through two weeks - haven't experienced that for 12 years! I want to feel the freedom.
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Post by Stef (Incubabe) on Oct 8, 2003 19:58:59 GMT -5
Eh I picked a little...very little though. I cant even tell where I picked. Not night though; I wont. Im going to shower early so I wont hang around in there picking like usual. My face is completely healed! I have one scar and thats it!! Im soo thrilled! Its great. My arms are looking decent too! Woohoo!
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Post by e on Oct 8, 2003 20:02:22 GMT -5
amen, masha! today (wed) is only my day 4 since i started after you all. i was doing really good until today, and then i couldn't resist a tiny amount of picking in the shower. but just like masha said, it was just a little pick so it's like an achievement not a failure.
has anyone else noticed how much of a relief it is not to pick at all? i feel like i have so much more time and energy to do other stuff. and the best part is not feeling like i have to hide from anyone!
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Post by vampiress on Oct 8, 2003 20:23:01 GMT -5
Hey guys! I, too, am doing very well. I had two kind of bad picking sessions on the 1st (!) and 3rd days, but the last two in particular have been dream-like (in a good way!!). I want to echo the sentiments of others that there is no "cure." That we may have these urges to pick indefinately. That we should work on loosening the noose of our perfectionism. If we see picking in terms of "all or nothing," then we may sabotage ourselves and begin fully picking again after only one little pick. I hate having to keep a constant vigilance over the POTENTIAL for picking sessions, but that's the way it's got to be. It's still better than the picking. I keep a very detailed log about my picking urges: circumstances and emotions and stresses and triggers. If I didn't do that, I don't think that I would have gotten through the little picking that I have continued with lately. It's a trick of CBT. Sometimes I won't even know I was thinking or feeling something until I wrote it down. It also helps to keep repeating to yourself positive affirmations like, "I am beautiful," "I never pick my skin," etc. Paste these notes on your mirrors and read them every time you are tempted to pick. It may sound cheesy the first several times you try it, but it really works. You are reprograming your subconscious through your conscious mind. Try it; I dare you, for a week, or as long as you like. I find it also helps to take the goal of not picking, and write down ALL the things I can do to help me stop the picking. Pick something off the list and DO IT, at least one each day. Also, for positive visualization, practice picturing yourself NOT picking. Actually FEEL what that would be like: liking your appearance in the mirror, enjoying being with friends, not feeling embarassed after picking, not bothering with or worrying about makeup, going swimming, keeping the "lights on," treating yourself well, not having picking be the first and last thought of the day, etc. I hadn't meant to go into this detail about what's been working for me, but if we take away the picking we must replace it with healthier habits. Thanks to everyone for "listening!!" Lots of luck and keep posting. --Vamp
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