One day at a time. Feel free to join in!

im in ! i have not picked in 10 days and intend to keep it up.

Okay, so it's Day 1. I need to set some boundaries and goals. Yours probably look different than mine and I think we all just have to find what works for us. I'm sure I'll be tweaking my plan of action often until I find a good balance. Goals / Boundaries -start my day with prayer and reading something encouraging. -I'm allowing myself to pick at two spots on my skin each morning. (30 seconds at the most) Not sure how successful this will be. I just know that in the past when I try to quit picking completely cold turkey, I go crazy after a few days when new blemishes come up and I can't do anything. Then I give up all together. So I'll see how this goes. I'm hoping I'll be able to pick at only two zits that are bothering me and then have enough self control to stop at that. That's the hardest part! Does anyone have any advice on an exfoliating face wash that really works to clear blackheads? -After that, I'm going to try to put on some makeup, just foundation, on my face simply because I tend to not pick when I've already put my makeup on. The problem with this is that I'm a stay at home mom and I don't necessarily NEED to get ready and leave the house everyday. Staying at home all day is really making this skin picking habit so much worse because I'm constantly faced with what I call "the battle at the mirror" because I'm always home and constantly tempted to pick. (I swear all my posts won't be this long : ) ) -I'm also removing all mirrors except for the one in my bathroom of course, a girl's gotta at least do a quick check in the mirror before leaving the house lol! I'm just removing the bright lighting in the bathroom. I plan on plucking my eyebrows in my car mirror, right before I leave, where it's really difficult to pick at my face but bright enough to see my eyebrows clearly. Any guys reading this are probably laughing right now. Any advice or tips on avoiding the temptation to pick at home would be helpful! Okay, so Day 1 is half over and feeling hopeful that I can do this if I stay focused!

Day 1 went well. I expected it to....it is the days that follow that will be tough. Just picked at one spot on my arm and that was it. Staying busy and away from mirrors!

so i broke down and picked last night........ it was really dissapointing and i cried a lot. 10 days is a long way to go and i messed it up. but today is a new day, and i believe that when something like this has got you down, you can't dwell on it. you've gotta move on and do all you can to stay optimistic. i guess this would be day one for me, and im going cold turkey. if i pick at one spot on an arm or leg in a few days, i will let myself off with a warning. but any picking in the mirror and it's back to day one for me. im trimming my nails as short as i possibly can before i go get in the shower. wish me luck !

my day one went very well. i had a good day, didn't feel as ugly as usual, and not a single spot picked ! no facial itchiness or pain but i am having really annoying looking breakouts on my chin and forehead ): i hope i can deal with it. my boyfriend has 3 days off of work after today so hopefully that means he will be keeping me distracted from my face. i have been trying to think about my positive attributes, rather than my scabby face that disgusts me so much, haha. i think staying positive is a really key thing to beating this compulsion. when i can laugh and smile through it, it feels like i heal twice as fast.

Day 2. I did pretty well, stuck to my routine in the morning. Limited myself to picking at two spots in the morning although about twice through the day my hand wandered to my face or back and I scratched off something before I even had a chance to think about it. My hands just habitually scan my skin for anything, it's like I have alien hand syndrome. To be honest I feel like a freak when I talk about my picking in this kind of detail. It seems like such a random thing to have as a compulsion. Maybe it would be easier for me to face up to it if I was addicted to eating or not eating or cutting or something. Yet the truth is that it IS a big problem in my life and it holds me hostage, my secret that almost no one knows I struggle with. I want to be transparent and real and, well, this is me. Yesterday I was reading and came across the scripture talking about God giving "beauty for ashes." He seems to be in the business of creating beautiful things out of brokenness. No one is too far lost or broken. I believe my OCD is the ugliest and most shameful thing about me, although I'm sure He doesn't see it that way. I pray that he would create beauty from my ashes.

Day 3, it's getting harder to not pick. When I've tried to quit in the past, it's usually around this time or in a few days that I start to go crazy. I start feeling like my skin is screaming at me for a picking session where I literally pick at every single pore. So I need to find a good cleanser and exfoliating wash ASAP. I have to keep my hands away from my face, arms and back because every little bump makes me want to pick all the more. If I can get through in the next few days, I'll be making some pretty big strides. Anyone been to a dermatologist that suggested a certain acne treatment for blackheads? If I had the money, I'd go to a spa and have extractions done every other week. Just too expensive for me.

day 2. success ! im excited because usually, when i have made it so long with no picking(10 days), when i finally do break down and pick its daily, or every other daily for a while. i have only picked 1 day out of 13 which makes me so proud (: i know i am closer to healing than i have been in a very long time. i really really hope i can keep this up. posting my progress on here is helpful, because if i dont pick i can brag about it, haha.

In case anyone is interested....I researched a bit and found a few skin care treatments that are for breakouts and blackheads. They are pH balanced and so they're not too harsh and won't make your skin produce even more oil. The first one is Neutrogena - oil-free acne stress control hydrating acne treatment. Affordable (around $6)! The second one is Paula's Choice - 1%-2% beta hydroxy acid gel. I just ordered the last one online (2%) because of the great reviews. On the website, there's a sale section and they're actually selling it (in the old stye bottle) for half price. And I have a coupon code that you can apply BDAY245765 for an additional 10% off. So I bought two bottles and somehow qualified for free shipping. Total was $17.06, not too shabby!