No more picking journal

Thanks for the support, I'll definitely try using lotion.

I would definitely say a week would be a great goal! After that, change your goal to a month with no picking! Woohooo, you are doing awesome! :) The 3rd day for me was not as successful as yours! I got a small whitehead, but I pricked it with a needle and just barely pushed (not squeezed) the pimple. It drained and I immediately put some medicine on it. I hate to say it, but I was actually a little proud of myself for that. I would normally dig it out until it was completely flat and raw. Instead, I left the raised bump alone with the medicine and VOILA! The bump subsided and now the skin looks almost normal! It is finally starting to register that you don't need to dig it out until it's flat and instead the swelling will reduce on it's own. I got tested today, and I think I passed (barely)! So, I can't say I didn't pick, but I still resisted. You should start rewarding yourself. I keep telling myself that if I can stop picking, then I can go get a dress I have been wanting! :)

Go ahead, it's a public forum, we are here to tell our stories and listen to others. I feel like it's cheap therapy! :)

Sorry I have been MIA, I went out of town this weekend (I know, it's dreadful going out of town with friends when you have this!) But, don't only count the days that you do not pick at all. To be quite honest, at this stage in the game, since we are both on our first week, I have just been working on telling myself "no". I will pick a little, especially if there is a white head, but I will not allow myself to sit there and dig the entire thing raw. You are NOT on Day 1 again, so don't even try saying that. If you stopped yourself and walked away, then count the day and move on! I popped a white head on my cheek, but normally I would dig and dig until I thought that I got it all out. I am so afraid of waking up in the morning to a HUGE pimple that I try and dig every last bit of puss out. Instead, I wake up with a huge scab! So, this time, I only popped it and put Salicylic Cream on it and walked away. I woke up and there was another white head there. I popped it, then put a little makeup on it. Tonight when I washed my face, it was flat and healing. SO, just because there is a whitehead and it comes back, don't dig and dig, instead, just keep slowly draining it, even if it takes 2-3 times. THIS IS MY LESSON TODAY. Keep your head up, this is not day 1.

I can't even go one day without picking my face. I can't go a single minute without picking my fingers. You're doing great.

I know how you feel, I just got back from a weekend with friends and at the end of the night, I told them I was taking a bath. I filled the bath with water, washed up and got out ASAP. I spent the rest of my "bath time" reapplying my concealer over all of my old scabs, just so I could face them again. This is the only time I sleep in makeup because I cannot face them at all, even in the dark with these on. So, you are already braver than me! I ended up on this site, after last week when I mixed several acne medications on my face until I was left with a gash the size of a quarter on my cheek along with the entire left side of my face completely swollen. It was so bad that I was put on steriod cream and was given injections at the Dr. I had to walk into work looking like this and told my boss I had an "allergic reaction" to Mederma because I cannot face my acne. After that lie, I had to tell the truth to my Dr. who just could not believe it. After Googling hundreds of things, I found this outlet. Stay up on here, it has really helped me. I read just about every post because it makes me feel less alone. I have opened up about it now with my mom and sister, who ACTUALLY HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I almost died when she said that. You will have a couple rough days, but hold yourself accountable on here and confess everything. I always think about @Iwillpickneveragain when I get in front of the mirror and how bad I will feel cheering him on, but then going and reeking havoc on my face. I haven't dug into my skin in 5 days now. I have picked, but only to gently pop a whitehead with a small needle and drain it with tissue. Things I think "normal people" do. I have left my scabs alone too. One thing that I suggest doing is when you run your hands over a scab and you feel how dry it is and you just want to rip it off...put a dab of lotion on it. It softens the scab and it makes it a lot less appetizing to me. It may work for you too! Stay up on here! We need each other. Since I got on here and my picking has gone down, my skin has started to heal. It is no where near perfect, but WAY better. In 10 days, we can have you looking better, just come on here instead of picking. When you get the urge, read about others on here. It helps, I promise!

Just kidding. Sigh. So just now I picked a little, mostly around old scabs. But still, I hate that I am so weak. Fortunately, I managed to leave before I got totally sucked in, so I'm not too mangled, but I'm still pissed at myself.