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emotionally recked , 18 Mar 2014

help a face picker

hello i have the a face picking problem i've picked at my face for 3yrs now and its devastating what i've done i have indented scars on my face that i tried relentlessly to get rid of but it does no good because i just pick and pick and pick for hours i've done alot to my face i used to be an actually pretty girl and i've ruined my face because of this my poor husband sometimes my face will be clear and then i feel like its not good enough and destry it again i just picked yesturday and today for about 3 hrs each day its ridiculous i need help everyone tells me just to stop but its not that easy ive even rubbed sand paper on my face to get rid of things embarring yes but i'm being honest here i'm destroyed because of this and i don't even know how it started it consumes my life i'm just ruined and i cry all the time about what i do to my face and turn around and do it all over again i need help with the picking scarring and redness and self conciousness i'm just a mess please anyone help me i've destroyed my life with my 5 kids yes 5 i dont even go to thier plays at scholl or even take them to the park because of this i've ruined my whole life i'm sorry to rant but i sure did pick my face good this time and am just a mess
20 Answers
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fedUPwithPicking
March 20, 2014
Hey i just joined n can relate 100 percent. Ive picked forever but it got bad these past 2 to3 yrs. I try so hard not to but then my fingers start moving n i start scratching n when i feel even the smallest imperfection i immediately start ripping the hell out of myself. I did very good for 2weeks n then yesterday i was complimented on how good my skin looked. I was soo happy n proud of myself, felt like i was on top of the world. Then within a few hrs a small little thing with the ex got me upset n i spent the whole night n this morn in the bathroom. My legs,arms,chest, torn up bad, but my face is one huge bleeding scab. My bf is mad at me for doing it n im pissed i got carried away n couldnt stop til i was late for my sons appt. Im sick of the embarrassment n the pain n being whispered about everywhere i go. I have to wear long sleeves all yr round to try n deter myself but it only works for so long. I am just completely discusted with myself
emotionally recked
March 21, 2014
i know my sister yells at me all the time about it and like you when my face is good i feel its not and ruin it! i always seem to do it when i have something to do or somewhere to go cause i feel like people are going to see imperfections and i always make a thousand imperfections instead of just a couple. it seriously cosumes my life. i think of a million ways to stop and that lasts for about three days and i do it all over again. people say just stop do something else but they don't undersatnd how it is. sometimes i won't even realize what i'm doing until its done. then i put so many products on it that it drys it out even more and looks ten times worse. its truly embarrassing, and to know i'm doing it to myself is what hurts the most cuz i just can't stop. maybe we can help eachother i'm glad your here but sorry at the same time if you ever need to vent unjudged i'm here:)
jojo
March 24, 2014
im reading this post and all im thinking is, this sounds like mw to a T!!! im picking while im typing now, I hate this feeling, I feel weak, have you tried any therapy? im not in to talking about my childhood to anyone because no matter how someone trys to put themslfs in your shoes...they will never know how it really felt. 8-s
emotionally recked
March 24, 2014
no never tried it to embarrest to go maybe i should think about it though but i noticed when i get anxious or worried i do it more and just thinking about going is making me anxious and worried so would it be bad to go ? confusing but i'm just a mess anyways i wish i just had my perfect skin back :(
jojo
March 25, 2014
I know what you mean, the more I think about getting therapy the more unsettled I feel which ends up like me right now....... im in agony. my kids couldn't give me a hug when they went to bed because im that sore. My partner works away doing 3 weeks on 3 weeks off and when hes home I always make sure I pick whatever it is ive felt somewhere on my body whether hes here or not but I never go to the length's I go to when he's home because he will shout me to ask what im doin so I stop picking but that just makes me angry and I tell him to mind his business its my body. I have just made myself in to a mess because I got my BF to phone my boss and tell them ive got a few problems and will be off work for a while, I never stay off work because I think it helps my depression but at the minute I can barely walk with the pain and my face is un recognizable. I know theres no make up out there that will cover my hideous attack on my face. Im going to bed now cause ive decided im far to sore to pick anymore tonihjt and I know ive got infection probably setting in... but I will catch up with you in the morning if that's ok. 8-[
emotionally recked
March 25, 2014
yes thats fine i need someone to talk to who understands cause no one does, i picked today and made a mess of my face so maybe i should go to bed to before i start again, yes, bed good idea:)
jojo
March 25, 2014
Hey!! Hows your day started off? Im even more sore today then yesterday but ive managed to pick the scabs off, actually picking now while im writing this. Last night was a very emotional night for me and I was in a very dark place , I told my partner on the phone in a lot more detail about what Ive done so far and sobbed and sobbed but this morning, I feel very stupid and embarrassed that I poured out to much info and I feel ashamed. when he phoned me this morning I felt like I had to play it down a bit and say things like.. oh I was just havin a bad day and was shattered that's why I was in a state on the phone last night. I feel like my family are getting to the point of getting fed up of me because in there eyes they think ... well if its that bad stop picking then or stop moaning when you've gone to far and cant bare the pain. I understand how they feel cause if it was the other way round I would lose sympathy quite quickly because you cant know what it feels like when someone says stop picking and you feel like gripping them and screaming. I BLOODY WOULD IF I COULD!!!!! I hope you are having a good day x
emotionally recked
March 25, 2014
not pretty good last night when i went to "bed" yah no i went to the mirror and picked at my face for hours ridiculous. i also regret talking to my husband sometimes about it to in some wierd way you think it might help but then you feel even worse. somedays i can't even courage up a smile because of how i feel inside. like sometimes we'll go to the store or something and i'll think i look nice and then i see my reflection in windows or mirrors at the store and my selfesteem just plummits and i'm a mess the rest of the day i miss the worry free days and nihghts of not worring about this condition or disease whatever you wanna call the evil thing. well i hope your feeling alittle better now sorry to vent but just had to! lol so one day we'll hopefully get through this hopefully we won't pick tonight here goes wishful thinking!
jojo
March 25, 2014
its amazing how similar we think, I thought it would be a weight off my mind telling my fella exactly what im doing to myself but ive managed to tell him almost everything but hide the hair problem because if we argued and he ever through it in my face I don't think I could ever forgive him. He is coming home from work on Thursday night and im a wreck thinking about him seeing me. This time it feels different I have never felt pain like this and still I know I will pick again tonight. I feel so stupid and guilty that my kids have to see there mum like this. Worst nightmare, hope u feel strong enough not to pick tonight x
emotionally recked
March 25, 2014
yah i hope i don't i feel the same way when he comes home and like i won't pick all morning but like an hour or so before he comes i scan my face see problems and mess it all up its so ridiculous but true. maybe its a good thing that were feeling so guilty now but were still doin it somethings gotta give eventually like when my son sees me now i swear he scans my face to see all the things i've done for the day i feel so embarrest i just look down at the floor i actually always look at the floor even when a stranger looks at me i'm so sick of the DANG FLOOR atleast i don't ever step in gum or anything :) if you don't mind me askin do you pick primarily your face or do you pick other places to i a face picker completely overwhelmingly addicted to face picking stupid addicting disease! how old are you and where ya from i'm 29 and from indiana, usa you don't have to answer i was jus curious but this overwhelming feeling comes over me when i pick almost like satisfied or complete then i see what i've done and it turns into guilt and horror, i feel so glad to have found someone who sounds just like me i thought a was a freakin looney toon and alone i feel better when i talk to you cuz you understand noone else does its just nice to know i'm not alone
jojo
March 26, 2014
Im 32 and I live in Liverpool, England. No.. picking my face 8snt enough for me I pick mainly my face but I pick my chest, stomach, thighs and use to pick my bum cheeks but for some reason ive left them alone for a few month and im made up about that. Have you had a good childhood and life or a crap one? Not sure if its linked but reading up on this it seems like it could be related. Have you ever tried medication?
emotionally recked
March 26, 2014
cool my grandmother came to america from england my granpa brought her back from the war small world lol i had a crap childhood my ma and dad were drunk most of the time but there were good times to though never tried medication don't like to take any and i don't want to become dependent on a pill i want to do it on my own god willing its just amazing how much we are alike so you probably have fair skin like me and see every red mark from a mile away it sucks hope your having a good day:)
jojo
May 01, 2014
Hi, just thought I would check in and see how your doing? I've been to hell and back since we last spoke but I'm feeling much better now. I took 5 weeks off work to let my face and body heal because I was in agony and my face swelled up twice the size and was infected. I had to get some help. I went back the doctors and and she put me on tablets for compulsive disorders and I think it's helping but I'm also not getting the chance to pick like before because I've got my bf watching my every move and if it's not him it's my kids,grandmother,friends all stalking me so I don't get the chance to be on my own. It's a bloody nightmare don't get me wrong but I can't believe the difference in my face and body because of them. I have some horrendous new scars that I'm really devastated about but I'm hoping they may fade a bit. How are you anyway xxxx
gabrielle689
March 21, 2014
Emotionally Recked, Your okay to be upset. Don't get depressed because that just aggravates the situation. You need to see a dermatologist about this if you want to get better. You shouldn't be afraid to take your kids to school or to the park. It's okay. No matter what you look like it doesn't matter. Try to stop picking, I know, I know it's very hard I have a slight problem in this area myself. But what you can do is trim your nails so there's no white (harder to scrape with no nails), and relieve the subject from your mind. If you scratch your acne there's treatments for that! The good one's are a bit pricy. But don't be discouraged by the price. Go to google and look up acne scar treatments, a wide variety of things should pop up. Moisturize. Try to find a face moisturizer that's right for you. Some may break out your skin, but it's all a process. Moisturizing your skin should make a difference. Try your best, try to stop picking! It's okay, your family is there for you. Look up on google ways to make your face smoother, or ways to stop picking. Google is a wonderful thing. You can do it!
emotionally recked
March 24, 2014
thanks for the encouragement i need it yes it is hard but i don't have acne i just pick at my face all the time i'll see like blackheads and stuff and then i just see things that truly aren't there but i will definately try your techniques thanks so much i need all the encouragement i can get
jojo
March 24, 2014
Hi, I am a complete mess, top to bottom. im constantly in pain because I pick everywhere I can reach. I am so embarrassed about how I look but its not enough to stop me doing it, the more I destroy my skin the more I pick. Im losing hours every day standing in front of the mirror until my arms and hands are killing me from picking that hard. although I dig as deep as possible until the hole is huge and there is blood everywhere, I don't feel any pain really until ive stopped. I am getting to the point where I am thinking I am crazy and even ending it because I feel weak as a person and my daughter has also started picking now. I have been on anti depressants since the age of 15 due to a crap childhood and my doctor has literally washed her hands off me because there is nothing else she can do for me now. I am a disgrace and will do anything to avoid everyone I know but I do work and when I have to go, I pile the make up on which makes it look worse most of the time. Im lost!!!! 8-(
emotionally recked
March 24, 2014
hi i feel the same way you do i just picked again! dammit i'm so mad at myself i was doing okay for two days, i feel for you and when you say end it i hope you don't mean your life or anything because you are to precious to do that, i'll be here for you and hey i have the same problem so your not alone! i pile on makeup too and yes it brings out all the stuff you did more but makes you feel alittle better cuz it hides the red and as for your daughter i'm sorry i would just have a real talk with her about the damage she can cause. if you ever need to vent like i said i'm here. we can help eachother i was so scared to post on here but now i know im not alone in this and sadly to say it makes me feel better i can't give advice on how to stop because i'm not there yet but maybe we can try to stop or figure something out to stop i'm here i try to check everyday but have 5 kids its hard but i will try to be on atlest once a day so anytime you need to talk just vent here we can all help eachother cuz god knows i need a friend don't have any cuz i hide in my house but its nice to talk to someone who understands
brey31
March 27, 2014
you obviously need to inject steriods because of all the inflammation there is in your body, the less inflammation in your body the less it will itch, after you inject then you need to get on a diet, there is a guy that I met in youtube that healed himself from this, check his site and send him a message, his website is www.thetruthabouteczema.com, you need to get on a diet consuming zero sugar, dairy, grains, spice, yeast etc, and cut your nails really short to reduce the damage to your skin, beside that you need to for a month do the Habit Reversal Training don't wait till your skin is very damage to practice this new habit do it when the inflammation in your skin is low because its more tolerable, while doing the HRT repeat a list of affirmations that may cause an emotional shift concerning your skin and desire to scratch or skinpick, once you feel you don't desire anymore to skinpick despite the discomfort which may last for a few minutes, in due time you will notice a change in your brain's chemistry and structure this is call neuroplasticity, investigate this, hope I helped:)
brey31
March 27, 2014
Don't put your trust in one doctor, most convencional doctors are incompetent, and have no knowledge of psychology and nutrition, seek another doctor, best doctors come from south america, china, india, and africa, doctors that have experience treating this with natural medicine
emotionally recked
August 30, 2017

hey its me just checking in. wondering if jojo is still on here and how you've been its been years do you still pick is it still bad is it better I still pick:( unfortunately 3 yrs later not as extreme but I had an episode today. hopefully you still check this. please get back if you do

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