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rosie , 18 Feb 2010

40 Day Challenge! Count me in!

Hi everyone! I've been on this site for a year or two now, but I always just read the forum and don't contribute much... but, it's time that I finally change. I'm a 23 yr old Canadian and I've been a picker since grade 4. I'm studying to be a psychologist and I therefore have a lot of good info in my head about behaviour change and anxiety, but I've had such problem using the knowledge I'm learning! I've also been to a counsellor for my picking/anxiety probs, but I still never fully implemented what I learned. But I've picked for so long! Mostly my face and chest, sometimes legs/scalp. But I feel everyone's pain, shame, and anxiety. And I LOVE you all!!! I have my own housecleaning business and I'm always in houses alone, and of course that means I'm stuck cleaning bathroom mirrors... and it often goes bad for me. Today I was having a really strong day, I wasn't even paying attention to my skin! And then at the very end of the day I got anxious and picked at my face WAY too long. All alone in someone else's house. Isn't that weird? It's so stupid that I don't even care where I am! Anyhow, today is the end of this for me. This is the one-millionth and one time I'm quitting. And I always tell myself that I've tried everything to quit... and then my mom said that I had tried everything EXCEPT trying really hard. That hit home for me. Also, my counsellor told me that all behaviour changes (cognitive behavioural therapy) involve the ABCs (affect/feelings, behaviour, cognitive/thinking). So how it works for us pickers is that you must FIRST change the behaviours. You might not think you want to, and it might not feel good or right at all. But change the behaviour completely. Then, within days to a few weeks, your thinking (cognition) will change on it's own. You won't think about skin like a crazy person anymore! And then finally your feelings will change, and you'll feel all better about yourself and your new life. He estimated for me that the whole process until your feelings finally change is about 3 months or so after changing a bad behaviour. I hope this helps you all maybe. I'm also going to write some messages of motivation and encouragement on my bathroom mirrors and shower in candlelight. I hate having to wear makeup! I can't wait until tomorrow to start my new life! Good luck to everyone tonight! Please let me know how your 40 day challenge is going!!!
100 Answers
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timeforchange
April 24, 2010
Ok, I have prom in about 40 days and I want to look stunning. So I’m starting today. Not picking is easier when I have incentive. I already picked at my face today though, so I guess today won’t count in my 40 days, but I still won’t pick again today. I want to be able to feel like the prettiest girl at prom. I know the only way that I’ll feel this way is if I have flawless skin. When I started high school I expected to stop picking by the time I reached grade twelve. But this obviously didn’t happen. So let’s pledge to stop before I finish high school. If it becomes too difficult at least before I start university. Remember: anything is possible for you Sara, if you set your heart and mind to it. xox
wildflower
April 24, 2010
it would be lovely for you to have your skin clear in time for your prom. pull it together and make each day count. hopefully, it truly is time for change for you. and every day after the prom too. :)
CattiBre
April 24, 2010
Wow. Reading this almost brought me to tears. I have been picking for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl I would sit for hours picking away at every little scar and scab I could find. I would chew my nails until they bled, and often got infections. 21 years or so later, I still have scars on my legs and arms and back and stomach from picking, and I STILL haven't stopped! It gets worse when I am stressed.. but most of the time I do it out of habit. Without realizing it. Whenever I look in the mirror I see the scars and think how can I fix this. I want beautiful clear skin like my mother and sisters.. I think that I am ready to take on the 40 Day Challenge!
wildflower
April 25, 2010
welcome aboard. it's great that you have good skin in your family as that in itself is inspirational with its indication of results in your future. all the best to you !!
CattiBre
April 25, 2010
I know I JUST posted, but something else came to mind as I was sitting around watching TV. Earlier, I went past the mirror in my bathroom, and looked at myself examined my scars and scabs and wrinkled my nose. I reminded myself that I had to keep to the 40 Day Challenge. Again a few seconds ago I raised my hand to pick something on my ear, and had to remind myself about the challenge.. So far so good! This should be interesting.. Im going to write reminders on my mirror :D
wildflower
April 25, 2010
yes, indeed. being part of a challenge that others are also involved with is a good motivator for sure. even one of your own is good, but this is better. although we must be careful to not let others successes get us down on ourselves, nor must we not let others' setbacks allow us to let up on our determination. about the bathroom, try to keep the lights dimmed so your less likely to do the "inspection". except of course for the morning and night time cleansing routine. a night light is helpful that way. also keeping something in your hands while watching tv or other such idle time prevents exploring hands and so does sitting on your hands !! :) it is amazing how many times we touch our skin, isn't it?
allforyou
April 25, 2010
a warm hello to all you beautiful people =) i am brand new to this forum =) so i will do a brief introduction............ i am currently about to graduate college with a psychology degree. after 7 years of picking my face...morning, noon and night....i am finally taking steps to overcome this terrible addiction. this is my first time posting...and i would just like to say ... WE CAN DO THIS. we should do this. we can beat this. we will beat this. mind over matter. obviously it will be hard. but tomorrow, like many of you have blogged and inspired me to do..... i am going to start this 40 day challenge.. and hopefully, at the end of 40 days ... the monstrous urge that takes over when i head for the nearest mirror to pick every imperfection on my face ... will be dead and gone for LIFE. blessings and all my love to you! we are precious and here for a reason... to live life to the FULLEST ... TO BE FREE.
wildflower
April 25, 2010
welcome !! what a wonderful positive inspiring post! it will be great to have you aboard. i'm 100% with you and everything that you say. here's to success for all of us !!
tia
April 27, 2010
Im joining in the 40 day challenge if thats ok? I didnt do so well today so day 1 for me tomorrow. But this time im more prepared. :) Bring it on. We can beat this!
timeforchange
April 28, 2010
Almost done day three in this forty day challenge and feeling good. My skin is already clearing. It clears pretty fast for how much damage I have caused it. However, I am getting a lot more white heads then I am used to having. I need to get better skin care products and get my prescription cream ASAP. Having less white heads to pick at would make this a lot easier. I’m sure most of them are caused from scaring though, since past acne scars always come back as big white heads for me. I just need to try to stay optimistic about this challenge because three days is really not a lot of time for a destroyed face to heal. It’s just enough time to be extremely proud that I could last this long (especially with the immense amount of stress that I have been under). I’ve been looking at pictures of me when I randomly had flawless skin, and I think I looked so beautiful then. I don’t know how I even got there. It was only a year or two ago and I was picking often at that time. I guess I had moments of stresslessness. I never get those now; I’m always under stress (which makes not picking a lot harder). I’d love to look the way I did in those pictures again. Seeing them gives me hope that I can.
wildflower
April 28, 2010
congratulations !! for not only making it 3 days but for your skin clearing and feeling optimistic. it's great you're seeing healing. the white heads are annoying, yes, but they will leave on their own accord and without leaving a mark !!!! grit your teeth and ignore them as best you can. i promise you, they will go on their own in an annoyingly long time, but they will go. you will notice them more than anyone else. you will also be so proud of yourself for not going at them. trust me, messing with them is worse than leaving them be. see ... home-remedies-for-you.com/blog/how-to-prevent-whiteheads.html .... keep up the vigilance and you "will" see yourself with the complexion you had in those pictures !! <3 <3 <3
timeforchange
April 28, 2010
Thank you. Your story has really inspired me. I can only imagine how hard it would be to stop after twenty years of picking. The fact that you not only stopped but lasted 48 days is amazing. I just think if you could do it (which would have been a lot more difficult for you) why can’t I? At first I thought that the amount that you were posting on this site was ridiculous but now I find it very helpful. I’m grateful you take the time to support everyone on this site and not just yourself. If I had more time, I’d love to show my support to others like you do.
wildflower
April 29, 2010
i'm 55 in july and i've actually picked for as long as i remember. except for moles which i was told would not stop bleeding or cause cancer. so i've picked every thing else at one time or another to various unhealthy degrees for more like 50 years, but worse when when in my early 30s and maybe even before that. i just remember around the time of my daughter's birth 23 yrs ago people making remarks to me out loud and often. that's why i probably said 20 yrs at first. so i've actually had the problem for really much longer.i cringe when i read about 20 yr olds picking as bad as they are. anyone actually, but especially the youngest. i know from experience that it just won't go away on its own. i hate to think of their having this habit for as long as i have. that's why i've been so active here. who knows, maybe what i've done in the past 9 weeks is changed my obsession from picking to typing. all in the name of care, though, care for my skin, and care for others. what can i say? maybe i have been a bit ridiculous about my posting .......................
allforyou
April 28, 2010
Ahhhhh ........... I PICKED!!!! sigh.......................not nearly as badly as i usually do though...........only for 10 minutes or so. DAY 3 = FAILURE. Gonna get back on the horse now.............................so, if by FRIDAY i don't pick ........ i am going to treat myself ...... by allowing myself to put on BIORE face and nose strips to clean my face. Maybe that is not the best way to treat myself ........should i just embrace the natural dirt and oil in my skin and just wash my face???? putting on the BIORE strips will ease my thoughts of having dirt in my face.......... which honestly really just disgusts me. .................... i think i really need to keep posting on this thing whenever i can ......... that really helps make me aware of WHY i am trying/want to stop picking ........ ♥♥♥ stay strong everyone ...... i picked ...... and it is sooooooo OVERRATED ♥♥♥
wildflower
April 28, 2010
"i picked ...... and it is sooooooo OVERRATED" .... lol ... i love that comment !! ..... it's so true, especially after getting away from it for a while .... ya realize how distorted the rationale around it is .... treating yourself for good behaviour is so much better ... and the reward of healed skin is hard to beat .... yeah, get used to just washing and moisturizing ... i never realized that my skin was actually dry and that dryness contributed to my feeling sensations that urged me to be at my skin ... now with washing and perhaps the addition of the cold rinse following it, before the moisturizing, my skin is much more comfortable ... i'm much more comfortable in my skin !!! ... lol .... yes, keep up with the posting ... i do believe that's therapeutic too ... all the best to ya !! ... <3<3<3 or rather ♥♥♥ as you'd say ... keep posting them !!
tia
April 28, 2010
I picked too :( But only once or twice. Which for me is a HUGE thing. So im taking that as a positive. Back to day one tomorrow. Lol so far Im just having lots of 'day one's haha. My back is still covered in bandages (haha i exchanged the tweeties for plain ones) and i have the round ones on my face now to deter me. BUT i have not picked my back today. Well the bandages were itchy as and when i itched i accidently scratched a tiny scab off but i dont count it. Im really so proud of myself. My back was looking soooo bad that when i showed my dr even she was shocked. So im hoping by keeping them totally covered until they are gone i can beat this. I hope everyone else is going well. xx
wildflower
April 28, 2010
the bandages will help with the itching ... it's the dryness that makes the scabs itch so it should get better ... hang in there ... yes you can beat it ... if you want it, you can do it ... there's precious little you can't do if you put your mind to it ... it IS huge ... your attitude is changing ... you want something different of your self ... and it's the right thing !!! ... ♥♥♥ ... and maybe an antihistamine will help with the itching in the meantime ... ☺
wearytraveler
April 29, 2010
As long as we all maintain a positive outlook and attitude about our picking we will all get through this! I have noticed a decrease in the urge to pick since I have joined this site. I probably haven't gone more than a day without picking but the amount that I have sat and picked has substantially decreased and I would like to thank you all! Tia, I used to wear bandages to cover up but found that they started to itch me and I ended up picking worse when I would take them off. I would find bumps formed under the sticky part of the bandage and I wanted to get rid of them so I picked. I am just full of bad habits. I used to bit my nails which then turned into biting the skin around my nails. I have recently been able to conquer that habit with the help of a strong ointment called Aquaphor. I would put some on my fingers every night before going to bed and would automatically notice a difference. I continue putting this ointment on every night so I do not revert back to picking the skin around my nails. About a week ago I had the realization to put this ointment on my arms and back where I find myself picking at my bumps and scabs. It's a thick ointment so I use quite a bit but I found that my scabs started to heal and because my arms were so slippery that it made it next to impossible to even try to pick at a bump. Aquaphor is also used for babies so it is completely safe. Because it's so thick you may feel as though you can't wear clothes once you put it on your skin but I have not noticed any staining of my shirts and I put this stuff on multiple times a day to curb to urge. Stay strong and we can beat this!!!

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