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liberty13 , 25 May 2008

I'm kicking the habit!

Hi. I'm a 30 year-old woman who has officially reached her limit! I'm done with it! OVER! This ugly little habit isn't going to bring me down anymore. I'm not mentally ill. I'm a beautiful person. I have an amazing husband, a successful career, and two little angel children. My life needs me back. I haven't felt myself since 13-years-old. Man! If this is how great I turned-out with scabs and pox-marks all over my body, just imagine who I could be without them. I know we all say that we "just can't control it", but we can! I've done it for months before, so I know it's not impossible. If smokers can kick their habit, I can kick this. How am I going to do it? Well, I've already had some success and here's my plan: For starters, I'm going to treat it like a full-blown serious addiction--a "sickness" as alcoholics say. I won't down-play it (just because others might), and I will be aware of it. To do this I've been keeping a journal. When my fingers get fidgety or I have some down-time, I write. I've already filled-up 10 pages and its therapeutic. Also, I'm rewarding myself like crazy. I give myself little rewards for hours, days, weeks, months, years, etc. I am my own best friend and am going to dangle carrots in front of myself. Why not? I'm worth it! Some of these carrots include: food (oh no I'll create a new monster), candle-light bath, fingernail polish, a new shirt, a new lotion or cosmetic, time to myself, a movie, reading time, cuddling with the kids/husband, a massage, dermabrasion (long term), a walk around the block, a hike, a day-off, a vacation, etc. I'm investing in myself. Other ideas; I've been to therapy and it was a great stepping-stone. As other forum writers mentioned, it helps to control anxiety, etc. I'm using visualization to picture my new clear-skin self. I pray for strength. I shower morning and night to reduce oily or itchy skin. I avoid mirrors, I am going to learn crochet--to keep my hands busy. I'm keeping my nails impossibly short. I'm going to be on this forum as much as possible. I'm reading up on the addiction to be educated and aware. I will be open an unashamed to friends and family. I'm not giving up. I am unstoppable. If anyone else wants to join my crusade, I welcome the company!
7 Answers
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rampage23
May 28, 2008
You have a great plan! Your positive attitude and optimism has really inspired me to take on this addiction full-force. I am going to try some of your methods, if you don't mind. They are really creative and I think they'll keep me motivated to stay on the right track. You won me over, I am joining your crusade to recovery! -Sara
wildflower
April 10, 2010
a great topic from long ago that deserves a read because of the positiveness and good tactics suggested. i wish we would hear from these people to hear how things are going for them. this is also a good post ...... http://www.skinpick.com/node/63
want-to-stop
May 31, 2008
I am with you! I too am fed-up with this making its mark (literally) on my life! I am 30 at the end of this year and want to start my thirties pick-free! I had my first child at the end of last year, and NEED to stop this for me and for her. As I mentioned in another post (tonight is the first time on the forum) my mother does this too, and her mother before her, so it stops with my generation. This will NOT be passed to my girl - she is way too special for that! I love some of your practical solutions, and will take some of them on board. I am also booked into see a therapist this coming Tuesday, and am maring cyberspace with my resolution here. I have never been pick-free - never - not even for a day, and I never started at a particular age, it has been with me forever, so I accept that it may take some time to conquer this, but I will enter my 30's pick-free - I will!
liberty13
June 01, 2008
Thanks for being part of this crazy group. It sounds like you've yet to open-up with someone about it (inferred after reading some of your comments.) The liberation of talking about it is a huge step. Your therapist will probably be grateful for your candidness--as it will save her loads of preliminary work, etc. I'm pretty sure mine was. In fact, after several sessions I finally broke down--sobbing of course--and laid everything on the table. She seemed relieved and could see the dramatic extent of the problem. (Non-pickers don't always know how to take us. They need to see how life-effecting the problem is.) Anyway, I'm glad to have another friend on the site. My age, too. It must be OUR year--the year of enlightenment and change! Right? About your daughter: I felt like you had crawled into my head when I read your thoughts on your daughter. Mine is two, and a couple weeks ago she started kissing the "owies" on my face to make them "all better." I could barely compose myself. If she is already genetically programmed for this habit, I want to show her that it CAN be overcome and be able to offer her advice and experience on how to do it. FOR OUR DAUGHTERS!!!!! This should be a bumper sticker or something. (Or, M.A.P: Mothers against picking.) I'll get on it! Nice to meet you again, Rachel
want-to-stop
June 01, 2008
Rachel, I laughed so loud at your M.A.P. - that is exactly how I feel!! It's so good to know that someone knows just how it is - for so long I have just wondered if I was mad or something, I mean, why would someone do this?? It makes no sense! It has taken me ages to just rest with the fact that it doesn't HAVE to make sense, it just is.... so work on fixing it! For so long I have resisted it, and believed that somehow I could best this, but I had to understand that there is no shame in asking for help, and I cannot say how relieving it is to know that I am not alone, that other people have similar experience to me. Thanks for sharing your experience. And yes, as you say, it is our year!! For sure, we can win this battle for ourselves and our precius little ones. Thanks so much for postin here, you are an encouragement for me! Take care, Abby :)
liberty13
June 01, 2008
OK, I'm such a baby cause I just started crying (something I normally do at least once a day when I read the news, eat something delicious, or hear bagpipes--weird, I know). So anyway, I could almost picture you with your new baby and your resolutions and I just want you to know that someone's crying for you. Don't think I'm creepy or anything. I just know exactly how you feel and it's so painful. You're not alone. Rachel P.S..I may not be able to write on this forum much longer because my math questions keep getting harder and harder. At first it was like 1 + 1, but I just got 9 + 8 and had to stop and think about it. It might be based on if they do or don't like you, etc.
want-to-stop
June 01, 2008
Awwhhh!! You're not a baby - you have a caring and thoughtful heart!! And I appreciate it! I also find that I cry easily, especially at happy things - just pretty emotional! :) That is so special to me that you would care so much - I just want to take this opportunity to say thankyou - like I said, I appreciate it - truly! You are right, it is painful, and it is reading stories yesterday & today which has made me feel that I'm not alone, or this isn't isolated to just my family. I think to know that someone my own age, with kids has helped me too. I mean, we are successful intelligent women, surely nothing can get in our way - right? Thanks again Rachel, you are a star! Wishing you all the best, Abby. p.s. I don't know how long you have been on this forum, but I started yesterday and had tricky math questions too, so I suspect it isn't anything personal!! Math has never been one of my stronger points though! :) Take care!

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