Online Test

Find out the severity of your symptoms with this free online test

Popcorn47 , 01 Sep 2010

What took you so long?

I noticed a lot of us here comment on how we felt almost like we were at the bottom of our rope before we felt we could google or bing this problem and look it up. It's interesting that even in the privacy of our own homes and being able to search anything on the net privately, (as in "search reports" don't sent to our family or anything else to scare us), but we all seemed to wait and wait before finding out. I'm one of them by far. For me it was embarassment. I didn't want to do a search on this because just typing it in made me feel sick that I had to admit I did this. I would look up things like scarring, skin, acne, join forums that discussed that, no problem. But this, this is something that took all my courage to do and it took so many years to even do. Anyone else, why did you wait so long to see if there were others out there or if this problem had answers?
4 Answers
lavenderdust
September 03, 2010
I hear you! my boyfriend saw i was reading this and the first thing he said "your not doing anything to stop picking" WTF! I am trying to control it obviously, people that you think would be supportive are at times the less, why is that? Anyways, I am proud of you and that you as I have come to realize that we have a common problem that we must control ourselves to NOT pick!
Holly9458
September 05, 2010

In reply to by lavenderdust

Sometimes, I stop picking for a few days. THen I start to think I am done for good. I think to myself...I am so glad I dont pick my face anymore. A few more days go by and BOOM!!! I did it. I went crazy and picked the crap out of my face for a few hours. THen I have scabs all over. I hate it. I want to stop for good! I guess it takes 12 months for it the urge to stop. So, lets see...that going to be Sept. 5 2011. I am gonna b on this site until then!
gretna
September 10, 2010

In reply to by Holly9458

same here- i use to pick every day when i was younger (in middle school and highschool). Now it is much better. Looking back i think a lot of it was in my mind. Its like in your head it is macrofied, especially when anyone says anything about it or triggers you some how. Now i can go weeks without picking my arms, and then if i have a bad day i'll start picking. another thing that causes it is just wearing a sleaveless shirt. Maybe if you have a picky day concealing the skin under a hoodie can protect you from yourself. I read behavioral psychology and i know that by doing something habitual, you reinforce it. Like with any habit you have to break your physical and mental habit. anyway... what took me so long to come. honestly i didn't know what the word for it was. I never knew about dermatillomania until this website and i am so grateful. I have improved on my own with out this website on my own. Now I am really determined to regain control and not just let it control me (or whatever) and am glad i can use this site for support and information.
Chazzles
September 05, 2010
i know how you feel - my family just don't seem to understand i am trying to stop but it is so hard !!! My family are always getting at me about it and my mum has threatened to take me to the doctors, which i would be so upset about - should i just go , will it help? HOPE IT ALL GOES WELL FOR YOU ALL xx

Start your journey with SkinPick

Take control of your life and find freedom from skin picking through professional therapy and evidence-based behavioral techniques.

Start Now