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bottervliegie , 20 Sep 2010

21-Day Challenge

Hi everyone! I hate how I feel about myself and I hate how my skin looks when all I really want is smooth and beautiful skin. I figure that we've got this absolute desire to be beautiful and have perfect skin while spots, blackheads, coarse cuticles, ingrown hairs, etc. is not welcome on beautiful skin. So, a combination of this perfectionism, impulse and, well, addiction, makes us scar ourselves and also hate ourselves for doing so. .................................................................................................................................................... Now, here's my challenge: You've probably heard that it takes 21 days to combat and quit a bad habit. I am going to try and do it with skin picking. I have posted post-its on all my mirrors and usual picking spots in the house with just "DAY 1" to remind me of what I am up against. I will change this daily, but if I falter, I have to start back at day 1. .................................................................................................................................................... I really want to change my life and be free of this and I am going to take the bull by the horns... WHO'S WITH ME?? I will post my progress on this topic and I encourage you to do the same, starting with today as DAY 1!
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Jolene
December 17, 2010
I was 6 days in and yesterday I slipped up. It wasn't too severe, but I definitely slipped into that weird zone where I didn't even realize i was doing it and then had to stop myself and admit that I was going to have to start the 21 days over. A strange thing; before that happened yesterday i ran into an old friend i hadn't seen in ages. while we were doing the catch-up small talk I realized that she is a skin picker too, I could see the scarring all over her face. I really empathized with her, but it also brought home the fact that I have to stop damaging my skin before it gets too bad. Some days I look around at all my friends with beautiful skin and wonder why i seem to be the only person who has this problem. It was sort of sad and comforting to see an old friend who struggles with this too. Of course this all went unspoken but it got me thinking. And then when i came home i started picking again! I guess it's comforting for me. I have also noticed that I always pick after my boyfriend and I argue. I need to find a new way to comfort myself in order to break this pattern. OK. Day 1. Here I go!
Jolene
December 28, 2010
Today is day 10. I had a bit of a setback because I had a bad reaction to a medication the doctor gave me for TMJ. I got a rash on my face, neck and upper arms just in time for all my relatives and future in-laws to arrive for Christmas. It wasn't terrible, but enough to make my skin all puffy and inflamed and to make me very self-conscious. I didn't resort to picking, but I did have to have a total emotional meltdown about it late Christmas eve (behind closed doors, of course). Luckily my fiance was supportive and said all the right things. Finally today the rash is going away, although my face is all rough and peely because of it. That was really not what I needed. Now I'm hopefully back on track and hoping that if i don't pick my face will look better by the time I start a new job on January 3rd. I'm just grateful today to be able to read all your experiences and share mine. Thanks.
Jolene
January 02, 2011
I made it to day 17 and am really starting to see things healing. We have have had house guests lately and i normally wake up and immediately put on make-up before doing anything else, but yesterday I got up and went downstairs and made breakfast with them before putting on make-up. Little steps.. I had a weak moment on New years eve, we hosted a party and every woman I talked to, all I could think about was how beautiful their skin was and how awful mine looks in comparison. And when I do see imperfections, like wrinkles on friends faces then that is all i can see, I am not just hyper-aware and critical of myself, but of everyones skin, I guess. Such a silly thing to focus on, I know. I went outside, took and deep breath and told myself that I wasn't going to be focus on this and was just going to have a good time, then I went in turned the lights down lower and danced for hours and had a great night. I have the feeling that this may never be about conquering this behavior, but about managing my perspective and actions.
lisa2324
December 12, 2010
I feel like such a failure. Today was supposed to be my 12th day free of picking but I gave in. My face wasn't even looking that bad, just a few bumps here and there due to hormones and stress. Ugh, I really went at it this time. I picked my face, chest, arms, and thighs until I drew blood. I'm so disgusted and dissappointed in myself right now. Help :(
rdebruyn
December 12, 2010
You're not a failure - you made it 11 days! One day of weakness can seem to undo 11 days of success. Start again from day 1 and you may see the same success by day 5. There have been 11 days of healing that are not completely gone. I've managed two stretches - 9 months and 1 year FREE. You can too and if you falter, start again. I've been fighting and losing for about a year, but I know that if I go long enough, I'll heal enough to be free again. I've tasted a few victories and know I can win. You've won an 11 day victory! If we could all do a 21 day challenge and kick the problem for good, there would be no need for this site. Don't let a set back deter you. Take pride in the 11 days. Make a ribbon and post it on the wall. Keep trying for more ribbons.
meg1448
December 12, 2010
You're not a failure, hun. You made it 11 whole days! That's a huge success. Let the feelings out (posting here was a good idea) and start again at day 1. You can't expect complete success at first. I've been trying to kick the habit for quite a while. I know how difficult relapses are, but they are not the end! Keep going!
aileenpath
December 13, 2010
Hi everyone, it is my day 6. I have just picked breifly the skin of my lower lip by teeth, otherwise I have been pick- free and now I can control my finger tips without need to wearing gloves. I have to find a way not pick by my teeth. I can't tolerate night gaurds for long coz of headache. Please HELP!!
tanienergy
December 13, 2010
Please stay hopefully and keep faith. Five years ago after quitting birth control with hopes of having a child with my ex-husband , the slowly realization that we both were unhappy in our marriage and there would be no children, a highly stressful working environment, lack of obtaining other personal goals, and monthly acne flares ups, the skin picking came back with a vengeance. Ninety percent of the time, the skin picking occurred unconsciously. I have stopped skin picking for a long period’s time during the last 5 years, but, it would return, and now I have bad hyper-pigmented skin. It took four years to become aware that skin picking is used to release emotions or stress. Within the last month, I was blessed with being honest with myself and admitting that this is a real disorder related to my need to be perfect, lack of self worth in certain life areas, and unresolved childhood issues. So I say, keep the focus, faith, and stay hopefully. The key is not to put oneself down, if, skin picking occurs, stop, and tune into one's emotions and thoughts. Day 1 and counting...
ash01
December 15, 2010
Picked today... aggrh... but no more the rest of the day and from tomorrow I will be taking part in the 21 day challenge. I can conquer this!!!
lisa2324
December 15, 2010
So it's day 4 and I'm doing pretty well, especially considering I'm under a lot of stress due to midterms. I know that if I can just make it through this week without picking, I'll be able to go the whole winter break. Hope you all are doing well :)
meg1448
December 17, 2010
The important thing is that you were able to stop. Don't be too hard on yourself. Stopping partway through a picking session is, in some ways, a lot harder than stopping altogether. Keep your chin up and start a new day. :)
iguana80s
December 15, 2010
I'm new to this site and new to this forum, but I like the idea of a 21 day challenge. I've been meaning to do this myself but I am hoping the act of checking in daily and counting days will help. It was effective in what will soon be 10 years of sobriety, so maybe 10 years from now I'll be able to say the same thing about picking. Thanks!
lisa2324
December 17, 2010
Well, I'm back to day one..but I'm confident that this time is going to be a success. Bring it on :)
lisa2324
December 19, 2010
Day 2 has been a success! Surprisingly, my face doesn't look all that bad and everything has finally calmed down a bit. I want so badly for my face to be completely clear by Christmas so that I don't have to slather on makeup like spackle...oh how wonderful that would be!

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