Its ruining my life..please help me.

Hi Syds27. I'm sorry your CSP is causing you so much suffering. I've had CSP for 23 years and have suffered a lot too. I tried CBT and it didn't work for me either. I found my current therapist on this site under "treatment" and she specializes in CSP. Treating CSP is not a quick fix, it may take years to get it under control, so find a good therapist and hang in there!

I have been picking my face for years and cannot stop or at least do not know how. At least I have made the first step to recognize my behavior. But where do I go from here?

Hey, Ive definitely felt like its ruining my life at times too! I think youre right to read up on it, thats one thing thats helped me a lot. There are some facts Ive learned that have made it easier for me to understand. Like, the whole bored/anxious thing you mentioned... I pick during times of stress and when Im bored too, and its always confused me. They seem like opposites, so I didnt get it. I read somewhere(probably on this forum) that some pple in the research/therapy community think picking is linked to impulse control disorder. You for some reason can't regulate(I forget the nuts and bolts chemistry/psychology as to why you can't but Im sure you could find it) So when youre up you need help to come down and vice versa. You self-regulate, and although youre doing it in an unhealthy way, you're really just trying to bring yourself back into balance. Learning that helped me accept myself better bc it reminds me Im just trying to survive/come back in balance most of the time, I just dont have good coping skills. Anyway, you may already know this, I just thought I could pass it along. Like someone else said, hang in there! I have been actively battling picking for 2plus years now and Ive had ups and downs, but I have made progress. Im sure if you keep doing all you can you will find some relief eventually