Face picking... Trying to stop AGAIN. Help and suggestions welcome

I'm with ya, I just picked the hell out of my face & I have a big meeting tomorrow. There is not enough make up in the world to cover this up. I'm going to try & stop right now. This is the 5th time I've made that committment today, but I cannot give up. One time has to stick right?

Hey, I'm with ya. I'm actually in school to be a therapist, so its easy for me to admit that I have a problem and I understand how simple of a behavioral problem it is.....but its still so effing hard to stop. Its so hard because I have been using it as a way to cope with anxiousness and social fears (and other stuff, that gernerally makes me feel bad), without anyone being affected by it, since I've been like 13....12 yrs now. We are able to control ourselves around people, but in private we feel out of control, cause the stress of our lives gets to us. I know that its possible to change. I wonder if I cant stop, cause I try to hide it from everyone all the time, so maybe if I know that you'all are working on it too, starting today, then I will feel more supported. My skin's at its worst right now, probably...the last month I got a large area, on my jaw line that looked like a group of hard cysts. it finally went down, but there is still a hard raised area, with an indentation on the side, that is noticable if you're looking closely at my face. I always thought that I'd be able to get away with having a soft/clear/unmarked/dewey face, if I'd only stop. but I've come to realize that after only 25yrs old, my face, i think, will never be as clear and youthfull as i'd imagined, cause I've damaged it....but if I stop now........

Day 2: a.m. I woke up with two new sore acne spots (probably from where I picked at something that really wasn't there) and with no mirror to see them they feel huge... I'm doing my best not to feel them out, I'm sure that will just lead to bad things... HANDS OFF! Well I guess this will be a good time to test the theory that if you leave them alone they go away faster... hopefully that is true. Update: I'm at the end of my day 2... Success! I forgot to mention I'm in the beauty industry, which means I am around mirrors and people who scrutinize image daily. I feel like it's where my problems stem. I feel not good enough. I work with typical barbie types and I'm unconventional so it doesn't help. Any how, I did well today. Avoided my home mirrors, covering them works well. I now realize when I mindlessly wander in a room to pick and there it is, a big black bag. It's like a giant stop sign and I'm like... Wow, I didn't even realize what i was about to do. I still feel positive though now my problem is on my mind always which I suppose is good because it is moved from my subconscious to the forefront. I can do this, WE can all do this. Check in tomorrow!!!

I too have been a picker for 17 years, this is the first time I have realised that there is others like me. I am successful as a mother of two and a professional, now in a stressful job as a teacher having changed career from a financial advisor. I have managed to disguise my problems from my working life ( poorly) with heavy concealer which has allowed me to act as if I am normal. However at home I visually show my anxieties through my wounded skin to my close family although I still conceal my scabs from my mum. Even at the age of 32. My mum has always got so upset with my picking that it causes her distress and my shame to escalate. ( Although she is amazingly supportive with other aspects of my life). My picking is to my face all tiny perceived blackheads and whites are scrutinised and must be removed in a compulsive quest for perfection. My skin is a mess. My face is presently caked with thick concealer/powder covering ( badly) approximately 6 scabs and 10 red scars which were originally small black or white heads. I have never admitted to my doctor my problem and have regularly requested acne treatments, presently using Zynert, for something I don't really have. This needs to stop. My husband for some reason still loves and fancies me, although he is normal and good looking. However I push his advances away as I feel so ugly and ashamed. If anyone can empathise with this please help me overcome this disability.

hi everyone! i just wanted to tell you that i made it through today with only 2 very small picking incidents! i am feeling so good about this right now! here are some things i have done: whenever i'm about to pick, i literally say "no!" or "stop!" to myself. i also might have to sit on my hands or put them in my pockets. also, i decided that i am going to make a pen mark on my hand every time i slip up, as a reminder to myself. today i only had 2 pen marks. also, since i always pick either in the shower or right before i get in, i tried really hard to distract myself during these parts of my day. i got right into the shower without looking at myself in the mirror, and i sang really loudly in the shower -- focused on singing rather than anything that might prompt picking. i've also found that it really helps to exercise... that way, i get really positive feelings about my body.... hopefully, they will carry over into this struggle. AND, finally, today i kept telling mysel how awesome i was and how proud of myself i am going to be when i make this work. thanks for listening to me, and best of luck to all of you!

Day 3: conquered another day. I felt happy today for the first time in along time. Even my husband noticed my mood change. 3 days and I feel more beautiful just because I don't get a chance to look in the mirror and scrutinize myself all day. Today four people told me my eyes really stood out and were pretty, I guess just feeling good really shows outwardly... Confidence really is key I suppose! I guess people don't see the damage I've done as much as I do! hope tomorrow is as amazing as today!

Hi, I'm new and it's going to make me cry. I just found that there are more like me. Thank you for existing and sharing your struggles. I'm just in a really bad phase for the last couple of months and I had a frenzy today, after nearly being healed from my frenzy last week. I've just felt helpless to stop. Finding this place has been a relief, and makes me think perhaps this time I can quit? I broke down today and picked for over an hour. I needed it. Now, nearly my entire chest is swollen and red. There's probably not a pore I didn't pick. I almost picked, just writing this. Akkk! I have to stop! What is everyone doing for help? I'm already on zoloft for depression, but the old habit hasn't stopped. Has counseling or medication helped? I know I have issues, but talking about them at $100/hr isn't the way out.