Stopping for good this time.

Ok, I am with you. Decided this afternoon that this has to stop. Forever. I have tried SO many times before. Even managed 10 days once. And then rewarded myself by picking! I have been trying to stop for the last few days, and then managed to destroy my face about an hour ago without even really realising it. It is really upsetting my boyfriend, and I just can't seem to stop. I just make excuses as to why I've done it yet again. I came across this site after googling how to stop skin picking. Hoping to god that with a bit of support, and actually forcing myself to write this and actually admit how bad this problem is, I'll be able to find the strength to kick this. So I am in. Going to go home and get rid of all the mirrors I can, except the ones I need for getting dressed, makeup etc. But they're in really bad lighting so don't pose a danger. Updates everyday yeah? Here goes day 1. Good luck. We've got to be strong enough to do this.

Exactly what ive been thinking. Its stopping now! Good luck. Lets be free for the summer!

hey guys! i'm in - and looking forward to replying and reading this thread every day for motivation! i've spent so many years drowning under the weight of my picking...i think i'm ready now to fight back (and kick ass too) - thanks to everyone on this forum for making me realize i'm not alone :)

Day 1 - It's just turned midnight and the good news is I haven't picked since I decided to stop at about 2 this afternoon!! Am also done with the bedtime routine and in bed ready to sleep so hopefully will start day 2 without any disasters. I am so pleased you've all decided to join me in trying to stop - together I know we can do this. I reckon we should come up with some creative distractions and rewards for ourselves along the way. Making it to Day four will be a big day for me because I've never made it that far before - will have to think of a good treat for then! Today was exciting for another reason too, because I told my mum about my picking. She's visiting at the moment and I just decided to tell her - she sort of already knew because she's seen me do it, but didn't understand until now that it's so difficult to stop and all the ways it affects my life! She's also going to try to arrange for me to see a cbt therapist over easter which would be great, but that's three whole weeks away and I'd really like to spend those weeks pick free which I can't do without you all so keep me updated on how you're all doing!! I have covered my bedroom mirror and I think you should all do the same. Also have been wearing an elastic band around my wrist to fiddle with which is quite good. And if I accidentally forget I'm not supposed to be touching my skin EVER AT ALL apart from to put makeup on, and I start feeling around for a place to pick, I tap myself three times which is actually really helpful. I think even as I start feeling my skin I start going into that sort of trance-like state and tapping my skin snaps me out of it quickly. Then I fiddle with the elastic band until the urge to pick goes away - which means I am fiddling with it almost all day long but I suppose in time the urge will go away! Hope these tips help you. Let me know if you find anything which works for you! Good luck everyone!!

it's the middle of the night an I can't sleep for some reason - it's too hot or somthing. Anyway I have the strongest urge to pick so I just thought I'd post on here again. I have been scratching a bit but not really done damage - normally this would have turned into proper picking a while ago so I am trying to stay positive! Usually when I can't sleep I just pick for an hour or two until I'm tired but I am NOT going to do that now, no way jose! Am annoyed with myself for scratching but since it's the first day I'll let myself off this time and make sure it doesn't turn into something more serious. I might put some gloves on...... right they are on! It's difficult to type. I think t is now safe again to try to sleep. Goodnight!

OK, so I also made it through day 1. Also gave nearly all my mirrors to my boyfriend to hide. The ones I have left aren't ones I usually use for picking so the habit to sit in front of them and pick for hours hasn't been established, so hopefully will be easier to resist. It was still hard as I was taking my makeoff last night though. Especially as I can see loads of bumbs that I just want to fix! Arrgh. I read somewhere that someone had made a ball out of rubber bands to have something to fiddle with, so I made one as well. Found it actually really helps just to have something else to do with my hands. Realised that I tend to pick at my face a lot when I'm not thinking bout it, like when I sit and watch tv. Anyway, I woke up this morning with a huge spot with a whitehead. Since I can't stand walking round with them on my face, I decided to fix it, but I was really strict about not carrying on and touching anywhere else on my face (also really hard!) and I used a tissue so that it doesn't get infected or anything, coz that always makes me want to pick more. So that was day one. Onto day two. Really don't want to still be doing this in 10 years time. I'm only 25, and if I don't quit now I'm going to destroy my complexion forever. Really need to fix this, so I'm going to keep updating every day. Even though its embarrasing having to talk bout it, even anonymously online!! But congratulations to everyone who made it through day 1. 'Nomorepicking' you're going to make it to three weeks. Just remember I'm going through this too, and I know how hard it is. You're doing really well. :)

Ugh. Bad moment. Just started picking at a scab. Managed to stop and put anit-septic on it, but feeling frustated at myself. Even as I type this I am justifying it to myself that its infected, and it will heal quicker if I let the infection out. Stupid. Its only a minor set back and at least I haven't touched the rest of my face, but i'm annoyed that I let the justifications creep back in for a bit, becuase that's how I start. Ah well. *Deep breath* Keep going.

Day 2 - oops. Not so good today. Not awful, but bad enough that I think I might have to start back to day one again :( have been constantly scratching all day - only lightly but enough that I slowly got more and more agitated until I spent 20 mins picking just now in my bathroom mirror... am pretty annoyed with myself. I think I get complacent too easily. I manage one day and think, yeah this is eaaasy and then it all goes wrong :( Will be more vigilant tomorrow! I'm just going to wear gloves I don't even care if I look stupid. So anyway it's back to day one - I wouldn't have started over if it had just been a small slip up but I was picking in the mirror for long enough that I knew what I was doing and I just thought 'i don't care' and didn't even try to stop myself. I;m glad it wasn't for too long though! How is everyone else doing? Better than me I hope. I don;t know about you but I often feel that once I've picked just a tiny tiny spot I might as well give up completely - that's sort of what happened today. But we mustn't think like that! Llama06 I know how frustrating it is to pick at one tiny scab like that but try to think about all the times you didn't pick today and keep positive, otherwise you'll do what I just did and give in completely! I am taking it one day at a time - am not thinking ahead any further than just tomorrow. If I can just make it through tomorrow I'll be so happy! Good luck everybody and well done to anybody who managed a day pick free - you are an inspiration to s all!

Oh, and everyone remember: IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY, TRY AGAIN. Even though it is really hard! One day we'll do it!

'nomore' bad luck. Stay positive and think how much better it is that you stopped after 20mins! That's progress in itself. Having said that, I said I was going to do this with you and, if you're anything like me, starting over when the rest of us are on day three (or whatever it is now) will allow you to tell yourself you failed, and therefore give up! SO: If you're back to day 1, so am I. That way you still have the support to hopefully give you strength when you feel like giving up. Think maybe you should cover your bathroom mirror too? And keep wearing the gloves! I think the first week will be the hardest. I have also found that deciding to stop picking is making me think about it ALL the time. Think we've just got to break the initial habit. Maybe we're thinking too long term at the moment. Maybe take it one day at a time. Possibly even hours! Would it help if you drew up a chart, and got to cross off a box for every hour you didn't pick? You'd even get to cross off a whole chunk of them for when you were asleep? Might make you feel like you were achieving something, and give you the motivation to hold off picking for one more hour, so you get to cross off your box. Might not work for you, but that sort of thing helps me sometimes. Good luck, and stay positive. Here goes day 1! :)

DAY 1 - Hurray! I made it through the day and weirdly didn't feel too much of an urge to pick! How is everyone else doing? If I make it to the end of tomorrow I am going to paint my nails as a treat :)