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NiceOnTheIce , 12 Oct 2011

30 Day Challenge! Join In!

Any new members or returning members care to join me in a no-pick challenge? I am 20 years old and have been picking my face since I hit puberty. Picking my back came shortly after that, and my chest/shoulders after that. A few years ago I started picking the keratosis pilaris on my upper arms, and now I pick at my legs as well. My arms are definitely in the worst shape at the moment; they are easily accessible and you don't need to look in a mirror to pick at them :/ Anyways, I am just completely fed up with feeling self-conscious and embarrassed about my looks. Moreover, I HATE the feeling of being so helpless and out of control! So I was hoping that someone would join me in trying not to pick for 30 days. I tried this before and it worked great for a short while... this time I'm determined to stop! WE CAN DO THIS!
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lea14
October 14, 2011
I'll join in :) my skin picking improved so much over the past few months. But now I am pregnant and stressed and sick and moody and its started to get bad again! I want to stop before I go back to how I was before so I'll definitely give it a go:)
NiceOnTheIce
October 18, 2011
If you can find the strength to quit picking while you're stressed/sick/moody from your pregnancy, then imagine what control you'll have afterwards! Power to you!
Suzilynn2011
October 15, 2011
I am also a sufferer of picking. I would love to join you in a 30 day challenge! I have recently done a 30 day challenge for beginning to excercize by running and doing plyometric workouts every morning at 4am. I have passed the 30 day mark and coming up on 2 months! It feels so great to be able to reach those goals. I have been a picker since I was 13 years old and am now 33. So for 20 years I have been mutilating my body and I am ready to stop it! I mostly just tear up my legs, but the arms do get involved sometimes too. I have heard and read from many credible sources that it takes 21 days to create or break a habit. Lets do this. My name is Suzi out of Florida! Good luck to you. I will check in to tell about my progress and hear about yours as well.
Free2fly
October 15, 2011
I'm new here and I'll give it a shot. I have a bad infection in my right inner ear from my constant picking and I've been scratching and digging at the back of my thigh for a couple years now, it's gotten so bad that Ive discolored my skin, I now have a dark patch back there. Not to mention peeling and biting my finger and toe nails down to the numbs and also the skin around the nails and picking at acne. I need help, I hope this works.
NiceOnTheIce
October 18, 2011
I find that even if you can't hold off from picking forever, joining in on a challenge gives you the strength to stop for a while, and the inspiration to try again! Just knowing that others are thinking the same thoughts and feeling the same feelings as you at the same time is very powerful :) Good luck, and keep us updated!
amgoingtochange
October 15, 2011
hi i joined this forum at the start of the summer around june/july and i have been doin pretty well. reduced picking big time by covering mirrors but recently i seem to be checkin skin more often and losing motivation to stop. so i going to join you, not just for 30 days but try to go as long as i can to break this horrible habit. last nite i lost it and picked loads at my face then i went to bed and cried and dreaded wakening up to look in the mirror this morning. so here i go i am going to hang up a calendar and tick it every nite. it is so nice knowing that there are other people trying to stop picking skin too. it doesnt make me feel as alienated as i used too. thanks for listening. x
Jkid
October 16, 2011
Just a little word of advice (I just learned this in my psych class yesterday). It's best to set a definite goal, usually a small one at first, and work your way up to longer periods of time. Most of the time, if someone attempts to quit doing something and fails, they beat themselves up (mentally and emotionally usually) and are less likely to try again.
amgoingtochange
October 16, 2011
thanks for the advice thats good to know! hopefully it'll take just 30 days to break the habit then so!! doing ok so far thankfully i keeping my nails short and da inflammation went down quickly enough so now i just need keep away from the scabs that have formed!!!
NiceOnTheIce
October 18, 2011
I agree, the calendar idea is great. I will try that too. As I mentioned to a newcomer to the forum, I find that even if you can't hold off from picking forever, joining in on a challenge gives you the strength to stop for a while, and the inspiration to try again! Together, we can do this :) Good luck!
sopeegee
October 16, 2011
Hi, I've been a picker since elementary school - and now I'm a high school senior! I'm tired of picking as well and am definitely going to try this out with everyone here. I just can't stand having to worry about scabs all over my face, shoulders, and upper legs anymore. I actually draw blood a lot, and I end up with loads of huge scars everywhere. It's time to get over this!
NiceOnTheIce
October 18, 2011
There are loads of people on this forum who have been pickers for decades, so don't feel alone! We're all in the same boat, and we can take strength in numbers to quit picking for good! Keep us updated :)
empathy
October 16, 2011
Wow! I just signed in! I take your challenge! I've been picking for almost 10 years. I have been talking about it and seeking support from friends but having this group on the web of people living the same difficulties as me it's great. I believe it will make a difference. I once succeeded for two weeks of absolutely no piking when I was super motivated, but I was completely alone in this. I am not alone anymore. So I started a minute ago already and I am going to last 30 days until November 15th. This is great. Everybody, join in and let's share our small everyday victories. Let's keep in touch! We can do this!!!
Littlevixen
October 16, 2011
I pick my cuticles until they bleed and I really want to stop! I'm joining in :-)
empathy
October 17, 2011
It's hard to cope with the excess of anxiety I'm feeling at the moment I would like to pick. I haven't picked at my skin but I feel electrified, like I have too much stress and no way to release it. Plus I have the frustration that comes when I stop the movement of my hand towards my skin. I take deep breaths and relax, but it's frustrating and my ability to focus on whatever i'm doing seems diminished. Let's persevere through the difficulties.
luvkitties2
October 17, 2011
I would like to try as well...I pick my face, neck, scalp, back,etc. I think it would take less time to list where I DON'T pick lol. In the recent past, I have been able to either stop or significantly reduce my picking, but my problem is that someone will notice and comment on how good my skin looks; for me, that is a trigger and I get anxious and within ten minutes, I'm back to square one :(
empathy
October 17, 2011
It's good that you could reduce your picking. How about you go deep in how it makes you feel when someone compliment your skin? There is something there about what you believe for yourself that might give you answers on how to break that cycle.

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