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tasi , 08 Feb 2013

Here to Help

Hey, I found this site about a week ago, and sometimes I just visit and read the forum to hear about everyone else going through something like me. I want this post to be a place where people can write to support each other, and be a part of the solution. Having people who you can just be 100% honest about what you're doing to yourself and what you're going through I think is really valuable when you have a problem like this. I told my dad about it recently, and thought about telling my boyfriend, but I just want to fix this problem rather than tell him about it. I want it to stop controlling my life. Please write back, and share your problems and concerns and thoughts with me, and I'll write back and be your friend who you can admit your worst picking episodes to, but hopefully, together, we'll stop them from happening. If you stop, I'll stop. I know we both can. Love, Tasi
5 Answers
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Runaway_1
February 09, 2013
This is a great idea!! I'm trying to stop picking, went to the dr who didn't have a clue what I was talking about so I'm back to the false nails, I discovered today about five old packets of false nails, made me realise how much I've spent on them so this time I have to stop, I'm trying to be conscious at all times of my hands and to keep busy, what will you be trying? I'll I haven't told any family members and only one friend I'm too nervous about what they'll say, the friend I have told I told ages ago and he hasn't mentioned it since I don't want to Bron it up again, have you told your boyfriend yet? :-)
tasi
February 09, 2013
Hi :) I was so happy to see and read your reply. I do feel so alone because of this problem, and I think we can both really help each other. This site put the idea of getting my nails done in my head, too, so I would be reminded not to pick. I don't usually ever paint my nails, and I've never gone to a nail salon, but I was thinking I'd treat myself to a manicure once I don't pick for a while and my skin is doing better. Then whenever I see my pretty nails in the mirror about to pick at my face hopefully I will remember--and not do it. Has the nails thing worked for you? I definitely know what's it like to not to want to tell anybody about it... that's why I'm here because there's not only a computer screen to hide behind, but you're going through the same thing as me. I haven't told my boyfriend yet...like I said, I just want to fix the problem so I don't have to tell him. It's horrible because when I pick at my skin, and it's too bad for me to cover up with makeup, I don't want to see him, and he has no idea why :( For instance, I haven't seen him all this week, and I miss him so much, but I just don't want him to see my face or know I have this problem. I want to be that beautiful girlfriend, and I know I can be if I just stop doing this. So here's to getting over this together. I think something I may try once I get my face back to normal-point again is getting rid of the mirrors I always pick in. How bad is it for you and how long have you been struggling with this? My dad is encouraging me to go to the doctor, but it is embarrassing, and I know it's up to me to fix it in the end. (Plus, I'm afraid they'll be as ultimately un-helpful as yours was.) Good luck and it was really nice to hear from you :) ~Tasi
Runaway_1
February 09, 2013
Hi, The nails thing usually works for me, the nails are too fat to pick succesfully but the past day I've been managing to pick even with them on. It's so frustrating and I'm finding myself wondering if I'm ever going to be able to stop this. Yeah I try to hide my picking too, I focus on my lips and so I wear lipstick but even the moisterising lip stick dries them out so I pick them, how long have you been with your boyfriend? I've been picking as long as I can remember I'm 25 now, my sister used to pick her lips and I copied her then loads of crap happened (not really sob story worthy but it was bad for me) and it became my habit, I pick my lips over and over and over till they're red and raw and bleeding, one of my friends once asked me if I had been punched in the face....that helped! Yeah my doctor really knocked my confidence and so I don't know what to do now, I find that when I stop picking...if I stop picking for about a week or so (i've managed this in the past) then I get a twitch in my nose and thats even harder to hide. My picking is pretty much constant and that frustrates me because I don't even realise I'm doing it. How long have you been picking for? Do you have certain triggers? Hiding behind a computer screen is really good I feel the same, I'm single at the moment but can't help feeling that if a guy saw my lips he wouldn't exactly be able to imagine kissing them, ~B
tasi
February 09, 2013
Hey, That's interesting; I don't usually have a problem with my lips since I think my picking problem does revolve around acne and little pimples. I know if I left them alone, I'd look normal, but I poke them and squeeze them...and tweeze them, and pull at them -_- (and you know what I mean) until they're 50 times worse than if I just hadn't touched it. Why do you think you pick at your lips? Do they get pimples or just really dry? When I pick till the point that I make myself bleed, I'll use Neosporin (triple-antibiotic ointment) and it does help heal your skin much faster than it would on its own. If your lips are really raw right now, you could try putting that on them. I know when I just have dry lips, I like to use olive oil or a moisturizer instead of chapstick, because chapstick can actually dry out your lips a lot (it stops them from producing their own moisture). I hope any of this might've helped, and I'm here to support and just talk to. <3 I've been with my guy since October, although we've had feelings for each other for over a year now, but finally, we're in the same place, and able to be together. He means so incredibly much to me, and I just want to be able to be care-free and be with him and stop having this problem that feel so vain and stupid :/ I hope I'm going to see him tonight, and with a little foundation-wearing, tanning, and just making the effort to go out and look good rather than hide at home (like I've been doing this week) I can start to turn things around. Best of luck and I'm with you. ~tasi
Runaway_1
February 11, 2013
Yeah it must be tough picking at pimples etc, I know if I get dry skin on my lips it drives me mad and has to go so I can imagine pimples and things must drive you crazy! Olive oil is a good idea, I generally avoid medicated creams not because I don't think they'll do wonders but because if its on my lps i'm scared i'll eat it, I also only use lipbalm which is natural like burts bees because it doesn't have ingredients that dry your lips out. How did it go seeing your boyfriend? I don't think this problem is vein and stupid, it's a problem that we have to learn to deal with and over time it becomes a big deal to us in every way. I had an idea last night that kind of excited me, this wednesday lent starts (after shrove tuesday/pancake day) not sure where you are in the world so hope that helps, if you haven't heard of it lent is a chance to give something up for 40 days until easter, I'm gonna try and give up picking, I hope because its a set amount of time and a set tradition that I should be able to stick to it, what do you think? It doesnt have to be anything to do with religion just a set amount of time to give up, I hope it'll work because I'm not saying I'll give it up forever so it's less pressure. We could message each other on here and keep each other going. My lips aren't so bad today after covering them in lipbalm and the false nails are working so they're having time to heal, maybe they'd help you? It takes a few days I find but it's worth it. Good luck ~ B

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