Support buddy

I was hoping kind of the same thing here, I've been in and out of here a few times the past few weeks after finding this site. I just need for someone to do this with to encourage because I hate talking about it with people too. My boyfriend catches me at it and takes my hands and holds them, and I keep my nails fairly short now but I still find myself picking. My face, fingers, hairline, any bumps I find on my body. I've gotten my face to heal but I'm in the midst of another breakout and I can see it ending badly. :( I'm 36 I've been doing this to myself since I was a child. It's really starting to bother me.

I'm thinking of wearing cotton gloves at home. I pick at my ears and at my scalp. The scalp is new...the ears have been for at least 10 years. I too, attribute this to stress. I don't have one area of my life without it. Happy to buddy up! I'm 43.

I'm thinking of wearing gloves too. My therapist suggested it. I may wear white gloves all the time and if anyone asks ill just tell them Michael Jackson was my style icon. I'm down! I don't know if I can do it cold turkey... But I'm willing to give it my best shot. Maybe if we can all just get on the site and chat when we feel like picking it'll help. I have never met anyone else with the problem and I'm really excited to have people that understand.

I'm so happy you all have replied. I really love the idea of just talking here when we need to and maybe giving updates/reports on how we're doing. I'm also down to exchange emails and create a thread between all of us since that might be easier to just send our thoughts to everyone. I feel so alone in this. Everyone says how pretty I am but when I do this to myself I know I must look like the ugliest person ever. On too of everything l, I look really young (I get carded for rated R movies) so it just looks like I'm a 15 year old with horrible acne. I want so badly to stop, and what's worse is I'm sure I've done some form of permanent damage. The horrible thin is I do this when I'm stresses, then I get stressed and depressed about the fact that I picked, and I pick more because I think, "well, I already picked so what's the difference if I do a little more?" But I go into this trance and can't stop. Ugh. I'm in a bad cycle currently and feeling very discouraged that ill ever be normal.

I would absolutely love to join you in this pact. I agree that a support system is a great way to help guide people like us to a healthier and happier lifestyle when we have others by our side who can cheer us on and help us through the darker times with no judgement on their part. Please email me when you have a chance: juliatilden90@gmail.com

My name is Julie. I'm also 23 and have been suffering with Skin Picking (Dermatillomania) for over 6 years now. I started when I was 17. Before that when I was 10 I would constantly pick my lips to the point where my mom was taking me to the doctors and I was antibiotics. I have been wanting to start a youtube channel/blog about skin picking/OCD but I have been too scared not ready, but recently I have finally came to the point in my life that I realize Im the only person that can accomplish the things I want to do in life and only ME can stop skin picking...no matter how good it feels at the time..the shame, embarrassment, and regret feeling is not worth it after. I just started my blog and I've never posted anything like this before, but I wanted you to know that you are not alone and I feel your pain and even tho sometimes it may feel too much... you can overcome it and become in control..I just started my blog so I haven't posted too many post yet besides just a few, but in the near future l plan on posting pictures/videos/and blogs about my experience with skin picking. It took me a long time to get to the point where I'm at now, but finally I feel like I'm there and I know skin picking is something i will always have and I'm realizing that doesn't mean it has to control me...if I can help even one person with my story and make then feel not alone or crazy and give them some sense of hope...then thats more then enough for me....I know I don't know you personally but I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and I believe in you! If you want to keep up and subscribe to my blog its juliebeautyocd/blogger.com and my youtube channel is JulieBeautyOCD I will be posting some videos soon...wish you all the best!

Hey guys, if you post your email address, I will gladly include you in the thread that I have started! The more the merrier. :)

Hi Everyone!!!! My name is Jasmine, I'm, too, 23 years old. I've been picking since I can even remember. It's funny because I remember like yesterday the first time I was exposed to picking and the feeling I had when I tried it myself. (Infinity times infinity lol) Now, not so much.....My mother, now with the knowledge I have, had Dermatillomania. So it was a bad habit I inherited to cope with anxiety & stress and now I am a compulsive picker of my face (1rst choice) and my bacne (second choice) I am so glad I found this website & found all of you!!! I look at it as a blessing in disguise. I will try my hardest to pick less and less to the point of NO RETURN. It's a daily battle and it has definitely affected my career, relationships, and personality. (Went from outgoing to introvert) We are all on the road to recovery and living a less stressful life and becoming at peace with and within ourselves. Good Luck and I'm happy to join the support group. I'm here for each and every one of you and I hope to gain some new support buddies. Keep in touch griffithje@vcu.edu

Hi I'm only 17 but I would love to be included in this, as I am in need of serious help and support to beat this habit. My email is Brianna.godlewski@gmail.com please consider adding me I would greatly appreciate it and so would my face :)

I'm 13, but I've been doing it for years now and I would love to go cold turkey. I've tried to stop since I started, but it's nearly impossible. I have a bad/good/worse cycle too. So, I would love to be a part of this.

Good morning! I found this site last night when I was on the brink off tears and I'm so happy I did. I am 25 and have been picking for over a decade. The anxiety gets so bad I don't want to move. I used to be outgoing and would cover up my scars and wounds and roll with it, now I'm just giving up and becoming a recluse. I read that it could even be part of a fungus and the white things inside the bumps could be caused by fungus so possibly lamasil could help the outbreaks. I put a dab on my bumps last night and did not pick and my face looks better this morning. Just knowing that this help line was here stopped me from picking this morning so I thank you all for being so honest and open. The other treatment I heard that works is Calamine lotion. One layer let it dry, as another layer, keep on face for an hour then mildly wash off. I am going to get a bottle of Calamine today.

I about cried when I found this site! I am so glad to know I am not the only one. I need support as well. Since being on here and keeping my hands busy I'm not doing my usual picking so this site is helping me some right now. feel free to contact mandyleeproudmomma@gmail.com and please put support buddy in subject. I am 25 and have been a picker with severe anxiety for around 15+yrs

Hey! I would love to be your buddy. I need one of those myself. If you get this you can email me at bananianna69@gmail.com.

Hey Gang. I am entirely new to this site, this being my first visit, and am self-conscious about it to say the least. I've been picking, hands the worst with feet a close second, for several years now and just really want to stop. I'm at work now, but if I had a pair of finger nail clippers I would be using them to dig more at the areas I picked for hours last night. The only thing that stops me is when i've done it too much and I start to bleed. I give them a half-day or day's rest and then at at the callouses again. This cycle is never ending. I don't know if I need a buddy, or how that works given this is my first time on here, but any help or considerations woud be much appreciated. Thanks!

I'm 21 and been doing this since i was about 2 or 3 I totally understand if you wanna talk email me at rochellemarie15@yahoo.com

So glad I found this site!!! I told my therapist about my picking habit but she made light of it. Being diabetic I fear that at some point my leg, which I am picking, could get badly infected. OMG I am not alone in this problem. You guys rock!!! Glad to be onboard.