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Iwillpickneveragain , 29 Jul 2013

No more picking journal

I am 17 male and have been picking KP on my arms and chest for as long as I've had it (since around 12?) I also have trouble with picking blackheads on my back/shoulders which usually become irritated and turn into big painful pimples (either that or they're popping up out of nowhere). I think my picking started when I was little. When I got in trouble my parents made me stand in a corner and I'd pick paint off the wall, it was a stress reliever and as I got older I'd pick any scabs I got and would take months to fully heal. I'm making this for log/journal thing for myself to post my progress, and hopefully quit picking for good, I feel that if this is online for other people to see it'll be easier for me stop. Whenever I tell myself I'll stop picking I just can't, I haven't gone a single day without picking something, as of right now I have around 80 red marks on my chest, arms and back. So here starts my quest to stop picking, I'll be posting daily on my progress.
59 Answers
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Trying-to-Look…
August 07, 2013
Yes!! That is it exactly! Don't put it all over, only on the spots. Try and massage it on there. I have been massaging oil on my spots when I watch TV instead of picking them. I would try it on a small area first, just to make sure you don't have a reaction.
Trying-to-Look…
August 07, 2013
Yay! You stepped away! That is awesome! You are not weak because you were able to tell yourself no! Consider the first step in the process complete. Now, you KNOW that you CAN stop and you just need to remember that. Every time you want to pick, distract yourself and remind yourself that you CAN step away because you have done it before. Don't be pissed! Be proud because this is so much harder than people make it out to be. Normal people don't understand, so we have to help each other on here. Tomorrow is a new day, so just stay positive!
Iwillpickneveragain
August 06, 2013
It's been 5 days without picking, this is the longest I've ever gone. I also got a tan in my backyard which is helping a lot with red mark/scars on my chest and back.
rubberducke
August 08, 2013
My problem is that whenever I manage to let the scabs heal, I get real zits and blackheads. Then they get bigger until I crack and pop them all. Then it takes me a month or three to stop again.... until I start again. That's my cycle of sorts.
rubberducke
August 08, 2013
I've gone two now, three if you count Monday. I have a really annoying blackhead on my shoulder, but I'm not going to pick it.
Trying-to-Look…
August 10, 2013
This really is great. I can't believe how much easier it is to over come things when talking about it. I am not going to lie, I still pick, but only for a brief second. Literally not even a minute. I don't use tweezers, needles or any tools anymore. All I will do is gently pop open any white head, (WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN 2) and barely press on it. I used to dig and dig until I left a bloody pit in my skin. BOTH of those white heads are completely gone and healed up so quickly! I do still have some dry spots from old scabs that are finally healing over, but I have NO RAW SKIN. I cannot believe how much better my complexion has gotten from not touching my face all the time to pick it. Keep up all of your great work too!! :)
Iwillpickneveragain
August 10, 2013
I now how you feel, it seems like just yesterday I would pick every single bump, whitehead, whatever on my body and it would be covered in red bumps and I wouldn't even want to leave my room so that any of my family would see me. But now It's been like my 8-10th day? of no picking, my face is completely clear of zits, I still get little white bumps on my forehead and cheeks but they're small bumps that are just natural that about everyone has. I feel great I no longer worry about leaving the house or anything I just gotta stop the cause of this back acne I still get a couple big zits every week around my back, maybe that's just normal for most people my age. Glad to hear we're all doing so well we can keep this up :)
Rosa
August 11, 2013
Just creeping on your topic haha and I just want to say how encouraging it is to read. I'm sitting here feeling so proud of you guys and want to up my game because of your success. Well done, keep it up :)
rubberducke
August 12, 2013
I just picked my face again a little, and I've been picking my fingers all day. I'm so pissed at myself right now because I had been doing really good.
Trying-to-Look…
August 12, 2013
Just focus on one area and dedicate your time to that. Once you no longer pick one area move to the next. So I would stop picking your face and make that a goal. Let it go for a couple weeks and then make a new goal to not pick your fingers! It takes time! I got fried at the water park this weekend, so I am praying I don't start to peel bc I know I will relapse if I do!! Fingers crossed that I don't peel!
Iwillpickneveragain
August 12, 2013
This is true, when I have a scab free chest it makes it so much easier not to pick at it because I don't want to ruin my scab-less chest, same goes for arms and back. But if there is a scab or two I start thinking "it's already messed up, so picking some more won't hurt" Anyway I'm on my 12th day without picking, I'm concentrating more on weight lifting so my mind has been occupied with that rather than picking.
Iwillpickneveragain
August 18, 2013
15 days of no picking I think? I lost track. I have still been picking a bit occasionally but I have made through many days without picking once. My main concern now is my back, seems like I just scratched it a few times and about 10 red bumps popped up overnight, whether they are actual pimples or not I'll have to find out. Hope everyone reading is doing good.
rubberducke
August 18, 2013
I'm starting to do really bad again and I don't know why. If I stopped right now, my face would probably heal fairly quickly..... but I keep picking. I don't know what to do.

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