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therapy (please help me)
hello everyone.
I'm a 17 years old italian girl and I've been suffering from dermatillomania for some years now.
at the beginning of 2019 I started going to therapy and I think it's helped me understand myself better and get to know what my weaknesses are. however, I don't think my psychologist is an expert in BFRBs - he does know that CBT is the right kind of therapy in these situations and I know his intentions are good but lately I feel like it's not gonna work...he told me that the right solution to "fix my problem" is to eventually start going out in public without make-up. that's a dramatically triggering situation that I never thought I'd have to face again - in fact, it already happened when I didn't have any make-up to cover up the scars and wounds on my face and to just let everyone see my ugly skin made me pretty depressed.
the point is I believe it'd be too risky to just let it all happen again as if nothing had changed from the past - I know that it wouldn't work without a significant effort to change my attitude and mindset towards the disorder but I still struggle a lot imagining myself again in that situation...
I need to know if in the end it'll be worth it. please tell me what you think if you also suffer from dermatillomania, how therapy has helped you, what you would do in my shoes, etc.!
I have found the online therapy in this website's program super helpful. I had gone to an in person therapist in the past, was helpful in some ways, but not specifically for my skin picking issue. Acceptance is a big factor, and at some point, in my opinion, you will have to come to that. I too used to never leave the house without makeup. I would keep it with me, every time I went to the bathroom, reapplying to recover any spots I had picked. Still wear makeup to work to cover scars, but have now gone whole weekends without a drop of makeup. It's worth it. You can start slowly, just do it for an hour. Or go to a public place but where there are very few people or where no one will see you up close, like a big open park. Maybe it won't feel so traumatizing then. Focus on your strengths, all the good you have to give. You are worth it, you can do this for yourself!