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azure , 29 Nov 2009

My forty-day plan....WHO'S WITH ME?!

Hey people! Okay, I've heard that in order to beat a bad habit, you have to NOT do that bad habit for forty days. Once you have successfully been habit-free for forty days (AND NO CHEATING), then the habit has been beaten. Hooray. And if you cheat, then you have to start all over again. It's supposed to be forty consecutive days. Okay.... So, I'm going to try to stop picking at my face and any other body part. I already cheated a bit, so today is DAY ONE. However, I'm happy to say that even though I did cheat a little bit, I did not go all out like I usually do. It's been three days. BUT, I did cheat, I acknowledge that, so today is officially DAY ONE. Would anyone like to join me? This is what I'm doing: I always pick in front of a mirror. So, now I spend as little time in the bathroom as possible. If I look in the mirror, I run out of the bathroom. But let's say I need to put make-up on (my make-up is in there anyway)...I open the door to the bathroom and then proceed to apply my make-up. My parents' bedroom is right across from the bathroom, and they have started to count how many minutes I'm in the bathroom. And this is a good thing! Moral support really helps even though it's technically an invasion of privacy! .....but now I'm worried that I'll develop a fear of mirrors.....so I look in the mirror a little bit everyday and spend a bit more time (like a few seconds, no need to stand right in front of it for a long time if I'm trying to beat this thing) in front of it everyday. I want to beat this thing, I want my life back and I want my face back. I could use the moral support and everyone's welcome to join me! Post your forty days here! Yeah, there's a huge chance that it's not going to work....but smokers have done the forty days too! This is also an addiction, and I'm sixteen years old. I've got my whole life to look forward to and I will beat this thing somehow. Starting right now. Let's see how I do for DAY ONE. WHO IS WITH ME?
162 Answers
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azure
November 30, 2009
Thank you, Hope!!!!!!!! And DAY ONE was a success! One down, thirty-nine to go. How about you, Hope? Success? I'm rooting for you! Much love to everyone, we can do this!
hope
December 02, 2009
Ok, almost the end of DAY THREE for me! This is definitely hard because I tend to think about it a lot when I'm at home after work, but I think I've been good about occupying my time :) Excited about doing this and knowing that I'm not alone! Good luck to everyone!!
hope
December 03, 2009
You too :) It really helps knowing that I'm not in this alone... more than you know! And I've got the 40 day countdown (in numbers) written down on my mirror. So satisfying to mark '40', then '39', then '38' off :) Tonight will be '37' and I'm already seeing good results!
Dust
January 25, 2010
I have been picking at my facial acne for several years, and I have thought I was alone. Now I have found this site, and I realize that I'm not. I have tried to stop multiple times, but to no success. I pick my zits until they are bright red and bleeding. I hate the feeling of shame I get while doing it, and I really hate walking into school with bright red zits all over my face. My self-estime is always low. Being in middle shool, looks seem to really matter to everyone (though not to me) and I want to fit in. Reading all of your stories inspired me greatly, and I really want to try this 40 day picking withdrawl. I cannot believe other people are like me. Thank you so much for sharing your stories. Okay, DAY ONE starts tomorrow. I think, because I have told you all this now, I will not only feel a committment to myself, but to you all too. So thank you all very much and I hope I will be blemish-free within 40 days! ~Dust PS-I will put a sticker on my calendar, too!
Karen
November 30, 2009
I'd like to give it a try, but I will have to be on day one tomorrow (Dec 1). Is it okay if I'm a couple of days behind you?
Mecha
December 01, 2009
I've been picking since I was a child, the last few years it's gotten really bad. My shoulders and back are covered in scars because of it, I'm so sick of seeing scars/scabs every time I look in the mirror. I'm always trying to stop but always fail horribly! Some moral support would be helpfull, I'm 16 as well and can't talk to my parents about this. It's just too embarrassing! Anyway I would like to try this out, I'm sure I'll be starting over 6 million times but.....at least I can say I tried.
azure
December 02, 2009
Hello Mecha! I know how it feels to be handling this thing all on your own, my parents didn't know about it for years. I do recommend telling your parents about this because they are your biggest supporters but if you feel that you can't do it, always know that there are people here on this site that know what you are going through and that are on your side. You can do it, sweetie. It doesn't matter how many times you start this, what matters is that you start in the first place. We're here for you! Good luck!
InShiningArmor
December 01, 2009
I will definitely try! ok....day one I guess!! haha
Beth
December 01, 2009
Ok, I'm in. It might sound childish, but I'm going to put a sticker on my calender at the end of each day that I succeed!
azure
December 02, 2009
Hooray for joining the forty-day-thingy! Double hooray for the stickers! It's absolutely not childish, it's a good way to remember how many days you have been successful. You can do it and we're all here rooting for you!
Beth
December 02, 2009
Yay, one sticker on the calendar for me! I keep having to stop myself, but so far it's not too bad. Good thing it's too cold for short sleeves, so I can't get to my arms that easily.
azure
December 02, 2009
Hello awesome people! First off, welcome to the new people that have joined the forty-day-thingy (I need a better name for this)! I will try to reply to all comments as well as add my own thoughts on this journey. Well, my computer was being evil yesterday. It wouldn't let me log on for some reason, so I couldn't tell anyone that DAY TWO was a success. The first three days are the most difficult, I froze in front of the mirror yesterday and couldn't move. I actually reached for my face but then I remembered my commitment. My commitment to my face, my life, my well-being in general. So then I moved....and ran away from the mirror! Haha, I have to make sure that I don't develop some type of phobia to mirrors once this is over....DAY THREE is almost over for me, and I am so glad that I have my family and friends backing me up in all this. I just told my best friend about the skinpicking and about my plan to fix it. She reached out and hugged me and told me how proud she was that I'm really trying to get rid of this. It made me appreciate our friendship even more, knowing that she would be here to help me. So, I want to let everyone here know that it's okay to tell your loved ones about this problem. I used to be so terrified about my parents finding out about this because I thought it was so disgusting and that they wouldn't understand. I was so wrong. My parents are actually my biggest cheerleaders! The support and love that they are giving me really help me find the strength to fight this. So, moral support is definitely a must. And don't you go and tell me that you don't have anyone to back you, because I AM HERE. I am here. And so are others that completely understand your struggle. We're here. We're in this together, everyone. Let's beat this! And it all starts with DAY ONE...Much love!
cosmic girl
December 02, 2009
Hello! I am in too, since I found out that this thing I have been doing in some form or another for 35 years (now 42) is a condition that thousands of people suffer from, I have hardly picked at all. But I did a little last night, so I am starting again from today. You are so right, if you can just break the habit for 40 days, you almost certainly won't feel the urge to pick any more. It's all about awareness, and being in the moment in another way, instead of achieving that by picking. And the look of the healing skin will spur us all on. And knowing where the dangers lie, for you mirrors, for me, evenings watching TV... Good luck everyone!
nde
December 03, 2009
i skinpick only when i am stressed out. i am applying to medical school this year and i cannot stop. it is only one scab at a time but it seems every time that one scab heals i somehow start another one. i also do it in the mirror and when i am alone so im going to avoid mirrors and make sure i do work at the library. i really would like to stop--i don't know why i do this i am happy with the way i look and this is the only thing that makes me unhappy. maybe if i have this to focus on and relieve stress i distract myself from my real anxiety about this entire application process and the changes that will inevitably in my life next year. this happened also when i was applying to college except instead of skinpicking i developed an eating disorder. as soon as i was in to school i completely stopped and was eating completely normally again so now i see the cycle starting over with something new. i need to really address my anxiety issues because i will constantly have to deal with rejection in life and it is something i should learn not to take so personally. i feel like it's very easy for me to self-analyze and recognize where my compulsions stem from but very hard to fix them :(. to try and stop during finals and interviews seems quite challenging but i want to try and start this now. i figure if i quit this and accept that it's ok to be stressed about the process i am going through then i will feel much better with myself. i have been trying to do a similar 40 day thing on my own but perhaps using this forum will help me stay motivated. my boyfriend is coming this weekend which will be good because every time im with him i never pick--good way to start the hardest few days! anyways words of encouragement are greatly appreciated--here's to day one.
la17
December 04, 2009
thanks nde for the inspiration to write. seeing the similarities in our situations made me feel a lot less alone. i am also planning to go to med school and studying for the mcats. i find that i spend so much valuable time in front of the mirror instead of in front of my books! this will be the first time i have made an open/public commitment to stop this thing that has been part of my life for far too long. i also suffered from an eating disorder and feel as if i have that under control, therefore i am ready to work toward letting go of skin picking. i find myself anxious even over the thought of it. as much as i am embarrassed to admit it is a part of my life, i have formed an extremely strong attachment to the habit. i have tried to reduce anxiety through meditation, yoga, running, and various other forms of relaxation/stress reduction but i think that the behavior is more than just a way to reduce stress for me. either way, i am ready to give 40 days a shot. thanks for everyone on here for your support. 1
dfj
December 04, 2009
Dear nde and la17. I was overwhelmed to read your two posts. I too am in the midst of graduate school applications; I too had an eating disorder some years back; I too have a very real problem with my skin. Tonight I felt so sad and helpless about it that I fell into a sort of panic. It has never been so intense. I found this forum, this first one I have ever been on -- I never would have thought to write were it not for your two posts. I feel less alone. Thank you. D

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