Skin Picking Success Story by Caroline C. [TLC conference 2014]

One of the first and greatest hurdles to overcome to successfully be skin-pick free is to open up to someone who cares and to seek help and support. So imagine the courage it must take to stand up in from of hundreds of people, in front of a camera, and admit that you are a skin-picker.

In this video clip, a brave woman named Caroline does just that. Not only does she admit to being a skin-picker, but she also describes her skin-picking habits in detail and gives an emotional account of how skin-picking has impacted her life socially and academically. She describes the journey that so many with dermatillomania can relate to, in which the shame and guilt of her skin-picking habits drove her to engage in other destructive behaviours such as drug abuse. She describes a life spiraling out of control and failed attempts at managing her condition with therapy and support groups.

But there is joy to be found in Caroline’s story. She shares a lesson of hope and perseverance and most importantly the value of having the support of someone who understands you and understands your condition. Caroline does not dismiss the mainstream therapeutic approaches or support groups, describing them as having provided her with important tools that helped her on her journey to recovery. But it was having someone in her corner at her times of greatest need that helped her put those tools to effective use.

At the time of this clip, Caroline had gone from being an aggressive daily picker to having picked no more than 50 times within 6 months. Caroline is proud of what she has achieved and is so confident in her ability to manage her condition that she has chosen a strapless wedding gown in her upcoming wedding. But most importantly, Caroline has dispelled the feelings of shame and guilt, and has instead embraced confidence and hope for her future…a beautiful example of the possibility for all those suffering with dermatillomania.