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Lip Picking
Hi Everyone. I'm a new member, but only because when i searched for support forums years and years back i hadn't found any and gave up on it. I have been picking my lips for 15 years now and have been (unsuccessfully) trying to stop for about 10 of them. In fact, as i've spent the past 2 hours reading on this forum, i've been compulsively picking my lips and saying to myself, "this needs to stop, now." What makes this current attempt so important to me is I am getting married in 2 months and the last thing i want is to walk down the isle with discolored and scabbed lips. I am at a loss for ideas, though this forum has been incredibly helpful and supportive so far. In fact, way more so than my therapist who immediately suggested, "you should go on OCD medication" (which i am considering but fear the side effects).
Anyway, i am writing for support, short term/immediate suggestions for lip healing (they look terrible right now and i need to see my parents this weekend who have always given me a lot of crap about this...), and long term advice of what really works to stop for good. Thanks in advance!!
April 24, 2010
welcome clinicalgal. i can sure understand your wanting to get a grip on your compulsion before your wedding. what tactics have you tried over the years? for your fingers, perhaps wearing gloves might help at times, unless you're biting too. i'm sure you've tried glosses and salves on your lips. medications might definitely help to a point, but when it comes right down to it, it's going to take a committed determination to quit doing it along with a host of tactics to help distract you and an examination of the times and reasons you find yourself doing it to think about whilst being strong about simply not doing it. support and understanding from others is really helpful, but others can fail you at times and you have to be strong enough for yourself, by yourself. i really hope you can get your lips healed up for your wedding pics, but also for the rest of your life. it will be a long haul getting over this but in the end it will be worth it. all the best to you !!