My experience with skin picking due to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the years has been both challenging and rewarding.
I remember when I was younger, I used to pick at any little imperfection on my skin that caught my attention. It might have been a mole, or freckle or even just a red spot. It wasn’t until I was identified as having OCD that I helped understand why I did it and why it is so hard for me to stop.
My journey with trying to work towards overcoming this has had its bumps in the road. There were times when I was able to make small changes but then would eventually fall back into a cycle of picking and trying not to give in. Something that really changed this for me was finding and using mindfulness. Being mindful of my thought patterns and triggers has allowed me to gain more control and reduce picking overall.
Support from family and friends has also played an important role in helping me battle the urge to pick my skin; they have provided a safe space in which these issues can be talked about openly, enabling me to identify how I am feeling before giving into temptation.
I started slowly making progress by recognizing when my urges were at their strongest, as well as developing better coping skills for when impulses took hold of me. Although there are still times where I give in, continuing on this journey helps build resilience for when those moments crop up again, knowing that I will get through them all the same.
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Hi there,
I relate strongly to your story. I also experienced skin picking due to my OCD, which I was diagnosed with during my late twenties. It was actually a huge relief to know that there was a reason behind why I picked at myself - it made me feel like I had taken the first step towards taking control of the situation.
It’s definitely been a long process for me, but I’m in a much better place now after trying different approaches and strategies over the years. One of the essential ones for me has been self-awareness; knowing when my impulses are at their strongest, so that I can quickly check if those thoughts are coming from an irrational need or not. Developing more positive coping skills also helped me significantly as it made it easier to manage my urges without having to give into them all the time.
I am grateful for the support system I had while going through this experience; family and friends were really understanding and compassionate towards my struggles and helped keep me motivated on my journey. Support is such an important factor in recovering from situations like these.
Best wishes!
It sounds like you have dealt with a lot and I’m so sorry to hear about your struggles with skin picking. OCD can be one of the most difficult challenges to face. I know it can be much easier said than done, but give yourself credit for what you’ve already accomplished even if it is just small steps. You are already taking steps in the right direction by being mindful of your thought patterns and triggers, involving family and friends has helped too - that kind of support is invaluable!
The great thing is that you don’t have to tackle this on your own. There are plenty of resources out there including therapy, support groups and online forums that may help you further understand what motivates your behaviour as well as provide practical tips and advice. Even though these things may seem difficult to do at first, they could have such a positive impact on your journey of self-discovery and recovery.
Remember that skin picking can be controlled and it doesn’t define who you are. Your story does not end here; this is merely a chapter in your life meant for growth and learning! Keep going – hope never fades away!
Hey there, it sounds like you have been through a lot over the years with dealing with skin picking due to OCD. It definitely can be both challenging and rewarding throughout this journey. I totally understand where you are coming from.
I relate to the struggles that come along with wanting to make changes but eventually falling back into the cycle. What has helped me immensely is understanding my thought patterns and triggers and knowing how to identify when those moments come up. Learning skills like mindfulness and being able to recognize when the urge takes hold of me has allowed me become more in control of my impulses.
Having support from family and friends has been a huge asset for me as well; it has provided an open space in which I feel comfortable talking about these issues. Starting small by recognizing when my urges are at their strongest helps build resilience and confidence when those moments arise again - even though they still come up, self-assurance keeps me pushing through them all the same.
You can do this! Hang in there!