The advantages of using StopPicking.com
on an ongoing basis are obvious: to
reduce or stop skin picking and allow
healing to begin, to decrease avoidance
of activities because of scarring
or skin damage, to improve self-esteem
and confidence, to learn more about
SISP, and to feel in control of your
behavior.
However, working this program is a
daily commitment that will involve
some time and energy each day. In
order to gain control of your picking,
scratching or biting, you will need
to pay attention to your behavior,
your thoughts, your feelings, and
a number of other things each day.
Even if you are not able to log-on
every day, you will need to "catch
up" the next time you log-on
for the day(s) missed. Although this
is a commitment of time and energy,
it will be worth it if you can change
your behavior.
Sometimes people realize that they
are not willing to put forth the effort
required to gain control of their
picking. Oftentimes this is because
they were not "ready" to
make the changes in the first place.
Readiness is a very important part
of behavioral change. For example,
many people want to start an exercise
program and plan to do so and may
even take some steps to begin a program
(like join a health club). After a
few weeks, however, they forget about
the new program and fall back into
old habits. The same is true with
SISP. Many people want to stop and
may even make some efforts to make
changes, but these efforts peter out
after a short time and they "give
up" or simply "forget"
about their goals.
One goal of this section is to let
people know that readiness for change
is a very important ingredient in
the recipe for success. If by reading
this section you decide that you are
not ready, that is OK! Lots of people
want to stop picking, but are simply
not there yet. Another goal of this
section is to help people get to the
point of readiness. We are hoping
to help people who are almost ready
to get to the point of action. Ways
to get to the point of action are:
1. Begin to imagine yourself as
someone who does not pick their
skin, imagine your skin beginning
to heal and your scars fading
over time. Really fantasize about
how this would be for you and
really see yourself in a different
way.
2. Tell someone that doesn't know
about your behavior that you pick.
Because SISP is a behavior surrounded
with shame, people hide their
symptoms from most people in their
lives. Telling others that you
pick your skin can start to break
down the shame and foster self-acceptance.
Joining a group of people who
also pick or attending a TLC retreat
or convention can catapult you
into action and self-acceptance.
3. Start to educate others about
SISP. Once you have told some
people about your behavior you
can begin to educate others about
what it is and how common a behavior
it is (i.e., 4% of college students
do it). You will likely be surprised
at how others will not only support
you, but may even tell you how
they know people who do the same
thing!