I'm doing 40 things
I have just recently stopped doing this after a lifetime with this habit. I am about three or four weeks in which is amazing in and of itself. I’m not out of the woods yet, but this is much further than I have ever gotten. The major motivation was that I got this habit as a kid from my mom – just seeing her do it caused me to start doing it – and I would hate to pass this on to my kids. That thought alone was my major motivation – and I don’t even have kids right now – it’s for my future kids. Being on the other side is wonderful. I don’t have to worry about my lips being discolored and bloody – and what other people must have thought when they saw them like that. It’s so difficult to really just quit. I had tried many times before, but I always couldn’t get through the first week or so. Somehow I made it through this time and it has gotten much easier. I have picked some of the inevitable hanging skin off, but I just keep trying to avoid even doing that and I don’t get down on myself if I do it. That’s much different than the previous picking until there was nothing left to pick.
I feel for anyone who has this. It’s very difficult to stop. My advice is just to push through the first two weeks. Those are the hardest. The skin will be begging to be picked, but you just have to moisten, moisten, moisten and consciously keep your hands away. After that, your lips will realize that you’re not going to pick anymore and they’ll start to feel different which will make it easier not to pick. When dead skin does start to come off, I gently and lightly scrub it with a moist washcloth – then moisturize it some more.
Good luck to you all! =0]
