YOU ARE NOT ALONE: REAL LIFE STORIES
Anonymous Notes From Picky People – Open Door Policy
I have finally let my boyfriend know about my habit. I mean he already knew. The evidence was right there on my face every night, but we just didn’t talk about it.
Sometimes I get so obsessive about skin picking I pick at my boyfriend’s zits. He sometimes breaks out on his upper back and I know it might sound kinda gross, but I really get off on picking and cleaning his back up. The interesting thing is, I am much more careful about it when I pick on him. I am more likely to wash my hands, sterilize my picking tools and use tissue wrapped around my fingers with him. With myself I am much more cavalier and not so careful. It amazes me that he lets me do it. I think he thinks that if I work on him it will make me work on myself less. Sometimes this is true. The gross-out aspect of someone else’s zits can be really disgusting and makes me think twice. But then other times it doesn’t make a difference at all because I am so immune to my nasty ritual.
I have moved on to leaving the bathroom door open when I pick. I used to shut the door and get angry if he knocked or tried to come in while I was picking. It felt so invasive and I was scared I would be found out. I was uncomfortable with having my habit out in the open at first. But as part of my attempt to stop picking, I don’t close the door anymore
Now I have actually picked in front of him, but as a result I tend to be more gentle and ‘professional’ with my skin when he is around. I feel guilty not being careful and sensible about my regime. So I have found being out in the open has helped out in that way.
