Pita Pita and Pretty Dang Good.

Second day of trying to avoid my skin.

Today was really cool. Short day at work. Walked around my work a lot; made my own iced soy chai's in the break room two times during my shift because I'm a naturally fidgety person who can't sit in a chair too long. When work wasn't busy, I attempted to read my Introduction to Theatre textbook. (So many chapters to read and projects to present, finals are in t-minus 1.75 weeks.)

While focusing on reading I found my hands trying to find something to touch or play with. I guess skin pickers are pretty kinesthetic (and slightly nervous/anxietic, duh). My hands need to always be doing something it seems. So I found my hands trying to feel around my face or arms for something to pick at while I read. I may have started to pick, but quickly stopped myself and just kept my hands moving anytime I felt them starting to 'browse' for some random bump on my skin. I played with anything I could while reading -- pens, my clothing -- just to keep my hands from damaging me up. Luckily though, I would get interrupted from reading whenever a customer showed up, so that was wonderful! Haha :)

Overall, I only picked at one or two things today (and maybe picked/chewed on my lips a little). And it wasn't for a long period of time, it was like for a second out of my day (I'm trying to avoid my private late night 30 minute picking sessions, so this is a milestone for me). However, I will mention that my picking sessions RARELY if ever happen when lots of people are around or during daylight hours.

Anyway, I think I dun' pretty good today!

Here's the tricky part though... I may be up until almost midnight tonight like I normally am. Hopefully nothing goes terribly wrong to ruin this 'pretty good skin' day. I will definitely try to hit the hay earlier tonight.

Ugh, but I'm still kind of full from eating at Pita Jungle. I want to make sure I'm not sleeping on a full stomach! Gotta let that food process, yo. Oh man... their vegetarian pitas are yum. Yay! Vegetarians are pretty gnarly. ;)

Tonight.

So.

Let's start out with the basic therapeutic, purpose of this blog...

I am attempting to stop picking at my skin permanently.

Tonight was wonderful. I hung out with my boyfriend's family at a delicious pizza joint. We were celebrating his cousin's late birthday. To cap off the night, my boyfriend and I went to back to his place and watched the two episodes of The Office that I had missed.

Then, my boyfriend dropped me off at home... around 11:30pm -ish.

Late nights are difficult for me. That's when this bad habit creeps up on me. If I'm in the bathroom this late at night or sitting idly at my computer desk contemplating going to bed, but too paralyzed to move from my chair... it's all over for me. My mind turns to mush and I begin, you know... my terrible habit. Even if it's been a relatively low-stress day, it still can occur. The resulting severity just depends on the stress of the day overall.

Anyway, I did awesome tonight! I went into that bathroom and did not pick. I had fleece gloves on. That might be why.

So. I'm good. For now at least. :)

I am looking forward to heeling these terrible OCD wounds. I will continue the use of gloves for a bit, but I am hoping blogging and getting my numerous thoughts out and finding my trigger points will help also.