Mental health struggles can take many forms, and two often-discussed behaviors are dermatillomania and self-harm. Although they may seem similar on the surface, they differ significantly in their motivations, expressions, and effects on those who experience them. Let’s take a closer look at both conditions to better understand their complexities. What is Dermatillomania? Dermatillomania, or […]
Hair pulling, or trichotillomania, is a condition that affects many people, yet remains relatively misunderstood. Characterized by a compulsive urge to pull out one’s own hair, trichotillomania is a type of body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) that can have profound effects on a person’s emotional and physical well-being. This blog post may help you understand your […]
It’s time to debunk some of the myths about Dermatillomania (skin picking disorder) and Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder) as well as other forms of body focused repetitive behaviours. Myth #1 – BFRB’s are just bad habits It has become apparent in recent research that skin picking or hair pulling are actually a mental disorder that […]
Probably the worst thing you can say to someone suffering from dermatillomania is “just stop it”. I mean, honestly, you don’t think I would stop if I could? It’s not a conscious choice to pick, dig, squeeze and destroy my face for everyone to see. The embarrassment of what I do to myself has been […]
My face is full of scars. Permanent marks that tell my story of over 30 years of picking, squeezing, and scratching at my own face. It’s something I never openly talked about before. It’s still tough for me to share. But why is that? The estimate is that at least 10% of people suffer from […]
🌺 Heal Body Focused Repetitive Behavior
👌 Skin Picking Disorder
💇♀️ Hair Pulling Disorder
🫂 BFRB
A setback, not a failure. This is what my healing journey with dermatillomania looked like in a difficult moment. It’s a challenging road, and moments like these felt defeating at the time, but they won’t define me. I chose to see this as a temporary detour, not the end of the road. My resilience is stronger than any urge to pick. This is a reminder to embrace self-compassion and continue fighting for my well-being. To anyone else out there facing similar struggles: keep going. You are stronger than you think.
#Dermatillomania #SkinPicking #BFRB #CompulsiveSkinPicking #SkinPickingDisorder #HealingJourney #MentalHealthMatters
#ProgressNotPerfection #BFRBAwareness #SupportGroup #MentalHealthAwareness
#RawAndReal #VulnerabilityIsStrength
It’s been a week (and a weekend) of challenges: Rainy days, sick kids, missing out on things we were excited about…
But I’m taking a tiny moment of peace in the chaos. Sometimes, that’s all the therapy I need.
Life is hard.
Parenting is hard.
To keep going is hard.
Remembering yourself is necessary.
#ownmyskin #mentalhealthnewzealand #dermatillomania #skinpickungdisorder #exoriationdisorder #dermatillomanianz #pickingme #adhd #autism #anxiety #depression #littlemoments #recovery
My scars? They’re chapters in my story of fighting dermatillomania. Every mark speaks to the emotional rollercoaster of life and the battles I’ve faced. I used to cope by picking, but I’m actively learning to redirect those habits and embrace healthier choices.
It’s a challenge every single day, but I know I’m worth it.
To anyone else on this journey: you are not alone. Keep fighting, one day at a time. ❤️
#Dermatillomania #SkinPickingDisorder #pickingme #MentalHealthAwareness #InvisibleIllness #KeepFighting #MentalHealthJourney #ScarsTellStories
Just a little reminder to enjoy the simple things in life. Challenge yourself to notice the good in every day. It doesn’t come natural but we can train our mind to appreciate more. Live in the moment. Take a deep breath 💛
#mentalhealthnewzealand #mentalhealthawareness #dermatillomania #positivethinker #bfrb #ownmyskin #ocd #adhd #depression #anxiety #anxietyhelp #skinpicking
“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.” – Christopher Reeve. I navigate a BFRB and feel like this quote holds so much power. The path to managing skin picking or hair pulling isn’t always linear, and there will be tough days. But when you choose hope, you’re choosing to keep trying, to explore new coping mechanisms, and to believe in your own resilience. It’s that consistent spark of hope that fuels progress, reminding us that even the smallest steps forward are significant.
What’s one hopeful step you’re taking this week?
#pickingme #HopeAndHealing #Resilience #YouAreNotAlone #HealingJourney #MentalHealthNZ #MentalHealthAwarenessMentalHealthMatters #Anxiety #ocd #adhd #autism #SkinPicking #dermatillomania #ownmyskin #trichotillomania #trich #CompulsiveSkinPicking #excoriationdisorder
👌 This isn’t just a skincare routine;
this is healing from dermatillomania. Reclaiming the relationship with my skin.
My whole life I battled with skin picking disorder, constantly damaging my skin, feeling like I was trapped in a cycle I couldn’t break. Implementing a natural, gentle skincare regimen was part of my turning point. Each step became a moment of focus, a deliberate act of choosing healing over harm. It taught me to be mindful, to be consistent,
and to ultimately take control of my skin’s health. It wasn’t overnight, but slowly this routine provided the boundaries I needed to break free from picking and truly heal.
It didn’t just transform my complexion;
it gave me the power to heal from within,
to take active control over my skin health and my recovery.
I’ll be sharing more of my healing and research into #skinpickingdisorder so join me for more.
And I’d really love to hear your story 💬
For private sharing join the OwnMySkin Facebook group 🙆
#dermatillomania #bfrb #mentalhealth #mentalhealthnz #SkinPicking #bodyfocusedrepetitivebehaviours #recovery #skincare #skinhealth #naturalskincarethatworks #adhdnz #autismnz #ocd #anxietynz
These are my favorite silicone fidget rings! Seriously, I love these so much. They’re perfect for keeping my hands busy and my mind calm. 😌 They’ve been a really helpful tool for me.
#Dermatillomania #SkinPickingDisorder #CompulsiveSkinPicking #BodyFocusedRepetitiveBehaviors #BFRB #Trichotillomania #AnxietyRelief #FidgetToys #SelfSoothing #MentalHealthAwareness #HealingJourney #SkincareJourney #PickingRecovery #fidget #adhdwomen
This is me. Raw. Untouched. Healing. After a challenging journey, I’m finally able to share an image with no makeup and no picked wounds.
It was a challenging road to reach this point. Soon, I’ll be sharing every step of that journey with you in an online course at OwnMySkin.com
#OwnMySkin #dermatillomania #BFRB #bodyfocusedrepetitivedisorders #mentalhealthnz #HealingProcess #skinpicking #ADHD #autism #pickingme #unfiltered #SkinHealth #MindfulHealing #TransformationJourney
I love a good do-it-yourself project, but let’s be honest, it never ends up the way I planned. Unfortunately it’s the same with my skin. I get obsessed with a clogged pore - keep trying to fix it - only to realise I made it far worse than it was…
Can you relate?
#skinpicking #dermatillomania #bfrb #bodyfocusedrepetitivebehaviours #dermatillomanianz #newzealandmentalhealth #regret #exoriationdisorder #adhdnz #autismnewzealand
I lose to the urge sometimes 🫶
But that doesn’t mean I’m failing. It means I’m human.
Healing isn’t linear, and every day I keep showing up is a win. 🙌
#BFRB #Dermatillomania #SkinPickingDisorder #MentalHealthAwareness #BFRBRecovery #ProgressNotPerfection #HealingJourney #OwnMySkin #ImperfectlyHealing #youarenotalone