Self-Harm And Picking: Pick Apples, Not Your Skin

It’s getting close to the season of pumpkins and cinnamon and apples. In some places, it is already here and the walls of stores are painted in orange and black. Since recently a lot of my blogs have focused on skin picking, I’ll just keep the topic going for a little bit longer. This being my favorite season of the year, I’ve decided to make a pact with myself when it comes to self-harm, even though I technically haven’t self-harmed in over five years.

I will stop picking my skin and pick apples instead. Well, sort of.

I’ve brought up the topic of body-focused repetitive behaviors numerous times throughout my blogs and, like I’ve said before, my major concern in this realm is skin picking. I haven’t cut myself in years, but I’ve always picked my arms with no true reason behind it besides habit. I guess, in a way, I do it when I’m bored or distracted, but I’ve never been able to pinpoint true reason behind the action. I’m not really doing it to redirect or distract myself, like my past self-harm was for. I’m not doing it to feel the pain of reality and to see it physically.

The reason I do it is still a mystery to me, but this mystery needs to stop.

A New Season, A New Start

Like I stated above, fall is pretty much here. I love the season because it is a time of change – leaves changing, clothing styles are changing and, of course, personas change for Halloween. Since it is a season of change, why not start by making a change for yourself?

Over the past couple weeks, I’ve jumped right into Zumba and am on my way to becoming a certified instructor. I wrote about this in my blog on exercise and since then, I’ve actually started really getting my butt into shape. Another change that I’m going to be focusing on is picking my skin. I do not need to pick my skin because there really isn’t any logic behind my doing so.

However, for those still struggling with cutting or burning or picking, right now is the perfect time to make a plan to change those negative behaviors. If you live in the north east, like I do, look outside your window. The world is changing around you and you too can jump on the bandwagon.

Go pick some apples and pumpkins or watch some classic scary movies. Go look for Halloween costumes or go on a haunted hayride with some friends. Do these positive things instead of hurting yourself.

Or, if you’re not a fan of fall, change up your routine and set your mind to it. Start going to the gym or take some Zumba classes. Believe me, those classes definitely get that positive energy flowing. Start writing things down, like my last blog discussed. Start using all of those coping skills that have been discussed in my blogs and that you know you have.

Fall has only just begun, so cherish everything going on around you and join in on the positive change.