This is for the amazing work the @pickingmefdn is doing and the #whatswithurskin campaign Normally I put band-aids on my fingers if I’ve been picking them, so I don’t have to answer many questions about what’s going on with my fingers. Over the past few years it hasn’t been as bad, but every now and again, usually when I’m super anxious I’ll pick until they bleed or it’s too painful. Figuring out why skin picking, which I consider a form of self-harm, and a coping mechanism to deal with anxiety has been a huge part of my recovery from mental health problems. I've developed many coping skills to help myself heal, but they don't always work, and I'm learning to be at peace with that. The most important thing for me is that I'm dedicated to healing and I take my mental health very seriously. The hardest question I've ever really had to answer was from my son. "why do you have those band-aids on your fingers daddy?" Not an easy question to answer to a little kid, and one I haven't found the right words to describe. I've said things like, oh I cut or scrapped myself. Since the worst of my skin picking is definitely behind me, and I always covered them up with bandaids, I was able to hide the worst of it. I think it's important for people to be aware that these issues are complex, and there are many ways we can heal from them. When our focus is on the healing and what we can do to help ourselves, we're empowered and we can thrive regardless of our challenges. I hope this campaign and your work continues to do that! I'm grateful for people like you and I see this type of work as the key to addressing the problems our healthcare systems can't solve. #mentalhealth #mentalillness #recovery #wellbeing #wellness #resilience #love #compassion #advocate #skinpicking #compulsiveskinpicking #mindfulness (at Old Toronto)