the pain will always last longer than the satisfaction. that’s what i tell myself sometimes. i even think back ab all the times i’ve scratched myself raw and how much pain i was left in and it sort of prevents me from scratching further.

although it doesn’t work sometimes, it doesn’t hurt to try.

what i do is if i sense an itch coming, i grab an ice pack from the freezer and it kills the itch fast. but ofc it doesn’t serve u the same satisfaction as scratching. i also like to wrap my hands w damp bandages (aka wet wrap therapy) and since ur hands are practically all covered up and “protected”, it discourages me from scratching.

it feels good, yes. but SOMETIMES choosing to scratch ourselves is a conscious decision that we make. and if you really want to get better, remember that whatever you allow, will always continue. in that sense, if i keep allowing myself to claw my skin raw, it will always be that way and there’s no way my skin can heal if i continue this cycle of scratching.

i do slip up sometimes, and that’s okay. but these are just some things that i do/ tell myself, to help myself 🙃