Home > Dermatillomania (Skin-Picking Disorder) > Dear Parents: On Relapse

Dear parents,

I’ve seen your online posts and have heard stories from your children. I get it. You’re frustrated because you don’t quite understand and because you want the best for your child. You want your child to be healthy and happy. But you don’t know what else to do and get upset because you can’t fix things for your child.

I get it. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it.

But there’s something you need to know.

Dear parents,

Relapse is not a tragedy or a wrecking ball against recovery. Just because your child has picked or pulled again doesn’t mean that how well they were doing is ruined.

The nature of BFRBs is that they wax and wane. They come and go, come and go. Some days are good and others are bad. That’s just the way it is and we deal with it.

But it is not a tragedy. That is unless you make it one.

Dear parents,

I understand your frustration, but the best thing you can do for yourself and your child is educate yourself. Educate yourself so you can know how to support your child and ease your own frustration. It takes time, but it can start with you. It can start with you showing your child that while it may be frustrating, it is not a tragedy. It is just something to work through and get better at working through.

Dear parents,

Know that even on the dark days you and your child can make it through this together.

 

 

 

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