Coping Methods

So here I am!  Roughly 10 months  to a year into my withdrawal.
I have learned to cope with my crap skin. And sadly most areas have only got the gradually worse. But it is so gradual. Every so called improvement undoes itself within days to weeks.

But the bright side is that I live a pretty normal life. I have gotten used to TSW and rarely spend entire days in bed anymore agonizing about the discomfort of my skin. I have learned all the methods and things to do when I flare...so life goes on. I thought I would share some of my solutions and things I do to help keep life normal.

Problem #1-Intense itch
Solution -Hydrotherapy... Fancy word for...get in the shower... Take your shower head and target it on the itchy area with hot water and then cold. Do this for about 20,seconds each temperature. Always end with cold...so when you put your creams on your skin is numb and itching is minimal

Problem,# 2 Inflamed skin
Solution- Fast for a day and sleep for most the day.  Sounds weird but when I don't eat and sleep my skin is always better the next day. I figured this out after some encounters with the flu.

Problem #3- Dry Skin
Solution- Olive Butter.  My friend sells it on her site lishuanaturals.com   It is great for dry cracked skin.

Problem #4- Discouragement
Solution- Resolve that this is just your life and your skin. I think what makes tsw so hard is because we are always agonizing over when it will be over? When will we have normal skin? And the list goes on. Just say to yourself... This is my skin and there ain't nuttin  I can do to change it. Learn to make it feel as best you can...but quit the healed thoughts all the time. After awhile the hope of healing becomes discouraging.  Don't let healing be your focus... But being as comfortable as you can with the skin you have!

Well that's my two cents worth!!