The Emotional Toll of Skin Outbreaks
Me sporting a cold sore and teary eyes. All part of the healing process :)
As I write this I have cold sores all over my face – 3 visible ones on my lips and both nostrils are lined with them. I can’t help but be reminded of the physical pain of the healing phase.
It’s deeply uncomfortable.
Not only am I grappling with physical pain, but I’m also facing a flood of emotional vulnerability. There’s no going around or denying the shame and embarrassment felt. There’s even a twinge of PTSD from my chronic acne days.
There are still urges to hide my face, hide from others, or cover up the red tender sores under makeup. Even after 6 years of this work I still feel these things and think these thoughts. It’s human, after all.
AND there’s another side.
Over the past 6 years, I have dedicated my energy to cultivating a vital aspect of myself – my self-acceptance. This journey has been like tending to a delicate plant within me, providing it with the care and nourishment it needs to grow and thrive. And now it has grown into a resilient plant, I can feel a strength in my core.
Throughout this journey I have been strengthening my belief that my skin is performing deep healing work, reinforcing my belief that my outbreaks, scars and imperfections are signs of healing and growth, reminding me that progress is being made, even during the most challenging times.
My job now, with a face full of painful cold sores, is to hold my vulnerability with tenderness and compassion. To allow myself and my skin some grace, and to practice patience while my body does its job. And to anticipate the return of clear smooth comfortable skin that I know lies underneath.
Inviting you to hold your own vulnerability with tenderness and compassion,
Anne
What’s next for you?
In case you missed it:
Read my personal story with chronic acne and what finally helped me find the results I had been dreaming of.
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