[LostOne369]

OK, here's a dumb and embarrassing question.

I have T today. I suddenly developed a huge pimple on my nose. Not just a pimple, but a bigger than average almost small boil type blemish. There's nothing I can do about it. I don't know why it happened, I am 43 and never get acne.

I'm embarrassed to go to T. I almost cancelled but didn't. Makeup seems to only do a so-so job. I'm contemplating slapping on a band-aid on my nose. But then I'd have to think of a story to go along with it.

I don't want to go to T looking like this. Argh!

[JustShakey]

I'd go with the band-aid. I had to do that a while back when I got a horrible draining staph bump on my chin.

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[LostOne369]

Originally Posted by JustShakey

I'd go with the band-aid. I had to do that a while back when I got a horrible draining staph bump on my chin.

What would be a good reason for the band-aid in T when she asks (I know she will!). Got hit in the face with a stick or branch? Hit with a ball? Something like that?

[JustShakey]

Originally Posted by LostOne369

What would be a good reason for the band-aid in T when she asks (I know she will!). Got hit in the face with a stick or branch? Hit with a ball? Something like that?

Infected pimple You can get them from something as simple as a blocked pore.

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[Inner_Firefly]

Your question is not stupid. I understand. You can't help what grows on your face. The blemish makes you feel self conscious. Of course you feel the urge to cover up. It could be very interesting test to see whether you are accepted for who you are, when you show up with your blemish. If you go in with a story and bandage, it may possibly not feel as honest as if you go in as your real self. It could be a symbol of showing your T all your flaws and still be accepted unconditionally. I have a chronic glaring skin disease all over my face, and my therapist accepts me completely. I feel I can be as ugly as I want and she will still love me. No matter what you decide I hope your session goes well.

[RedSun]

Cripes. I dunno. I wouldn't go, but that's just me...
I'd say go with hit by a ball.
Or, could you wear one of those surgical mask things and say that you're scared of catching the flu?
Or, a big bandana round your lower face and say you're on your way to a bandit party?
Or, cry most of the session and out your hands over your face, - just pretend if you're not feeling it.
Also, try an ice cube, prick it with a pin, tea tree oil, and steaming! Good luck!

[RedSun]

Or, of course, a considered valid reply like Firefly...

[magno11789]

Hard to say. I have always had bad acne, but sometimes I still fill insecure if I get a pimple bigger than usual. If I were to go in with a band-aid I would probably say I got scratched by a cat. Totally believable since I have a cat.

[Cinnamon_Stick]

I sometimes get bad pimples. I have also felt like I didn't want my T to see me like that. I then realized that my T accepts me no matter how I look. You are not alone in your feelings.

[LostOne369]

LOL Red75!!

Seriously though...InnerFirefly, those are interesting points. I'm sitting here at work with no band-aid, but somehow going to T seems harder. I suppose she looks at me for an hour, that's why it seems different? And that I want to uphold some sort of image with her? I didn't think of that.

The being scratched by a cat sounds pretty plausible though.

Argh!!! I have to make a decision...

[Pennster]

Well, I would go, maybe with a bandaid on, and just say I got a big spot on my face and I don't know why. I feel like being honest helps me in therapy, and my therapist is so super-kind and non-shaming that it makes me feel better when I share troubling things with him.

Do you think there's any way you could just try telling her what's up? Maybe think of it as like trying it as an experiment and see how it goes?

[musinglizzy]

It happens to everyone at some time or another. Your T won't be affected either way I'm sure! I have a nervous habit of picking at myself..... and I've had the same two spots on my face for months. I was self conscious at first, but I got over it. My T knows I do this...so although I've not pointed it out to her, I know she knows. I learned to just let it go. Because my face hasn't cleared up since like August. There were times it was bad enough I wanted to cancel, but I figured the session was more important than blemishes on my face. Even self inflicted ones.

Sounds really shallow, but I'd probably skip my session.

[rainbow8]

I would email T ahead of time and tell her so she wouldn't be surprised. Or I would go in with the band-aid and tell her the truth. I'd probably be embarrassed and blush, but having her accept me would be worth it. My T would ask what I feel inside, and it would be a productive session about shame. I'd tell her I wanted to cancel for that reason.

A few years ago I would have panicked though! Good luck whatever you do.

[NowhereUSA]

In a humorous list of tweets about therapy one said, "You pay your therapist a lot of money. Go ahead and fart in there."

Recently my T ended up with a dental problem. He looked like he'd gotten into a bar fight.

I'd probably not say anything and just go. Life is life. It happens. If it particularly bothered me I might be like, "Dude, check this out.

!" because that's how I handle things I'm embarrassed about.

[iheartjacques]

I hate when I get a cold sore. T smirks and says well youvery been under some stress.

[ilikecats]

I've had somewhat bad acne for like eight years, and I don't think it's going away any time too soon. It's not super severe, but it's worse than most people. Don't worry about having one pimple. It's normal, and your therapist shouldn't say anything about it. I think you should just wear a bit of makeup, and no band aid.

[musinglizzy]

So what did you end up doing??

I'm SO glad, jacques, I don't get cold sores (knock on wood). I used to work with a couple people who did, and it was advertised all over their face when they were stressed out about something. I'd hate that!

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by musinglizzy

It happens to everyone at some time or another. Your T won't be affected either way I'm sure! I have a nervous habit of picking at myself..... and I've had the same two spots on my face for months. I was self conscious at first, but I got over it. My T knows I do this...so although I've not pointed it out to her, I know she knows. I learned to just let it go. Because my face hasn't cleared up since like August. There were times it was bad enough I wanted to cancel, but I figured the session was more important than blemishes on my face. Even self inflicted ones.

I do that too. Not as much on my face as on my back. I thought it would get better with age, but no. I often do it so subconsciously I don't even notice. Annoying isn't it

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[musinglizzy]

Originally Posted by divine1966

I do that too. Not as much on my face as on my back. I thought it would get better with age, but no. I often do it so subconsciously I don't even notice. Annoying isn't it

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It sucks! For the first time since August those spots are pretty well healed, and I'm trying to leave my face ALONE! Of course life has been throwing one big stressor after another lately....but I've still managed ok!

[LostOne369]

Cop out alert/update:

I went with a band-aid.

Sigh.