Asking for help and seeking professional support
Sometimes, we need to seek professional help. The are times when everyone needs help from other people. Accepting and asking for help is not a sign of weakness or failure. It is a courageous sign that you are compassionate enough with yourself and taking action to move in the direction of your values. Professional psychological support in the form of counselling, consultation, or group support can equip you with ideas and assistance for managing your skin condition beyond your own best-laid plans.
You may need to seek professional psychological help for managing your skin condition
There is help over there and you can ask for help if you feel overconcerned
Feel overwhelmed and distressed, lack good quality sleep, have a poor appetite, or lack motivation.
Find your skin condition is interfering with your daily tasks.
Find your skin condition is interfering with your work or relationships.
See yourself cancelling previously rewarded activities.
See yourself feeling excessively uncomfortable in front of other people (family, colleagues, or at social events)
Have repetitive anxious or intrusive thoughts about your appearance or feel paralyzed when thinking about your appearance and what you will look like in the future.
Get angry with other people when they ask you how you are coping.
Deny that you have a problem, particularly when it is ongoing.
Feel your skin condition is stopping you from doing things or holding you back from doing the things you want to do in your life.
Have tried this self-help program, repeating the sessions several times, and have tried the different exercises.
Tell your GP or Dermatologist how your skin condition is making you feel.
Your GP or Dermatologist should take your words seriously and discuss several options with you.
Your GP or Dermatologist should enlist the help of a Clinical Psychologist with an interest in skin conditions.
You can ask to be referred to a relevant specialist service.
You can also use the following link to find out where relevant psychodermatology services are in the UK: https://www.psychodermatology.co.uk
The most common psychological support can be a series of individual sessions with a qualified Clinical or Health Psychologist. There may be other services your GP or Dermatologist can signpost you in, depending on the level of support you need. These include attending support groups, online resources, or couples or family therapy.
Examples of skin-related charities:
Katie Piper Foundation
UK-based charity offering support for people living with burns and trauma scarring, including 1:1 peer support.
Call: 020 7420 7813.
Email: info@katiepiperfoundation.org.uk
Website: www.katiepiperfoundation.org.uk/
Changing Faces
UK-based charity giving support and information to people with visible difference to the face, hands or body, and their families.
Call: 0845 4500 275 or 0207 391 9270.
Email: info@changingfaces.org.uk
Website: www.changingfaces.org.uk
Alopecia UK
Offering support and advice for individuals with Alopecia in the UK. Including support groups and an online forum.
Call: 07763293687 or 07983810490.
Email: info@alopecia.org.uk
Website: http://www.alopeciaonline.org.uk/
British Skin Foundation
Offering support for skin conditions and information including a list of charities where people can access other support, including support groups.
Call: 0207 391 6341.
Website: http://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk
Dan’s fund for Burns
Offering practical help to burn survivors in the UK.
Website: http://www.dansfundforburns.org/
NHS self-help
A variety of self-help guides available to download: www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/selfhelp
General advice on self-help therapy: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/self-help-therapies.aspx
Get Self Help
This website offers self-help information including downloadable resources.
Website: www.getselfhelp.co.uk
Skin support website
This website contains some other self-help information and resources and is managed by The British Association of Dermatologists
Website: www.skinsupport.org.uk
Skin Care Cymru
Skin Care Cymru is a volunteer-run charity providing a voice for people with skin conditions across Wales.
Website: http://skincarecymru.wales