SKIN PROBLEMS: AM I MISSING OUT BY SETTLING FOR LESS ATTENTION?

Certainly not. Inordinate attention is like heroin, cocaine, alcohol or dope. The more you get, the more you want, as the temporary lift it gives you becomes shorter each time. One only has to look at how many high profile sports people, business people and performing artists turn to drugs, alcohol and suicide when their popularity and recognition are on the wane. Is the going up worth the coming down? The sad, neurotic state of these people indicates great unhappiness with their lot—memories of the going up don’t seem to be buoying their spirits now. Attention seekers are always insecure as they never know how long they can sustain the interest of others. Insecure people are anxious and anxiety flares up skin complaints.

Attention seekers seldom develop close, emotionally nourishing friendships and relationships because they are so busy seeking they don’t have time to give. A lack of meaningful friendships adds to their loneliness and insecurity. All human beings need some attention. Wanting too much is being greedy and greed always comes back on us in the end. How much is too much? Worrying to the point of distress about the opinions others hold of us is an indication we are wanting too much.

This begs the question: If no one else is getting upset because you have a skin complaint, why should you? The fact is, the happiest, healthiest and most relaxed people are those who realise they are not the centre of the universe, have accepted that, and are happy with less attention.

To successfully overcome the emotional stress caused by acne, eczema, psoriasis and hives, one’s attitude must be right. The big problem with skin complaints is that their visibility is a constant reminder of their existence and most owners of the skin complaints are constantly worrying about what others think when they see their skin. This in turn leads to feelings of anxiety, frustration and resentment on the part of (he owner who invariably adopts the attitude of ‘Why me? It’s not fair! Life shouldn’t treat me like this.’ Such self talk leads to feelings of anger which often progress to hostility and rage as time goes by. These emotions only exacerbate the acne, eczema, psoriasis and hives by causing the antidromic nerve impulses to pour down the sensory nerves and release neurokinin into the skin.

*89\18\9*