Relapse

[u/Boringmom2017]

I was in Wisconsin for 10 days, I was doing great. Then last night on the plane, all hell broke loose. I didn’t have any Xanax and it was horrible. 2 new sores and cuticles are a mess again. I completely lost all progress and I feel like a loser

[u/AdorableSillies]

You were doing good though - which means you already know you can do it again. I think of this often but especially on days like today when I took my fake nails off and already was picking and annoying myself. 

[u/EnoughYou0]

Those ten days still count. They show that the behavior can change, and one difficult flight did not erase what your brain learned. For now, focus on protecting the two new sore spots instead of trying to make every cuticle look even. Before your next flight, make a small travel plan: cover the fingers you usually target before boarding, keep both hands occupied during takeoff, and use a ten minute delay whenever you notice yourself searching for an edge. If flying anxiety regularly becomes this intense, make that part of the plan with the clinician who manages it. You are not back at zero. You have identified a very specific high risk situation. Also, I have one more recommendation for you: the NailPause app is very helpful for taking control of your habit through gamification. I highly recommend downloading it for free and giving it a try. It is incredibly beneficial both for managing urges and tracking your progress