How to overcome Severe Cystic Acne

This is going to be long account so apologies in advance if this is not your cup of tea. This account is meant to give people hope that there is always a way to overcome this horrid condition and point them in the right direction, I hope I am not treading on anyones toes as my sole intention is to help people with Severe Acne. I will be on bukis regularly now so I will always respond to any questions you have.

My Past

My acne started when I was 13 years old, I can remember it like yesterday, I woke up to go to school all excited about a girl called Tracy who I fancied, I had a look in the mirror to see my perfectly flawless skin when bang! there it was 4 of the most humongous spots ever near my nose - I was petrified. I somehow managed to console myself and placed my plans to ask Tracy out until my spots went away, when my mum saw the acne she went berserk, she started shouting and screaming saying "What a mess on your face, get rid of it quick!" - This comment has haunted me forever and was the start of my insecurity.

It will pass in a few weeks I said to myself and went to school awaiting the onslaught of teenage kids waiting to pounce at any imperfections you had, little did I know that a few weeks became a few months and I found the quality of my skin deteriorating day by day, my mum was not helping with her remarks and I found myself crying to bed at night hoping I would wake up from this nightmare.

I remember distinctly going to break one day from lesson to find that 5 boys were waiting to torture me because I was a "spotty ugly mot&*erfu$%^r", they kept on chanting this to me whilst they grabbed me and repeatedly gave me a kicking.

 This day changed me for the rest of my life, I became a recluse and resigned most of my days without any friends or family, I had no internet at home because it was uncommon at the time so my research was based on trial and error.

The icing on the cake was when I managed to pluck up enough courage to talk to Tracy she replied to me "Get lost you spott F$?r" - I don’t know how I managed to convince myself but I was determined to kill myself that day, I guess faith and hope was still inside me.

The college years were somewhat better as people looked through my acne and I made a few friends, university was also the same story, I always felt that I had to hold myself back and not let my personality out in case people targeted my severe cystic acne which I was enjoying.

Work was no better, I remember distinctly hearing two of my colleagues discussing how "disgusting my skin was, and who would ever find him attractive", I felt so low that day that I cried in the Mens Room, a grown man of 23 reduced to tears. This day was my turning point and I knew I had to do something, I somehow got renewed hope and faith and was determined to take things into my own hands and take action for the first time in my life and not feel sorry for myself. I consoled myself to the fact that I had hit rock bottom and the only way to go was up or I would consider taking my life, luckily the former was enough to save me.

Part 2 - http://www.bukisa.com/articles/54521_how-i-overcame-severe-cystic-acne-part-2

Some Helpful resources

 http://www.bukisa.com/articles/36276_using-pantothenic-acid-to-treat-cystic-acne

 http://www.bukisa.com/articles/36013_how-to-deal-with-cystic-acne

 http://www.bukisa.com/articles/32659_overcoming-cystic-acne

 http://www.bukisa.com/articles/31485_5-causes-of-acne

 http://www.bukisa.com/articles/31479_5-actions-to-avoid-if-you-have-cystic-acne

 http://www.bukisa.com/articles/31475_5-emotional-psychological-responses-of-acne-sufferers

 http://www.bukisa.com/articles/31464_what-is-acne