Picking Jesus

Mandi Halloran
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  • Mental Health

if you are someone who struggles with behavioral addictions such as BFRBs and are Christian you have come to the right place. To anyone else who's listening this is a place where I share my personal struggle with chronic skin picking and my healing journey through scripture and insights as I grow in my walk with Jesus. Whether you are somene who deals with chronic skin picking (dermatillomania) or related conditions such as trichotillomania and other BFRBs or not, I created this so that you might learn something about Jesus, myself, and other people that live with mental health conditions

Episodes

  1. Apr 26

    Finding and Clinging to your Identity in Jesus

    Journey with me into an honest conversation with a friend Philip about his life growing up with a learning disability and walking through the challenges of navigating public education and how his faith in Jesus brought him to a place of acceptance and community. We discuss some shared experiences between living a Christ-centered life with a learning disability and living a Christ-centered life with chronic illness. We also share about our creative outlets and interests and how we honor God through them. A bible verse mentioned in this episode is 2 Cor 12:9-10.

    36 min

  2. 12/31/2025

    Dealing with disappointment & setbacks in your BFRB journey

    Do you ever feel like you're backsliding or stagnating in your journey with BFRBs or management of other mental health conditions? Encouragement through scripture is a key element in maintaining a healthy self-image and in our relationship with Jesus as well as overall in the sphere of mental health. I discuss what this looks like practically because for most people who struggle with BFRBs, perfectionism and self-criticism tends to be louder than the still small voice through which the Holy Spirit often speaks. Also trying to motivate yourself to open up/pull our your bible in the middle of a compulsive urge has not been an effective strategy for me, but I share some scripture-based strategies that I have found to be more effective. Bible verses featured in this episode include Eph 6:10, Eph 6:16, 2 Cor 1:20, Isa 41:10, and Psa 42:5. I also discuss different forms of Behavior Tracking for BFRBs and how there is some freedom for creativity in that. Behavior tracking resources: https://courage-counseling.com/free-download-log-track-skin-picking-hair-pulling-body-focused-repetitive-behaviors-bfrbs/https://trichotillomania.com/hair-pulling-habit-tracker/https://pickingme.org/resources/skinpickinglog.html Peer Coaching Resources: https://habitaware.com/products/virtual-peer-bfrb-coach-session?srsltid=AfmBOor5ny05xUq2CuIAroUyYYSj-gmgwbPcpSEab3BRPwKLLddU6MUUhttps://www.heypeers.com/meeting_utilities/303?peer_supporter_id=174184

    22 min

  3. 10/07/2025

    Neuroscience, My Recovery Perspective, & Bibical insights

    Have you ever thought about what might recovery from BFRBs look like for you? Like beyond being pull-free or pick-free, what might your life look like? Not everyone believes complete recovery/healing from BFRBs is possible and I'm not here to condemn anyone who feels/thinks that way. that is not the viewpoint I hold currently, but I also recognize that there are still things I don't know and I'm learning about these conditions all the time! I provide the reasons I hold the position that I do and discuss the connection between the concept of "renewal of the mind" found in Romans 12:2 and what that could mean for BFRB recovery. I also discuss the numerous scriptural references of being "set free" and "freedom from sin" such as in Rom 6:6 & Gal 3:22. I talk about going deeper with God, and how being vulnerable with Jesus and focusing on the things He has for us can diminish the need to engage with our BFRBs . Other bible verses brought up in this episode include 2 Cor 10:5, Ps 148:7-13, Rom 13:14, & Gal 5:16

    19 min

  4. 07/30/2025

    When your prayers for deliverance seem to be bouncing off the ceiling

    Have you ever been in a place where you read a scripture that is generally regarded as being one that is deeply encouraging/empowering and felt like you just wanted to pretend like it isn't there at all? What are some practical steps you can take when you're feeling this way? I also discuss some strategies for dealing with BFRBs when there are no negative thoughts that come up about your skin or hair and you start picking or pulling as a way to escape your own thoughts. Some Bible verses I talk about in this episode are Matt 21: 21-22, Jas 4:2, 1 Thess 5:15-16, Num 14:2-3, & Psa 116:1-2. As promised, here is a link to my audio recording that I listen to frequently in my trigger spaces: https://recorder.google.com/4fff71aa-eb44-4f69-bc92-9b7f2fd693d8 And here is a link to my Praise Worship Playlist that I also listen to in my trigger spaces: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4sfsRRgQ3bSamglKkX7z84?si=y9kbi0amSzyExUQZFlj3Mw

    20 min

  5. 06/14/2025

    Confronting Difficult Questions Raised by Unpopular Scriptures

    Some sections of scripture hit differently for people who struggle with habitual or pet sins. Hebrews 10:26-27 is one of those scriptures. It is not a likely candidate to make a Sunday School message anytime soon, it is one that is very countercultural and may give some the impression that God is more angry than He is loving. Not to mention the added layer of guilt someone who struggles with a habitual sin in the form of behavioral addictions such as BFRBs and the questions it raises regarding God's mercy and grace. I confront those questions here and I also discuss what I believe to be a healthy response to this verse is, as well as a dangerous conclusion that should be avoided. Then, I tie in some insights from people in the BFRB community that have inspired me and gotten me to reflect on what it means to have a healthy relationship with my skin. Other bible verses mentioned in this episode include Deut 31:6, Lam 3:22-23, and John 1:16. Lastly here is a link to the podcast I bring up in inspiring my idea for my new cover artwork. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3mJ4fdJazvoP9QTMdhXiTN?si=gMYzk4yLQJCBwl7SypCf2w

    19 min

  6. 04/17/2025

    Exploring Spiritual and Secular Tools for BFRBs

    Certain Bible verses can be interpreted in such a way as to feed into poor self-image and unhealthy patterns of thinking we have about ourselves. I address one of these passages in this episode, Rom 7:23-24. Other verses I mention in this episode include Phl 4:8, Mat 10:29-31, Psa 139:14, 2 Co 10:3-5, Eph 6:10-17. Next, I discuss the tools of the secular world, the most common tips and tricks used by people with BFRBs and the various types of therapy options that exist. Then I call attention to the notion of incorporating spiritual elements into combating BFRBs and using scripture as a tool. Lastly I delve into the spiritual warfare context of struggling with behavioral addictions and how the tools overlooked by much of the secular world are, according to scripture, the most powerful weapons or "tools" that exist to combat the enemy's schemes.

    16 min

  7. 02/25/2025

    Strategies for Combatting the Lies of the Enemy

    Here I make some confessions about my feelings & attitudes surrounding my skin, discuss some lies that Satan uses to drive me to picking my skin, and give some strategies in combating temptation involving bible verses, lyrics to worship songs, tactile elements, and daily meditation. Includes the following scriptural references: Isa 66:13, Luke 9:23, Rev 9:11, & Rev 12:11.

    18 min

  8. 02/07/2025

    Divine Curses and the Lure of the Victim Mentality

    Bible verses discussed in this episode include 1 John 3:20, 1 Cor 10:13, Psa 139:7-10, & 2 Tim 1:7.

    15 min

  9. 10/09/2024

    Proverbs, Pet Owners, & Perspectives on BFRBs

    In this episode I dive into Proverbs 26:11, a passage that may hit different for someone with a Body Focused Repetitive Disorder like chronic skin picking. The tendency for people with BFRDs as well as others with chronic mental health conditions have a tendency to react negatively and have emotion-driven responses to reading through certain passages of the bible that make us uncomfortable. These emotional responses may pose long-standing frustrations with ourselves, contribute to negative self-image, and lead to inconsistency or lack of motivation to regularly get into God's word. In this episode I give an example of an emotion-driven response to this scripture in proverbs and offer an alternative perspective. Additionally, I share about my journey as someone with chronic skin picking and I get real honest about what I believe to be a biblical view of chronic skin picking and similar behaviors. Other bible verses discussed in this episode include 2 Cor 12:9 & 1:Cor 16

    12 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

if you are someone who struggles with behavioral addictions such as BFRBs and are Christian you have come to the right place. To anyone else who's listening this is a place where I share my personal struggle with chronic skin picking and my healing journey through scripture and insights as I grow in my walk with Jesus. Whether you are somene who deals with chronic skin picking (dermatillomania) or related conditions such as trichotillomania and other BFRBs or not, I created this so that you might learn something about Jesus, myself, and other people that live with mental health conditions

Information

  • Creator
    Mandi Halloran
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mandi Halloran
  • Show Website
    Picking Jesus