32 replies to this topic

[sdjaks]

Had a friend with this (although she pulled out her head hair) and she just usually wore hats. Eventually it went away for her...just gotta eliminate stress. Exercise more and eat properly and that will help

[Currant]

I have a friend who also pulls her hair out, including eyebrows, eyelashes and the hair on her head. She has no eyebrows and doesn't even draw them in anymore, but she does wear eyeliner.

Like you say, it could be worst. At least you are only pulling your eyelashes. One day you will nip this in the bud .

[Kat]

I have a friend who also pulls her hair out, including eyebrows, eyelashes and the hair on her head. She has no eyebrows and doesn't even draw them in anymore, but she does wear eyeliner.

Like you say, it could be worst. At least you are only pulling your eyelashes. One day you will nip this in the bud .

Thank you!
Yeah I can say that I am thankful compared to others with trich that I have met and seen. They wish it was only their eyelashes.

[softboiled]

oh my god i have struggled with this so so much (except i actually eat the hairs which is probably a whole lot more gross and a whole lot less socially acceptable). at one point i had a pretty decent-sized bald patch on my head which sucked in all kinds of ways, and then i pulled out everything and had crazy panic attacks whenever i saw myself in the mirror.

the internet was (is!!!!) an awesome resource for me; no one around me really understood what i was doing - not even my parents or my boyfriend, who really really tried and were super supportive (if understandably super bewildered) - but it was really comforting to read stuff from people who totally got it. i'm just a really anxious person and it's manifested itself in a lot of different ways - i still have a few weird obsessive compulsive habits, and i don't think i'll ever get this one completely under control, but it's gotten a lot better.

[Kat]

oh my god i have struggled with this so so much (except i actually eat the hairs which is probably a whole lot more gross and a whole lot less socially acceptable). at one point i had a pretty decent-sized bald patch on my head which sucked in all kinds of ways, and then i pulled out everything and had crazy panic attacks whenever i saw myself in the mirror.

the internet was (is!!!!) an awesome resource for me; no one around me really understood what i was doing - not even my parents or my boyfriend, who really really tried and were super supportive (if understandably super bewildered) - but it was really comforting to read stuff from people who totally got it. i'm just a really anxious person and it's manifested itself in a lot of different ways - i still have a few weird obsessive compulsive habits, and i don't think i'll ever get this one completely under control, but it's gotten a lot better.

Yes, it's been a lot more comforting to me with the internet to know that I'm not the only one. I've also learned lots of tips and tricks from trich forums that have helped me tremendously.
I have anxious problems and panic attacks as well so it's true that this is only like an outlet for my anxiety, and not the only thing I've done. Tis why I've been saying in this thread that fixing my trich doesn't solve the underlying problems and it would probably just be manifested else where like you said.
So far I've been doing well. No plucking for about 4 days. The biggest problem for me is going to be when they grow and poke and bother me a ton, that's really where my struggle lies. And of course subsequent years of dealing with it and not picking, because I don't see it ever going away completely.
Stay strong.

[softboiled]

Yes, it's been a lot more comforting to me with the internet to know that I'm not the only one. I've also learned lots of tips and tricks from trich forums that have helped me tremendously.
I have anxious problems and panic attacks as well so it's true that this is only like an outlet for my anxiety, and not the only thing I've done. Tis why I've been saying in this thread that fixing my trich doesn't solve the underlying problems and it would probably just be manifested else where like you said.
So far I've been doing well. No plucking for about 4 days. The biggest problem for me is going to be when they grow and poke and bother me a ton, that's really where my struggle lies. And of course subsequent years of dealing with it and not picking, because I don't see it ever going away completely.
Stay strong.

good good luck; leaving the hairs alone when they're growing out is usually the hardest part for me too, so i'm sending out a whole lot of good vibes your way. it is tough, and i wish i could offer you Words of Wisdom or something to help - i really hope it works out well for you!!

[Tetiel]

I normally do not post/login, but I could not help but give some advice. I have had varying forms of OCD since I was in middle school. Initially, it was pulling out eyebrow hairs to the point that I would have very thin lines or half an eyebrow. Even now, if I feel "eyebrow stubble," I feel I need to pull it out, though I do try to avoid it. The best immediate thing you can do is what I call transferring your compulsions. I used to read a book and be pulling out hairs without noticing just like you. After that, it turned into an arguably worse habit of removing mucus from my eyes once I got contacts. Along all of this, I tend to be obsessive about picking my skin. What I did was use an outlet. I transferred my OCD habits into perfectionism with my art. As long as I was working on art, the anxiety (the obsessive part of the disorder) would cease. My anxiety is based off fear of judgment. Pushing myself to be perfect made me "better," if you can call it that.

Until you can properly transfer, I suggest either wearing simply cloth gloves so you actually CANNOT pull out hairs or give your hands something to do like playing with silly putty. I promise, it works wonders. This is an anxiety disorder. The best thing you can do is attempt to figure out what is causing your root anxiety. That is something that no one else can really tell you and you need to search yourself for. Treating the symptoms of a disease isn't curing the disease, it's merely masking it.

Best of luck to you.

[Kat]

good good luck; leaving the hairs alone when they're growing out is usually the hardest part for me too, so i'm sending out a whole lot of good vibes your way. it is tough, and i wish i could offer you Words of Wisdom or something to help - i really hope it works out well for you!!

thank you, and you as well

I normally do not post/login, but I could not help but give some advice. I have had varying forms of OCD since I was in middle school. Initially, it was pulling out eyebrow hairs to the point that I would have very thin lines or half an eyebrow. Even now, if I feel "eyebrow stubble," I feel I need to pull it out, though I do try to avoid it. The best immediate thing you can do is what I call transferring your compulsions. I used to read a book and be pulling out hairs without noticing just like you. After that, it turned into an arguably worse habit of removing mucus from my eyes once I got contacts. Along all of this, I tend to be obsessive about picking my skin. What I did was use an outlet. I transferred my OCD habits into perfectionism with my art. As long as I was working on art, the anxiety (the obsessive part of the disorder) would cease. My anxiety is based off fear of judgment. Pushing myself to be perfect made me "better," if you can call it that.

Until you can properly transfer, I suggest either wearing simply cloth gloves so you actually CANNOT pull out hairs or give your hands something to do like playing with silly putty. I promise, it works wonders. This is an anxiety disorder. The best thing you can do is attempt to figure out what is causing your root anxiety. That is something that no one else can really tell you and you need to search yourself for. Treating the symptoms of a disease isn't curing the disease, it's merely masking it.

Best of luck to you.

Thank you so much for the advice and post. I can't tell you how much this will help me. Thanks again, and best of luck to you as well.