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Original poster

I pull my hair out- ask me anything!

44 replies

Trichotillomaniac · 02/07/2018 14:21

Thought I may as well... in case anyone is curious!

OP posts:
Queenofthedrivensnow · 02/07/2018 15:13

So do I. Has anything worked for you to stop?

Alexandrite · 02/07/2018 15:20

I pull my eyelashes out.

Original poster
Trichotillomaniac · 02/07/2018 15:22

Queenofthedrivensnow nope. I’ve got an interlace system which certainly helps a great deal, but hasn’t stopped me completely.

OP posts:
Original poster
Trichotillomaniac · 02/07/2018 16:06

I guess nobody is curious then... oh well!

OP posts:
MysweetAudrina · 02/07/2018 16:09

I do too and I also suck my thumb and bite my nails. I search my head for a rough hair and then I pluck it and run it through my teeth. What is an interlace system?

IlikemyTeahot · 02/07/2018 16:15

Are you aware you're doing it?

Is it something you do while feeling anxious?

Is it to you, a way of self harm or do you find it to be like a self soothing behaviour?

Sorry for lots of questions, I'm really interested as I actually know of 3 people with this condition, but would never want to risk offence by grilling them about it. There are 2 people I know very well, they are also related to each other (closely) one does it at times of high anxiety (I believe this person has occasionally eaten the hair after) and the other does it absent mindedly but looks so relaxed about it almost as if it's comforting.

I would love to know more xx

Queenofthedrivensnow · 02/07/2018 16:16

Mysweet - the rough Hair is my thing too.

I pull my eyelashes it's better than it's ever been but still happens.

My scalp hair pulling is bad but my hair is so thick you wouldn't notice.

The interlace thing covers where you pull so you can't

Queenofthedrivensnow · 02/07/2018 16:16

Dd2 is Hair pulling I'm so worried

missmouseyred · 02/07/2018 16:17

My daughter does this, is there anything I can do to help?

purlandvick · 02/07/2018 16:55

Hello, at what age did u start this behaviour? Is it linked to hormones or trauma ?

Original poster
Trichotillomaniac · 02/07/2018 17:06

I started when I was 13, I was being bullied at school at the time but also caught head lice which may have also been a trigger. Apparently that’s a common age to start.

It’s mainly habitual now but definitely worse when I’m stressed or upset, and I’m often only semi-aware that I’m doing it. I don’t see it as self harm in the way that cutting is, for example, but obviously it has had a huge effect on my appearance and self esteem which has been very damaging.

A lot of TTM sufferers have similar behaviours- looking for rough hairs, running them between the teeth, another one is biting roots off, particularly if they’re the sort of chunky roots.

missmouseyred definitely don’t tell her off or tell her to “just stop” like my Mum did. All that did was stress me out more and obviously if it was as simple as just stopping, I’d have just stopped ages ago! Try to help her find ways of keeping her hands occupied- knitting, cross-stitch, playing games- I found it was when I was reading or watching tv and my hands were idle that they’d automatically wander up to my scalp.

OP posts:
missmouseyred · 02/07/2018 17:31

Thank you, my dad started at about 8 years old and pulled pretty much half of her hair out in 6 months. She seems to have that under control now and is mainly pulling brows and lashes.
It's hard, she wants me to help her stop and I don't know how. She pulls mainly in bed on a night, we tried socks on her hands when she was younger but it never really helped

missmouseyred · 02/07/2018 17:31

Daughter not dad

Cloudyapples · 02/07/2018 17:35

I skin pick and am going for cbt - have you had cbt or any similar treatment?

LearnMore · 02/07/2018 17:39

I skin pick too! Cloudyapples I pick at the skin on my fingers. I havent had any CBT for it though

PepperSteaks · 02/07/2018 17:39

I used to do this too. I also caught headlice as a teenager and was bullied for it.

Hidingtonothing · 02/07/2018 17:41

I skin pick too Cloudy, only on my scalp but it's a mess Blush I'd be really interested to hear whether the cbt helps, hope it has/does Flowers

Original poster
Trichotillomaniac · 02/07/2018 17:47

missmouseyred I cant really help as far as the lashes/brows go as I’ve never really gone for them (unless overplucking them as a teenager counts) but I do find that I don’t pull hair out of my scalp when it’s wet, so it might be worth having her jump in the shower before she goes to bed? I also used to sleep in a bandana or headscarf which helped.

OP posts:
VickieCherry · 02/07/2018 17:52

So do I! I started when I was about 11 (I'm now 36), coinciding with moving away from my home town for my dad's work - I was distraught at the time, though I settled well after a year or so and now love the place we moved to. It may not be anything to do with that of course - 11 is the prime age for it to start.

I've had a lot of CBT which I have found helpful-ish at the time and have stopped pulling for a while in the past, but always go back to it when something stressful happens (and then it takes years for me to try to stop again).

I have a ritual - forage to find a 'good' hair (thick or crinkly), pull, bite the root, run the hair through my teeth, discard. If I'm stopped during the ritual it feels horrible.

I've gone grey in the parts I pull from much more than the rest of my head, and the top of my scalp is damaged and the hair thinner than the rest. Fortunately I have thick hair and generally get away with it, but I'm very aware of my thin patches. I used to keep it very secret, but as I've got older I've told people and everyone has been surprised but very nice about it.

Most of the time I actually like doing it and don't want to stop. I know it harms my appearance and probably isn't good for my insides either, but it calms my anxiety and feels good. I enjoy finding good hairs, it's a nice perk in my day. I definitely do it more when I'm on my own and not physically active - so when reading, watching TV or working. If I spend a day out and about with friends I probably won't pull at all.

VickieCherry · 02/07/2018 17:55

ETA - sometimes I'm aware I'm doing it, sometimes not. Often my hand will me in my hair before I realise, but then it's almost impossible to stop once I've found a hair I want to pull. Even if I do leave it, I'll likely go back to it later and try to find it again.

Cloudyapples · 02/07/2018 18:39

LearnMore and Hidingtonothing I pick my face which is a complete mess. I finally hit rock bottom a few months ago and saw a dr who let me self refer for counselling, where I’ve been recommended cbt. First session is next week, but I had a phone call and face to face meeting so far to assess me. It’s been terrifying talking about it because I’m so embarrassed and ashamed, but I’m trying to push through it because I can’t bear to look like this anymore. If you can, it’s worth speaking to your go about whether it’s somethign that might help you.

Tricho - I 100% get the ‘just stop’ comments, like it’s that simple?! If I could I would!

missmouseyred · 02/07/2018 18:48

I'm also a face picker and did assume they were linked, I know it's terrible but I'd rather my daughter picked her skin than pulled her hair as it seems so much easier to hide.
She can go for months with it under control but never stopping entirely then over night it's back again and the hairs gone. There seems no logic or reason as to what triggers it

Queenofthedrivensnow · 02/07/2018 18:54

Vickie I really relate to your posts though I don't chew the hairs

Whisky2014 · 02/07/2018 18:55

So do i. And i cant stop. I like the feeling :(

GloGirl · 02/07/2018 18:59

What causes the wibbly hairs? I do this very mildly and I always wonder what they are. I've managed to get away without doing it too much.

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