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Original poster

Sticking my hair into my ear really calms me - is that weird?

48 replies

Backtothe80splease · 30/06/2024 12:09

I’m strange, I know but it’s something I’ve done since childhood and still do it now at 51.

I have suffered with anxiety and panic disorder since I was a small child and have always found that if I take the ends of some of my hair and gently poke it into my ear canal it really calms me. Sounds weird but it kind of puts me in a trance.

Does anyone else do anything like this? Why would it calm me so much?

OP posts:
WeeOrcadian · 30/06/2024 12:30

It's not common IMO but whatever works for you. It's hardly the strangest thing I've heard

Maybe it's something to do with the sounds your hair makes and the sensation of your hair tickling inside your ear

There are far and away worse things to stick in your ear !

Original poster
Backtothe80splease · 30/06/2024 12:32

WeeOrcadian · 30/06/2024 12:30

It's not common IMO but whatever works for you. It's hardly the strangest thing I've heard

Maybe it's something to do with the sounds your hair makes and the sensation of your hair tickling inside your ear

There are far and away worse things to stick in your ear !

I do often worry that I may inadvertently damage my inner ear but like you say there are worse things I could be using than my hair, it’s not as though I’m shoving toothpicks in there so hopefully it’ll be ok, at the end of the day I’ve probably been doing this 45+ years so fingers crossed!

OP posts:
clarkkentsglasses · 30/06/2024 13:23

omg!! I do this, often. I love the tickle feeling.

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General health
Original poster
Backtothe80splease · 30/06/2024 13:27

clarkkentsglasses · 30/06/2024 13:23

omg!! I do this, often. I love the tickle feeling.

It is such a lovely feeling 😊

OP posts:
Madlymumming · 30/06/2024 13:31

It is weird to me because my hair going in my ear annoys me. A lot lol

menopausalmare · 30/06/2024 13:32

I suppose it's a form of self -soothing. I like the sound of sliding my hair between my thumb nail index finger- that's something I've always done.

Kimchi · 30/06/2024 13:35

My husband does this when he’s concentrating. I always thought it was stimming.

RightOnTheEdge · 30/06/2024 16:11

Well it's weird to me because I couldn't stand it, but if it works for you and helps you then that's great!

BluebellsAndDaisies1 · 30/06/2024 16:15

I do this too and have done since I was very young. I also twirl my hair around my fingers and rub my thumb nail up and down the strands.

tctuna49686 · 25/10/2024 03:28

Backtothe80splease · 30/06/2024 12:09

I’m strange, I know but it’s something I’ve done since childhood and still do it now at 51.

I have suffered with anxiety and panic disorder since I was a small child and have always found that if I take the ends of some of my hair and gently poke it into my ear canal it really calms me. Sounds weird but it kind of puts me in a trance.

Does anyone else do anything like this? Why would it calm me so much?

I do this every day/night. I bought a ear otoscope camera so I can see if any hair falls in my ear and if if it does the camera can get it out. Lately I haven't got any hair. I twist a few strands of hair and put it in my ear then leave it in my ear until it starts to tickle and I love to see how long I can try to keep it in my ear without taking it out from being tickling as it definitely feels GREAT!!! WOW If you haven't tried it trust me try it but get a ear otoscope camera so you can see to get out the ear wax and the hair if anything falls into your ear. Please 🙏🏻 I watched videos on how they fix ears in the middle ear and the different bones in the ear etc. The ear drum is thin it can reputre if your not careful. But it looks like you have to do alot to put a hole in the ear drum. It's like a stretchy and thick but thin also membrane. Anyway watch YouTube videos on the ear drum. Anyway, I have been putting my hair in my ear for a while and I haven't reputre my ear drum yet and as I am careful to not. Well, good luck be careful and remember get a ear camera as it does help. Have a blessed and wonderful day/night. I am enjoying another ear tickle it is tickling!!!!

Oblomov24 · 25/10/2024 05:26

I do this, occasionally and like it. I don't think it's an anxious thing, or a stimming, just a habit.

tctuna49686 · 25/10/2024 11:58

I agree as well. One thing so far I have not damaged my ear drum knock on wood. I know one thing it feels really good and I love how it feels and the tickling is the best so far. Thank you for your comment and good luck as well!!!

friendconcern · 25/10/2024 12:01

Oh wow! I used to do that! Forgotten all about it, need to grow my hair again

tctuna49686 · 29/10/2024 18:44

Backtothe80splease · 30/06/2024 12:09

I’m strange, I know but it’s something I’ve done since childhood and still do it now at 51.

I have suffered with anxiety and panic disorder since I was a small child and have always found that if I take the ends of some of my hair and gently poke it into my ear canal it really calms me. Sounds weird but it kind of puts me in a trance.

Does anyone else do anything like this? Why would it calm me so much?

It's definitely not weird if so then I must be as well as I definitely do this daily. I take a strand of hair stick it in my ear and let it sit in my ear. The longer I let it sit then it definitely starts tickling. It definitely feels AMAZING!!! I love it. I also go an ear otoscope so I can use it to see if any pieces of hair falls in my ear then I can see to get it out. Hair hasn't fallen in my ear lately which is great. I actually have both ear with strand of hair in them and letting the hair sit inside my ear. If it doesn't tickle right away wait a little bit it definitely will start tickling. Good luck be careful enjoy!!!

TC TUNA

Tiredwomen · 23/11/2024 17:03

I'm also 51 and have done this since childhood. It's good to know Im not the only one. I do this mostly when I'm tired. I think its a comfort and soothing issue. I grew up with a mother that screamed alot and I wonder if It developed from that? The only issue I've had over the years was wax and hair turning into a ball that I had to have flushed out and that was once in 51 years. I have to admit I'm embarrassed by it and have always tried to hide it. Just know there's alot of us out there that do this.

Analiciaofficial · 28/11/2024 09:21

I’ve been doing it as long as my hair could touch my ear, I am 23 years old now… I still do it… I notice I do it often when I’m uncomfortable, tired & have anxiety it soothes me. I grab a piece of my hair even if it’s in a bun and bunch up a little piece and stuff it in my ear. Makes me feel 100x better! Thought I was the only one that did this!

maslinpan · 28/11/2024 09:24

DH does this sometimes when reading, but he uses my hair. It's just audible enough to be very irritating but then I am quite an irritable person.

SEmyarse · 28/11/2024 09:25

I'm attempting to do this and failing. Just want to know what you mean.
Does your hair need to be quite wiry? Mine just seems to flop about and won't go in properly.

FurryFlowers · 28/11/2024 09:51

Now everyone who has read this thread has put their hair in their ear 😂

Original poster
Backtothe80splease · 29/11/2024 22:36

SEmyarse · 28/11/2024 09:25

I'm attempting to do this and failing. Just want to know what you mean.
Does your hair need to be quite wiry? Mine just seems to flop about and won't go in properly.

My dd16 asked me why I am always doing the hair/ear thing so I got her to try it, she said she felt nothing. Obviously it only works for the chosen few lol.

I have quite fine hair not wiry at all, I suppose there is a special knack to it which I have honed over the years.

OP posts:
2110l · 29/11/2024 23:18

Employing your senses in some way, which this is doing, definitely calms anxiety/panic.

AlisonCD · 06/12/2024 22:12

Hiya everyone, I have doe this for as far back as I can remember, I am now 81 and as I write this, In between every few words, I have a piece of thin nylon thread, that was originally one of those nylon strands that secure the information tags that come attached to items of clothing such as Tee Shirts, Sweaters etc. Apart from tickling my ears, I also waggle it between my lips and into my mouth and in between the gaps in my front teeth, tickling my tongue. It gives me great pleasure and it is very soothing in these stressful days. I obviously have to be extremely careful thet i don't swallow it and also don't go too far into my ears.

Circumferences · 06/12/2024 22:21

I'm grateful for this thread 😆

I have never once in my life tried poking own hair into my ear, BUT I have very strange habits of my own, which included for many years inspecting the ends of my hair and biting off the hairs that were split at the ends. I'd go into a sort of trance like state doing that and I'd do it for ages, leaving small little bits of hair on the floor...

I don't actually do that anymore, but I do sort of pull at my hair a lot.

We're a weird bunch!

Letspartylike1999 · 30/12/2024 06:49

I love the feeling of my hair in my ear as well! And its also a habit everyday

Jifmicroliquid · 30/12/2024 07:13

I rub my thumb nail lightly over my upper lip. That’s my weird habit.

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