Can’t stop pulling out hair from the roots

[furrybadger]

Posting here for traffic sorry !

As title says I can’t stop pulling my hair out at the roots, like all kind of hair, I’ve been doing it for years but recently it’s become worse and it’s so embarrassing, I’m starting to get bald patches, is there anything I can do or take to stop this ? Is this a thing like do other people do this or am I just extremely weird 😩

I do the skin picking thing and used to know a little boy who compulsively plucked his hair. You’ve had loads of great advice, unfortunately what works for one won’t work for another so you need to have a go at various methods till you find one that suits you.

Your GP was very wrong to send you off with no avenues for management to explore. They should be considering treating any underlying anxiety and methods like CBT (I’m sure that there used to be online courses you could do).

I think that private hypnotherapy or acupuncture could be worth investigating.

Don’t lose heart if you have a success and then relapse, it’s a compulsion/habit so it’s hard to break. Every day is a new day.

my 8 year old son has started doing this in the lockdown, my dad died and we have had a terrible time as i have worked full time and have no family locally to support us - i was going to shave his hair off but worried he will progress to eyelashes i think he has only being doing it for a month but has always pulled my hair to soothe himself to sleep sonja it most likely much deeper- have also considered hypnotherapy...any thoughts with treating children?

I sympathise OP, although not the same, I have been picking constantly at my scalp since lockdown without realising, until my scalp became sore, I cant seem to stop. I was worried when I realised as my mum did this when she had dementia. I think mine is stress related though and linked to OCD and having given up smoking, I have replaced one bad habit for another :(

Another one doing this for 30 years. I love when I find a really coarse one. Am also a thumb sucker and nail biter which are also related. I do it mostly while relaxing. Have had cbt and take anti anxiety meds but I still do it.

I do this too but only when really really tired and exhausted. I don't know what the answer is as I'm 41 now. I have heard certain antidepressants that are designed to stop ocd can help so maybe ask your doctor.

@MysweetAudrina I love the coarse ones too, how bizarre

My teenage niece had this. She also developed anorexia, both due to anxiety which thankfully have now gone. However, the hair that grew back is a different colour. Natural colour is reddish but the regrowth is just dark brown. Fortunately her hair is really thick and the regrowth is underneath at the back of her head so hardly shows. Hopefully your go can help you.