Trichotillomania - Anyone else like this? (May be TMI)

[Techlight]

Apologies if this is too much information. My intention isn't to disgust anyone, but I see how it could.

For as long as I can remember, I've pulled my hair out. Sometimes I look for specific ones ones on my head, use tweezers on my body, leave bald patches in my eyebrows, but best of all are eyelashes.

I know it sounds strange; it's like some kind of build up and release, but then I need to do it again. I do it more often when I feel tense, but also when I'm concentrating.

I've read a bit about compulsive behaviours, but can't find anything anywhere about anyone else putting the loose hairs into their eyes, which is what I often do.

Does anybody at all do this or something similar? As in, enjoying the feeling of an eyelash that gets in (or in my case, is put in) your eye, and then the relief of later removing it? I don't know when it progressed to this or specifically why I feel compelled to do it.

It's a type of OCD, there have been a few threads on it in the last year or so.

I have this. I pull out the wiry, curly feeling hairs from my head. I also do it when stressed out or concentrating on something. Often I am unaware that I'm doing it. My husband distracts me, or asks if I'm OK.

@HomeEdRocks18 I do the exact same thing. I look for the wiry hairs on my head and pull them out. It's nice to know I'm not the only one

I love pulling hairs out, my husband lets me tweeze his back hairs out as he likes the feeling too. We bond over our similar weirdness.

Have a look on YouTube for longest in grown hair ever if you want to be disgusted and amazed at the same time.

Dd has this, she is 11 and pulls her eyelashes gently (kinda strokes them). Years ago she’d collect them. She had ASD and undoubtedly OCD. She’s done it since she’s been about 7. She actually does it less when she is really stresssed, more to relax.

I think the OP knows lots of people pull their hair due to stress or OCD, trey asked if anyone also enjoyed putting the pulled hairs into their eye so they could enjoy the relief of removing them later.

I used to pull my hair and eyelashes, pick my scalp to make scabs to pick at later, rip the skin off around my nails so I could pick the scabs, and yes as a child I used to deliberately put hair, and rubber rubbings into my eye to irritate them so I could try to get them out later.

I do however also have aspergers and it was my way to cope with being over simulated but I have, over many years, learned new ways to cope that don't involve minor self harm such as getting an anxiety cube and learning breathing techniques. I do however still have the urges to do all of these things.

Do you suffer with anxiety at all OP? Or is it all very unconscious when you do it?

I have this as well, can be really embarrassing when I've pulled to much away from my scalp and leave a bald patch 😔 don't even realise I'm doing it half the time. I've never put the hairs in my eyes like you do OP but I do chew the root of my hair if it comes out

I LOVE pulling out my eyelashes. It just feels like a release. I really have to control myself or I’d have none left. Random wiry hairs on my head have to go too.

I knew someone that pulled a patch of chest hair out, there was a bald patch just by the space where 2 shirt buttons closed. He did stop but I don't know how. Think it was due to stress.

Love pulling my hair out. Cant fathom why. I do it until i get a noticeable sparse patch then stop for a bit, then start again. And so it always was.

I tug and twist my hair until it splits, then peel it apart, then snap it off. I can do this for hours, it's like I go into a trance. I do it until my eyes can't focus anymore and I get cramps in my fingers. I do it more when I'm stressed or bored.

What are these wiry head hairs a few of you have? My hair is all the same. A bit shit but none is different.

My OH does the eyelashes. It looks terrible and I wish he’d stop but I know it’s not his fault. As soon as we’re watching anything gripping on tv he’s at them.

@Popadoodledoooo I have very curly hair, the majority of it is fairly smooth and grows nice and long, but occasionally I get a wiry hair that doesn’t curl in the same way as the rest and it feels really coarse. Instead of curling into ringlets they just frizz. When I yank them out they’ve always got uneven growth, like they vary between being very thick and thin along the strand if that makes sense?

@HomeEdRocks18 I do the same.
I can sit there for hours doing it if I’m stressed.

Have changed name for this, but yes have had this for many many years. Have been affected badly by it. Haven't got much hair and I dont know how to stop. Feel terrible about myself

Has anyone had any kind of successful therapy for this condition?