Eyelash Pulling

[LightOfAThousandStars]

Can anyone who has experience with this offer some advice please? My 11 year old son has been pulling out his eyelashes, it's large amounts pulled out in the centre part. I have tried to talk to him about it but not getting much out of him. Not sure whether to see the GP or wait. Feeling really worried.

Hi,

I’m sorry you are both going through this. I can understand why you are worried for your child. I’ve pulled at eyelashes and eyebrows since a child (i’m nearly 40 now!).

Its worse when i’m stressed. Perhaps visit a Dr, as they may be able to refer you to a child psychologist who can help ?

It’s strange when i do it it feels like relaxation or trying to decompress. I’m unaware of when i’m doing it and have tried for 30 yrs to stop without success.

The only time i stopped was when I was on ADHD medication.

I hope your son gets some resolve, but I’d try and seek professional help - I wish i had a parent at the time do that for me, mine was just left x

I did this from around the same age and still do now... always when stressed! I think it's actually very common! Try not to worry too much but it's great you're seeking help for him! Maybe some relaxation type things for him?
Interesting that the previous poster mentioned ADHD meds as I was diagnosed with ADD (as it was back then!) as a child!

Also just remembered that I was very ashamed of having done it if anyone questioned me (friends that is... my parents would never have noticed!) so he might clam up when asked about it? Maybe try one of those journals for him to write stuff down in... my eldest has one called something like big life journal. Or just say I thought you might want to de-stress a bit and ask him what activity he'd like to try?

I do that and so does DD (28). I find it very satisfying.

Thank you everyone for the replies, he has been diagnosed with mild autism when younger but not adhd. It's helpful to know others have been in a similar situation. I have been worrying a lot about it and if it continues we will reach out to the GP.

I do it and really don't think it's anything to worry about.

My daughter is now 13 and always used to do this. She said that she liked the feeling and once she started couldn’t stop. I started putting Vaseline on her eyelids which stopped her from being able to pull them. I also spoke to her about eye infections. The one thing that really helped was to get her a stretchy fiddle toy to use at night. That really helped and she no longer pulls them or uses the toy. It’s really distressing but not unlike nail biting. Interestingly she is going through an ADD referral at the moment- I hadn’t made the connection before but she’s a terrible sleeper and quite anxious at night so maybe that’s related.

This is trichotillomania. I started at age ten, pulling eyelashes and eyebrows. 20 years later, I still struggle with it, but not long after I started I moved onto my head and now have extremely thin hair. I also have ASD and now know that it's a form of stimming. Please look into help for him to stop. It has been such a huge, negative part of my life. I wish I'd had help when I started.

I used to do it too - by product of anxiety. I was around the same age and I did stop eventually.
However what is great is that your son has you, and you are on it.
What @Prawnandcrocktail has said above are helpful ideas.

Ditto! This is the one thing that could have got my diagnosed as a child. My parents even took me to a GP and wanted me to see a psychiatrist but the GP said it was just a phase 🤦🏻‍♀️

I eventually got my autism diagnosis at 32 🙄

Thank you everyone, I'm going to order a few more stress relief fidget toys, he has pop it ones and a cube but maybe a stress ball will also help. He already has a journal that he likes doodling in a lot. I've discussed the risk of infection with him as well so hopefully that will deter him a bit. I never thought to think that it could be stimming, that does make sense.