Anyone conquered Trichotillomania? How?

[TallulahBetty]

As the title, really. Has anyone conquered their Trich and would like to share how? I've been pulling my eyelashes for 20 years and desperate to stop. My lids are almost bald at the moment as ive been very stressed and I just can't stop. Even though I know it looks awful. Thanks for any replies x

Hi tallulah, I was just about to post the same question!
Been pulling my eyelashes out for about 6 years, it’s now moved on to eyebrows, grey hairs and ‘frizzy’ hairs.
I seriously don’t know how to stop and I’m sick of trying to cover up that I hardly have any eyelashes.
I don’t know about you, but I find that people just don’t understand which makes it harder to talk about.

Have you been to your GP? It’s something I’ve considered but the thought of talking about it makes me want to weep!

I have recently taken up knitting, which helps a bit, but as soon as I read a book, go on Mumsnet, watch TV or really anything that doesn't involve both hands, I pull. Mainly frizzy hairs from the top of my head and eyebrow regrowth. Eyelashes every so often. Never seen a doctor about it. Maybe I just need to knit more and get Audible so I can indulge my book habit at the same time.

Hi. I am guessing you're both female. I am female and I started with trich when I was 14. I did pull eyelashes eyebrows soft facial hair all my hair on my head and pubic hair for over 20 years. I finally told my husband that I had this illness rather than he and the whole world thinking it was alopecia. He was very cross and made if all about him even though I started it when I was 14 and I was 21 when I met him. I paid privately to see a cognitive behavioural therapist and it has helped massively.

CBT I have found very helpful. I do still pull a bit but I feel I've overcome it 95%. I agreed you need to keep hands occupied as much as you can. Can you take up exercise? Keep yourself busy. And feed yourself regularly. If I get hungry and turned pulling hair is my 'go to'

Tired not turned

Same here with the eyelashes. So embarrassing. I tell people I have blepharitis which I probably do have after 15 years of trichotillomania. At this stage it's pure habit and not a stress reliever. Don't know how to break the habit. Have tried online hypnosis, vaseline, gloves, goals etc but can't do it

You can do it. I pulled every single hair. I got therapy paid for privately. He was very good. I still remind myself of his therapy. I was doing it because I needed control over other aspects of my life. Take control in a different way. Something under the due face is making you feel like you're losing control or done one is raking control when you don't want them to. Therapist added me that when I start to feel the urge to pull to put my palms flat together like a prayer pose and tell myself it's ok because I control what I do. He also encouraged me to set a goal like making myself proud of something even a small task. Praise yourself for doing something well and if you can encourage yourself to buy a new mascara that you can use to enhance your missing lashes and then gradually they will regrow and you can put on the mascara in the conventional sense.Not one of my friends knows my secret. Not one of them.

Thank you all. Will look into CBT

I pulled out my lashes for years. Then I found a lovely Last Perfect (last extensions) lady and I have I fills every 3 weeks. They started out patchy but after 18 months they look brilliant. My natural lashes are neo sparse, very fine like baby hairs, but they can hold a glued in lash. The fact that I have to pay for my lashes has stopped me pulling them. Also, it finally HURTS - like, big time. No longer the stress reliever but actual No, I don't like it pain.

LASH perfect, not last.

And not speed infills either.