Has anyone managed to stop hair pulling? I am going to have bald eyebrows if i carry on

[memoo]

I could really do with some advice on this. I guess its symptomatic of the PND and aniety I am being treated for. I obsessively stoke and pull at the hairs on my eyebrows until they come out.

I've done this for as long as I can remember but lately is is totally out of control. I Now have very little hair left on my eyesbrowa and I look rediculous!

I just wondered if anyone had any experience of this and of breaking the habit.

I'm really desperate to stop

hi memoo, how are you today?

This reminds me of something I used to do when I was really bad.

I used to lock myself in the bathroom and pull out hairs on my head - one-by-one.

For some strange reason, I felt better whilst I was doing it. Then when I stopped I would feel terrible again.

I guess it's a bit like self-harm? Taking the mental pain and expressing it in a physical way?

I don't really know how to help, although I know that as I got better the compulsion to do the hair pulling reduced.

I still do it occasionally when I get stressed, but not to excess anymore.

Just wanted to say, I kind of understand, that's all

My sister did this to her hair. It is a form of trichollotomania I think. She pulled out a massive patch of her hair and had therapy -a cross bet. psychotherapy and CBT. It has been successful but took some effort on her part to stop and a lot of support from her DH and us. She saw her GP who referred her on and then a specialsist.

Hi Getdown, I'm relatively okish today. The diazepam is working enough to keep me calm, still feel like the slightest thing could tip me over the edge though. Just focusing on one day at a time. Haven't been getting the urges to hurt myself but the hair pulling is out of control.

I so know what you mean about feeling better when you're doing it. I love doing it at the time but then I'm gutted when I look at myself in the mirror and see what I've done, its hard enough to look at myself at the moment anyway.

Going off what you say, hopefully my mental state will keep improving and I'll be able to get it under control again.

Thanks for that Mackerel. My GP has suggest CBT beofe but so far I've been resistent. The thought of having to talk to someone face to face causes me so much stress! I think its something I need to reconsider though.

memoo, I know this sounds a bit gross, but bear with me

Have you tried pulling out your
pubic hair????

I do this sometimes. Similar effect, but no one sees the results!

Sorry don't wish to offend x

Memoo I realy would recommend it. It is about changing yur cognitions and the way you perceive and react to specific situations. for my sister it is all about stress and low self-esteem. In the way a smoker reaches for a cigarette, she pulls her hair out. The CBT is very goal oriented, time limited and did require her to do 'homework' but def. paid off. Maybe you could have another exploratory chat with your GP or someone else. My sister started pulling out her hair during her finals at uni and carried on well into her mid-late 30s. By that point she had a largeish bald patch on her head. She was very ashamed and embarrassed esp. doing things like going to the hairdressers and felt very anxious about seeking help, but is glad she did. good luck with it.

Getdown, I am actually very glad that you said that.

I have plucked the hairs from my bikini line when they are growing back after a wax. Its not the kind thing you use for a tread title is it so I'm glad you mentioned it!!

I also get the tweezers on my legs when they have stubble.

God, I am a real nut case aren't I

I think I tend to go for my eyebrows alot because its very easy to do when you are sat watching tele at night, or mumsnetting!

OK, I admit in advance i'm no MH expert. But would something like knitting help? An alternative thing to do with your hands, so that you can't fiddle or pull?

Thats a good idea Girders! and certainly worth a try because I definately don't do it when my hands are occupied.

Not very good at knitting but am rather good at sewing!

There you go then, you just need a biiiig project to keep your hands busy for a fairly long time! Keep it by your normal sitting-down chair if you can, and then it's there to pick up without hassle. (am currently knitting to avoid nail-biting, eyebrow pulling, and snacking!)

I'm with Girder's here, ie no MH expert and I'm sorry if this is just a useless idea but would smearing vaseline on them help? Make them harder to grip? I'm sorry not much help but thinking of you.

yes, "I pull out my pubic hair" - can you imagine the thread?!

Think of the money you we save on waxing though!

Thanks for that satonthesofa, its actually a really good idea! They come out very easy now because I've done it so much, anything that makes it harder would be good.

Girders, everyone is going to be getting hand stitched pressies from me this christmas

I did it memoo and managed to stop, and my eyelashes, I couldn't often wear mascara as I didn't have many eyelashes sometimes I used to make my eyebrows bleed . To be honest I found something else for my hands to do when I had very odd balanced brows.. (favoured my right one).

It still took will power, but it is nicer not doing it now... I have stopped self harming as well . 2010 might be quite a good year.
I hope you get your anxiety sorted and PND, ....as someone who is recovering from all sorts, it is a relief to be feeling calmer apart from short episodes...

My quiet resolution is to be as close to the me I used to be as I possibly can by the end of 2010...

Its really good to hear that you managed to stop.

For some reason I am feeling quite strong to day. I'm making a resolution to really look after myself and get myself well.