dear bronzeowl, step back a minute and reread your post,, you answer most of your own questions, and the rest are of little importance for purposes of treatment. If you have a repetitive behavior that you cannot interrupt, that is an OCD. there are some meds that help it for some people,, mostly not. Hair pulling is usually pulling one hair at a time, deliberately, but not always. Sometimes it does involved eating the hair.... every one is so unique, we can not be lumped in a heap. i was fortunate to find relief in Acupuncture. i hope you find a way to stop. best wishes,, Gus