At the moment there's no significant hair loss (although I have thick hair, so it'd take a lot for it to be very obvious), but a few months after I started my mum noticed my hair was getting a lot thinner at the back, and I think that was when she told me about it being self-harm. I'm worried it's going to get that bad again, because I've got a lot to do this year - 2 Advanced Highers, 1 Higher, a grade 8 violin exam, driving lessons, and I'm supposed to get a job as well. I do feel tension beforehand or if I try and not pull - sometimes holding on to something helps, but not always. Like I said to esthersvirtue, it does feel like pulling helps at the time, but I'm always annoyed at myself afterwards.

My family's reaction is a problem, because I know they don't like me doing it, and I'm worried that people at school will find out as well (that is if they don't know already - I'm not sure how good I am at hiding it), but I hate that I do it as well - I shouldn't need to, there are plenty of people who are doing the exact same things as me and they manage! It does help with managing tension - it gives me a break from whatever's bothering me, like a question I'm stuck on.

I don't know anyone with trich, but compared to some of the stories I read on this site's page for it, mine is hardly serious. I still wish I could stop, though.