Hello Wintersnow,

I started pulling my hair out around 15. I've had bald spots but could cover them up. For many years I often felt stuck in one place for many hours - such as watching TV, or reading, pulling hair out, splitting hair, ripping at my hair. I couldn't stop at these times. I'd get so tired I eventually want to bed.

I have three sisters who also pull their hair out. It's horrible to watch. My brothers do not have this problem.

At age 40, I decided to believe that for me this was a horrible habit, rather than a mental health problem. As soon as I decided my problem was a habit I started to recover. I had a feeling of some control over it. I'm now 51 and can happily say I no longer rip the hair out of my head.

I had a very difficult childhood and think this contributed to a lot of stress. I feel my hair pulling was in response to that stress that continued as a habit whenever I was stressed. Sometimes I pulled my hair out for no reason at all.