I used to be really bad about pulling out my eyelashes. It started when I was 10. I would pull them all out and stand in the mirror looking for the tiniest ones, until my eyes were bald. It was an every day thing for years. To me, it gave me the same satisfaction as scratching a really irritating itch. When the lashes were all gone, my eyes would be vulnerable, puffy and red. Over the decades, I had to discipline myself; every time I would get the temptation, I would make myself contemplate the risks involved. I'll be 33 in a couple of weeks and I can say that, for the most part, I've stopped. I slip up every now and then and catch myself pulling a few out but manage to stop myself before they're all gone. Sometimes, I pull enough out that I have to use eyeliner to fill in the bald spots until they grow back. I get a hold of my eyebrows too, but the urge is not as severe. I also used to pull the hair out in the back of my head in large chunks when I was around 15. The kids in class would get freaked out and I wouldn't even realize I was doing it.

My friend's husband has the same problem but pulls his head hair out on the right side. To hide it a little, he just keeps his hair really short. Same as me, he has his good periods and bad ones. I can always tell whenever I hang out with them when he's been pulling. He's a very intelligent and impressive communicator who works in network administration and makes decent money. Poor guy says people stare at him constantly, even ask if he has some kind of contagious disease. That has to be irritating.

I don't know how severe yours is but what worked for me was just trying to catch myself, slap my own hand, force myself to think about the consequences and try not to rationalize it as something that isn't a big deal. Stopping is difficult once you get started; like trying to stop an o in the middle of it. My case wasn't too severe so just doing those things helped. Didn't cure it completely; it's an ongoing effort but it certainly helped. If your compulsion is too strong to fight on your own then you may want to ask your doctor about some medicine. Some SSRIs are pretty good at staving off compulsions but you have to find the right one that works best for you. Like anyone, you will have your strong days and weak ones. What you have to remember is not to be too hard on yourself if you slip up. It will grow back and you can always try again. Don't get discouraged. Just do your best and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it, like you're doing now. Good luck to you