Is pulling my hair a form of SI?

I've noticed lately that when I'm bored or my hands are free, I start pulling out the hairs on my arms. I don't notice I'm doing it at first but then my arm starts to tingle and burn and I notice a big spot of missing hair. Is this some form of SI? Why am I doing this? It feels kinda good when I do notice the burning sensation after I've done it. I'm confused...

I know that hair pulling can be a form of SI...but I think it's the context that you do it in that makes it self injury or not. I'm not sure about what you're doing though...maybe someone with more experience in hair pulling can help you out. Good luck!

If you're doing it unintentionally, I'm wondering if it's more a form of anxiety.

If you want to look up more about it, the medical term is trichotillomania.

That's what I was thinking too. An anxiety thing. Because SI is done to feel relief from an overwhelming emotion or unbearable numbness...it seems like you say you don't even notice you're doing it until it starts burning. That to me definitely seems more anxiety related than a form of SI, even though hair-pulling can be considered SI. Like I said, it's the context you do it in that ultimately decides.

I guess it's more anxiety than anything, although I usually do it when I'm bored, not really that anxious at the time. I'd only think it'd be SIing AFTER I notice it, because I like the burning sensation... Just don't like a bunch of my hairs missing! eck!

I think it's what it means to you that counts. Trichotilamania can be si. It can also be ocd, anxiety, dissociation, or a combination of things. It's not uncommon, and is treatable. If it bothers you, you should talk to someone about it.

Thanks for the responses... I think I might be gaining some sort of obsessive compulsion, I can't stop doing it. I don't think it's really SI, it's normal for a SIer to enjoy the burning, I'm sure. I'll talk to my doctor about it... I told her when I seen her last week and that's when she initally talked to me about Provigil, then I started telling her more and that's when she decided to put me on it. So that might be a little for that, too... She didn't really explain.

Yeah, I agree with Rapunzel - trich can be many things. It can be pretty hard to get through - the sooner you can get help and stop the better. Meantimes find things to occupy your hands (drawing, puzzles, even knitting lol), wear tight sleeves and or mittens whilst you are alone so that you cannot reach up and pull without being reminded, and keep items such as tweezers someplace strange like the freezer.

Trich can cause a lot of distress in itself, but over time it can cause skin damage or spread to other areas where hair loss would be more upsetting.

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the shirt idea is really good... thanks vulnerome!