[poptart316]

I've never been diagnosed with OCD.. but I'm starting to think that I might have it?

I started touching my eyebrow about 3 years ago and I do it all the time and cannot stop.. I just like the way it feels and I rub off a lot of hairs to where I have use an eyebrow pencil. I don't how to stop myself, it's a very strong urge and I don't think about it half the time.. I try telling myself not to do it but it doesn't work. I've tried putting tape on my eyebrows, it kind of works but makes my brows feel hot.

Other than that I just have obsessive thoughts.. or when I do laundry I get paranoid that my cats in the drier and have to open the drier multiple times to make sure he's not in there, even though I KNOW he's not in there, and like I'll start it nervously and will have to check again. lol.

[Miswimmy1]

the cat things sounds like OCD definatley. beleive it or not, i have actually heard of that obsession before... i know its irrational, and im glad that you can find humor in it, but it is a symptom of a serious disorder

the eyebrow thing... not sure. sounds like trich to me...

[poptart316]

yeah, lets just add another disorder to the list ha ha. I just prefer to use the umbrella term "bat ***** insane", it's easier. Although if I'm OCD, I think I'm only slightly OCD. I think my grandads the same.. like he has this thing with cleaning, things have to be neat and clean like ALLLLL the time or he'll freak out. Like some peoples families would play a board game together... but in his world, everybody would be cleaning together like we're on vacation or something.

[Miswimmy1]

yep ocd is hereditary and it sounds like your grandpa has it too...

i would get help tho, in all seriousness, because what can be something that you think it no big deal can turn into a big deal. bottom line, if its interfering with you living a "normal" life, then something has to be changed :/

best of luck!

[believe123]

The eyebrow thing is actually not that unusual (picking and pulling compulsions/ urges are a symptom of OCD, and for some people, it can be incredibly distressing, if not debilitating). It's one of those things that I think most people just don't like to talk about.

For instance, I have brought up stuff like that with my therapist, and she did exactly what I was afraid of: she looked more closely at my face to distinguish my hard work with the eyebrow pencil from my real eyebrows (or lack thereof).

It is common for people with OCD to have Trichotillomania. According to wikipedia, though, trich isn't strictly a symptom of OCD (?).

If it bothers you and you feel like you can't stop doing it, then I would definitely consult an OCD specialist. Most doctors who treat OCD treat picking/pulling issues.

That's just my opinion.

Hang in there!

[Emm1]

I have had a similar thing with eyebrows but just found out about trichotillomania today - I knew there was something where people pulled out their head hair but didn't ever think of my habit in this way. My family tease me about it but it's something I can't control and I have more than I used to at the moment but they did fall out a lot, probably more in times of stress. I remember seeing them all over exam papers. It's still really irritating, like when I am trying to study but my hand has to be on my eyebrows. I'm not sure why it started but having read some stuff today, I think I might ask the doctor. It's gone on for about 4 years probably, I've always had OCD type tendencies and I think it began around the time I developed an eating disorder (this is gone now) but I also experience a lot of symptoms of depression, which trichotillomania is apparently secondary too sometimes. I'm not sure this post is helpful but it's reassuring to hear that someone else is experiencing the same as you - people always just think I'm weird and don't understand I can't control it (and I try to hide it from friends as I get embarrassed, but it can be hard). Good luck with everything