[Mysterygirl202]

After 6 years of playing with my hair and pulling little bits of it out I want to stop before it turns into something bad. I don't want to lose my hair. how do I stop?!

[the abyss]

try an elastic band around your wrist and when you feel like pulling your hair flick the elastic band really hard, if nothing else it will break your thought pattern.
take care.

[TheMajor]

I am trying something called n-acetylcysteine, or NAC. It's a supplement that has shown some potential as a treatment for trich. If you would like to know more, please visit the thread:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/ocd-t...ent-trich.html

I linked some information on the study related to NAC. It's easy to find and order online, as well. It seems relatively safe (but don't take my word for it, talk to your doctor first). I'm going to make updates on how it's working for me (or not working, if that's the case). I think it's worth a shot.

In the past I have tried wearing hats or bandanas with my hair braided in pigtails, as I've gone as far as to chop all my hair off so that it was only about an inch to and inch and a half long, because that made it too short for me to grab and pull out. I also pull my eyelashes and eyebrows and found that wearing those thick, fake acrylic nails made it harder for me to grab on the tiny eyelashes or eyebrow hairs. Plus, if they're done well, they look pretty ^__^

Keeping my hands busy helps, too. I like working with my hands on craftsy projects, as well as playing computer games that require focus and constant interaction by pressing buttons.

[catsandcoffee]

I've experienced Trich since I was around 7 years old, and I would pull huge wads out when I went into panic attacks.
The thing is, is I usually only do it during panic attacks, and once they subside, the Trich usually does too.
How I got myself to do it less during panic attacks is I would find some sort of string (string from a wash cloth, etc; usually thread-like) and fiddle with it.
It didn't help 100%, but it helped it at least 60%.
I would recommend getting some thread, cutting off a pretty good-sized piece, and twiddle with it.
Best of wishes!

[taytaybee]

Keeping my hands busy with fidgets or things like them seem to help me. I've heard that silly putty, stress balls, bean bags, and rubber bands help.
It also helps me to keep occupied with something. I tend to pick when I am bored so I try to continue doing things like games or crafts or something. It just mostly helps me to be distracted and using my hands for something else.
Good luck!

[rewireme]

I did the same thing. I have periods where I stop and then pick it up again. At the moment, I have stopped (but am strongly skin picking). I hated myself for it and criticized myself over constantly. Then it would get worse. I still hate myself for having the occasional habit of putting my fingers to my hair, even once in a blue moon pulling out a hair. Somehow I have convinced myself that I had a logical reason for doing this, and even sometimes couldn't understand (and still can't for many OCD traits) why others (normal people) don't feel the same urge to get rid of the coarse hairs, or grey hairs, or hairs that are in a place where I feel a pulling feeling. Right now, I am successful in avoiding the trich. I think it is bc I am focusing on something else. Maybe it's the skin picking, or focusing on work. I find that if I can find a productive obsession (bc I am either obsessed or not interested at all), it takes my need to find satisfaction in air pulling away bc I am getting satisfaction somewhere else. Try finding something you can focus on that gives you the same satisfaction of pulling (therefore relieving anxiety) and that may also be productive. Sometimes, also, it is about convincing yourself to obsess in the opposite direction. For example, I am convinced that by squeezing pimples that I will finally get rid of them all and have a clean slate to create the perfect completion. I am going to try to change my thikning about this. Convince myself that there is another way to perfection - like a rigid skincare routine. It is hard, but it is something I am going to try. Maybe you can replace your pulling with a haircare routine that in some way (through trial and error - you need to find what works for you) satisfies the release of anxiety.

[nycgal448]

I can TOTALLY relate, when I wuz young i pulled all my eyebrows out
and eyelashes too!!! I pull my hair out now. it feels like a nervous
habit? what is the underlining meaning of this?? why we do it?

[TheMajor]

Originally Posted by nycgal448

I can TOTALLY relate, when I wuz young i pulled all my eyebrows out
and eyelashes too!!! I pull my hair out now. it feels like a nervous
habit? what is the underlining meaning of this?? why we do it?

I've read that some experts theorize that it may be a grooming instinct gone haywire and that it's deeply related to our genes. But they still don't know enough to really understand what the problem is or how to treat it. And yes, I also pulled my eyelashes and brows as a child/teenager, and have just recently started pulling my scalp hair as well once I reached my mid twenties.

I've posted that I'm trying the NAC supplement, as it has shown some potential as a treatment for it that may lessen or eliminate the urge to pull. So far I've had mixed results - but it can take time for any med to work, and finding the right dosage is always tricky too. So I'll keep taking it to see what happens.

I'm just glad that my boyfriend has told me numerous times that he would love me even if I was bald and had no eyelashes and eyebrows. At least that helps my self-esteem (which reaches a healthy level when my eyelashes and brows grow in, and then plummets when I start pulling them out again), and he understands that I can't easily stop (though he tries to remind me when he notices I'm pulling, and will even sometimes smack my hand when it's moving toward my hair, haha).

[Mysterygirl202]

Originally Posted by TheMajor

I've read that some experts theorize that it may be a grooming instinct gone haywire and that it's deeply related to our genes. But they still don't know enough to really understand what the problem is or how to treat it. And yes, I also pulled my eyelashes and brows as a child/teenager, and have just recently started pulling my scalp hair as well once I reached my mid twenties.

I've posted that I'm trying the NAC supplement, as it has shown some potential as a treatment for it that may lessen or eliminate the urge to pull. So far I've had mixed results - but it can take time for any med to work, and finding the right dosage is always tricky too. So I'll keep taking it to see what happens.

I'm just glad that my boyfriend has told me numerous times that he would love me even if I was bald and had no eyelashes and eyebrows. At least that helps my self-esteem (which reaches a healthy level when my eyelashes and brows grow in, and then plummets when I start pulling them out again), and he understands that I can't easily stop (though he tries to remind me when he notices I'm pulling, and will even sometimes smack my hand when it's moving toward my hair, haha).

Your boyfriend sounds really cute

[nycgal448]

I have spent hrs just playin and pulling. I actually have a method
to it too. my ex would ask me why? I would simply say, idk. habit?
He called me Ocd too.It calms me, it's calming to me.

[TheMajor]

Originally Posted by nycgal448

I have spent hrs just playin and pulling. I actually have a method
to it too. my ex would ask me why? I would simply say, idk. habit?
He called me Ocd too.It calms me, it's calming to me.

It is calming, mostly because when people suffering from trich have an urge to pull, it becomes increasingly more and more intense and stressful until you give into the pulling urge. Generally, the more I try to resist pulling, the more agitated I get - so much that I'd rather just give in and pull, because I am so agitated, restless, and uncomfortable otherwise.

Like I said, I'm still on this NAC supplement to see if it helps at all. So far, still not sure if it's having an effect. It might be, but I think it's too early to tell, really.

And odd thing that I've noticed SOMETIMES helps: while my eyebrows are growing in (as they are usually sparse) I tend to tweeze specific hairs - for whatever reason, they are ones that bother me in a really specific way. Maybe they are too thick, or are growing in a funny direction - whatever. But individually tweezing those specific hairs, helps keep me from pulling at all of them. Like, I try to systematically get rid of the specific bothersome hairs so save myself from going in on the entire eyebrow spastically.

[misskrome]

Originally Posted by Mysterygirl202

After 6 years of playing with my hair and pulling little bits of it out I want to stop before it turns into something bad. I don't want to lose my hair. how do I stop?!

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

[wintersnow]

Wow this really cheered me up - right now I am in the middle of a rough time with my trich. Lots of good tips, thanks!

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[willubmyfriend]

I pull out any hair I can get my hands on! I do not think it is a nervous habit. I was told mine was a chemical imbalance in my brain.

Originally Posted by nycgal448

I can TOTALLY relate, when I wuz young i pulled all my eyebrows out
and eyelashes too!!! I pull my hair out now. it feels like a nervous
habit? what is the underlining meaning of this?? why we do it?

[Mysterygirl202]

Originally Posted by willubmyfriend

I pull out any hair I can get my hands on! I do not think it is a nervous habit. I was told mine was a chemical imbalance in my brain.

I think it's good to remember though that all disorders are bio-psycho-social. Meaning the chemical imbalance isn't the only thing contributing to behaviors.