[x_BabyG_x]

I never really thought of this as a way of SI until I'd recently read a few posts about it, but when I was younger I had a problem with pulling my hair out strand by strand. I used to lock myself in the bathroom and sit in front of the mirror for hours, and I used to have to keep it from my mum because she realised what I was doing and she used to shout at me (I was only about 10).

After a while my hair started thinning really badly and I started to get bald patches, so I knew I had to stop, but instead I found a similar way to pass the time. I used to pick at my scalp really badly, until it bled.

I had a problem with this for a few years, and even now I stop myself going to the hairdressers because I know what a mess I made of it. After a while I stopped but recently I started doing it again and didnt think it was so much of a problem but now Im starting to think differently. I even find it calms me down, when Im upset or triggering I've started to do it.

Could this really be another form of SI? And does anyone else have a problem with this?

babyg xXx

[Christina86]

((((((((((BabyG)))))))))))))

I found this website that might help. Trichotillomania - Compulsive Hair Pulling

I sometimes have a problem with it, but I know that other members here struggle with it... I hope that they come across this post.

It could be another form of SI since you use it as a form of "self-calming" which is what SI is all about. It's trying to take the minds attention away from (emotional) pain, and instead focus on (physical) pain.

Hope that helps.

[Rio_]

Since you saw the thread I started here today, I'm guessing you know that I'm one of the members who do (well, did) this. I've never really been sure if it's a form of SI - I don't do it to feel pain, and sometimes I do it for no apparent reason. The website Christina found is a good one, and there are also some articles here on Psych Central.

The last time I pulled my hair out was December 2006, and I think the main thing that's helped me not do it for this long is trying to keep my hands away from my head completely wherever possible. It's not easy, and I've had quite a few failed attempts at quitting before this one, but up until recently this attempt seemed to be going pretty well. I'm hoping I can get back to being able to keep my hands away from my head again soon.

If you're in therapy, you could maybe suggest Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or Habit Reversal Training to your therapist - they're both used for hair pulling, and I think CBT helped me because it made me more aware of when I'm likely to pull my hair.