Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

Its hard for me to focus in class as well I'd talk to your teacher about this.

this is my last year of middle school. 8 th grade. till highschool next year. i have trich too. i akso wonder if kids at my school have trich. i am too scared to ask anyone. that i could never do. I think you should talk to the parent you are closest too. maybe go to the school therapist. but i wouldt tell anyone at school. i found that wearing a hat or sunglasses (where ever you pull) helps alot. because then your hands are free to do your homework. that only works at home though. my trich started because of my parents :/ they fought so much when i was 7 yrs old, i was so stressed. i hope this helped!

I don't remember pulling in class, it's been so long. However, I was remembered as the girl that pulled out her eyelashes. At my 20 year reunion, a girl blurted out in front of several other people that she remembered me, because I was the girl that used to pull out her eyelashes. Don't remember what I said. Quite embarrassing though. Try your best not to pull in class. Take the other persons advice and sit where people can see you.

i graduated 5 years ago, but i did have trich since the 2nd grade. back then my teachers told my parents that i was day dreaming alot. but it was the early stages of trich. fast forward to my highschool years and i had the same issue. i just couldn't get focused. i would tune out my teacher(not intentionally)and pull. luckily i was in the back of the room, so no one saw. but i did have to wear my hair up in a half pony tail for like ever. it really hit me that i had a problem when a friend told me i had a tiny bald spot where i parted my hair for the pony tail. so i learned to pay attention. i played with rubber bands mostly to keep my hands busy in class for 3 of my 4 years. i finally graduated. i still have trich, but i've learned not to let it affect my priorities. it's all the advice i can give. hang in there. xoxo

Pinkat, I had trouble paying attention before I got trich! I admit it was during not paying attention in class one day that i found myself pulling. I really think each of us just has a max attention span. Pulling is your body's way of saying "Hey! I need to do something! I'm just sitting here." Hands weren't meant to be idle. This advice first helped me a LOT. Not anymore, but it did for a long time.

Also, have your parents email me, and I will tell them how much they suck for not being understanding.

I've been out of highschool for 4 years now, and I have major problems with it in highschool. I would find it also hard to pay attention. At first I had a hard time telling my parents, but they started to see the effects and asked me what was wrong. I told my father, he didn't understand and he pushed away from me, and my mother supported me but was uncomfortable with it.

But then a few years later, my father saw a dateline show that talked about this disorder, and it really opened his eyes. So I think once your parents maybe see facts/information about it, I think it would make the world of difference.

Much love :)

Wow, straighlin... I can't imagine that girl could be so rude! 20 years after high school, and she still hadn't learned manners. Well, I do feel bad for her because she probably says lots of things she regrets. I'm sure you were embarrassed, and I'm sure she embarrasses herself often. Oh man, maybe she's gots Tuerrets!