I'm sorry to here you are dealing with that. I myself am not. At one point I used to bite at my tongue compulsively though, and it got so bad I had to have gauze in my mouth at night for several days. I eventually stopped when the stressful situation came to an end but sometimes I revisit the habit. I've also had minor compulsions to cut, bite, or scratch myself when panicking or depressed, which has led to some unsightly scars and bruises. It's tough when you have this activity, the one that seems to make things feel better and give you control, but it destroys you and it hurts you and has a substantial effect on your appearance. I've not gone through this particular thing but I really feel for you. The only thing I can say to help, I suppose, is seek as much help as you can with it and don't give up on yourself. Try to find something to do with your hands, and the compulsion, that is less damaging, like squeezing a stress ball. You have to retrain yourself to do a less painful and harmful thing when you are scared or upset. I hope you can find a way to heal from this. It sounds just terrible. Hang in there. You will find a way out. It's dark right now, but the lights will come on soon.

I am dealing with this and have been doing it for 5 years now. I really need advice to stop.

I've been having this urge for almost 3 years now. I've been hiding it from everyone,my friends,family,I don't think I'll ever tell. I had beautiful straight hair,everyone praised me for my hair. But eventually,I lost it all just by pulling and honestly it makes me think, "how can a person literally do that to their own hair", most of the time,I'm not aware,but sometimes I am,and in my head I think "just one more",but I keep saying it and the next time I look in the mirror,there's more baldness. I wore a wig for about a year and a half,then my hair started to grow. Now after 3 years,my hair is up to my shoulders,but I'm bald at the back of my head and I haven't,for years,been able to walk out of the house or even inside with my hair loose. I've lost confidence and I've lost my hair and I'm not blaming this disease,I know I'm the problem, but it sucks to not have hair,to always wait until it grows so I can dye it blue. Or maybe it'll always be just a dream. But most people this we are overreacting for something small,but lemme tell you,in experience,no its not...It's more deadly a disease that could kill you,because this will kill you everyday...I JUST REALLY NEED TO STOP.

I am dealing with this. I have for 4 years now. I don’t know what to do. I wear a wig now it has been so bad. I really want to to stop but I don’t know how. It’s so hard for me to. Stress really triggers it but sometimes I do it when I’m bored. School is bad. It sucks when you hear people talking about. Recently some people I used to hang with found out and they don’t talk to me anymore. I just want to be able to stop.

I️ dealt with it for 2 years and am still trying to grow my hair out. I️ stopped when I️ noticed what I️ was doing was causing my hair to thin. Initially I️ thought it was just irregular thick hairs that wouldn’t matter if I pulled or not. The only thing that stopped me was the physical effects that have contributed to my low self esteem. I️ still tend to reach my hands up in the areas I️ once pulled but there are no longer the thick hairs to pullout since they have not grown back. Keep your hands busy and talk to someone about it. I currently on Paxil an ssri and klonopin for generalized anxiety and it seems to also help me to not fidget with my hands so much.

I suffer from it too. I don't pull out hair or eyebrows but i pull my lashes. As a girl lashes are an important feature so not having them really sucks. I need help and someone to talk too.

My son has just started hair pulling he has a bald patch, it’s since he started his new school. I’m going out of my mind, please give me some advice

When I did it as a teenager, my Mom took me to a counselor to see by myself. I went a few times. He told me some stress relieving imaginary things. I helped me a lot. I had to wear a wig for a couple months til my hair grew out.

im 14 and I have felt with this since I was 13. it wasn't too bad at the start but as it progressed it has lead to me feeling like less of a person and less of a girl especially to my mum and friends. I am starting a new school soon and I am very scared they with judge me for it. I also used to really enjoy swimming in the ocean but I feel like people will judge because can probs see my scalping thin hair. not fun :).

I'm 13 and I have been dealing with this for as long as a can remember for more then ten year since I was two. For awhile I ignored and didn't want to acknowledge It until a few years ago when someone said something. I kept making up story like my hairdresser made a mistake. Every one who knew try to understand they never fully will they think I can just stop but I cant. I tried everything nothing worked until this year. I finally realized its not about stopping or getting a grip on it. I decided to try a different technique I let the urge there and for once in my life I didn't I was wearing a hat and gloves that worked for awhile the urges stopped but there coming back now stronger then ever and I have tried but it's so hard. I just keep thinking I need to stop this I'm going into high school but every day its getting a little harder to fight it. No one except for my family knows a fear people will treat me differently. How could they not my sister doesn't even tell people about me all people know is that she has two brothers. How will people ever except it if my own sister can't even. It makes me feel like a outsider in my own family.