Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
What sorts of emotions trigger your hair pulling? Do you notice the urge to do it when you're anxious? Bored? The first step is being able to identify when you are getting the urge to pull. Like you said, it often happens subconsciously, so gaining awareness of the behavior is an important step.
Unfortunately, I still do pull my hairs, but what helps me is to distract myself when I feel like pulling. It might be helpful to keep your hands busy. Maybe you could take up crocheting or something of that nature. Or just getting up and cleaning or going for a walk- anything to keep you busy.
Also, try to be compassionate towards yourself. It's all too easy to start beating ourselves up and feeling anger towards ourselves when we have a behavior that we'd like to stop. But berating ourselves only makes us feel worse. Try to be patient, kind and understanding towards yourself, just as you'd be to a good friend.
Wishing you all the best.
With anxiety, it's "oops, done" the effect of pulling hairs to the point it's noticeable. The pain means that you're into several different patterns, and because this happens in the privacy of your own company, it's here where you will make the recovery work best for you.
Yes, I know what you are talking about, it's why I go by mideyebrow. There are several groups that deal specifically with trichotillomania, which the condition of pulling hair. It is more related to anxiety symptoms in some ways, as it is a calming measure while it is being done. Except that the pain that comes afterward, leads to a different pattern of self ... and with the two combinations, it becomes a multi-project to find what works to improve your inner well-being and allow you to leave your eyelashes as they are.
Best wishes, you are not alone in this.