It is natural to feel shame even though we know we shouldn't. Trich is a very discouraging condition to have -- it is a constant battle! But it is so worth getting back on that wagon. Even spending a few hours pull free is saving so many hairs on your head.

hugs

Hmm thanks J. It was good to read that. Yep, moving forward. I wish I didn't feel those things. I guess the main part is knowing that I shouldn't feel them. Or rather, that I don't need to.

Thanks Manda. I can I can.

Thanks Trish, I know :) it's good to be reminded if those things.

I've been sooooo busy this past week, decluttering a house in preparation for it going on the market. And the decluttering is only phase 1!! Such a lot of work. I wire a great headband barrier yesterday as I'm starting to pull at the very front of my head again. NO. Just NO. 1 hair pulled today, I'm going to try not to pull any more. ABC. I can do this.

Good job using a barrier! Remember the ABC's, they are so helpful. Good luck sorting out the rest of the issues with the house, it must be so stressful to be taking care of that.

oooh headband barriers are the BEST

you're doing great!

Stay strong..You can do this.

Its best not to dwell on any pulling episodes as this will continue to wreck havoc on your nerves. This is especially true as you go through your moving process. Pace yourself, after you take care of yourself- by exercising and relaxation techniques then you can devote a two hour window to prep the house..then its off to go play outside and get some fresh air, meet a friend, or get a hot beverage somewhere. You come first...Hugs..

nice advice nabby! i second it : )

"No, just no". Yesssssss!!!!

You and I are going through the same process right now. I find it helps to do things in phases:pack up the stuff we want, stuff family might want, stuff to donate, clothes, etc. it can be a struggle, packing up your childhood memories. Go easy on yourself, but really try to stay away from the front :-)

let us know how you're doing! sending hugs your way :)

Thanks Manda. Yep it is/was pretty stressful, but I"m over the major hurdle now! Hooray! Have gotten repairs organised, picked an agent, organised everything with the solicitors, prepared the house to be photographed by the agent (that took 5 full days!!!!!!!!!) There was so much STUFF.

Thanks Nabby. Good advice :) Just to clarify, I'm clearing out my parents (Mum's) house. After a week of intense work, I can now adopt your schedule which includes exercise (shudder) and relaxation techniques.

Thank you BooYah

Thanks Phoebe. Sometimes, we just have to use no as are final defense! I've been packing up everything in a very organised way, very similarly to how you've advised. When I clear clutter from each room I put it into 1 of 4 piles: Chuck, keep, put in the garage for the garage sale, and sell online. Then also I'm collecting clothes to donate. The garage is full of crap to sell. And I'm luckily that I can use my grandpas garage to store all the stuff we're keeping and selling online. The next phase is unpacking the roof (so much stuff up there) then gradually unpacking every cupboard and wardrobe, without leaving any clutter at the end of the day in case someone wants to see the house as it's just now on the market.

Thanks J :) I'm doing ok! Have just been away from my computer for a week and when I get home I'm so exhausted I collapse on the lounge! No energy to update and comment on other threads :( But I will now. I practised awareness on Wednesday - 2 days ago - and I was very aware that I pulled 30 hairs :( 15 of those were isolated incidents and were totally not on purpose. Then there were a couple on purpose in the evening. Then I couldn't sleep in the middle of the night and the extra 10 or so happened. Yesterday, I probably pulled about 20. Today I have resisted so far..

Sounds like you are making tons of progress with the house. Remember to take some time to relax as well!

At least when the move is over you will have earned yourself a big ice cream sundae or some other delightful reward!

Sending positive thoughts your way!!

How are you doing? Stay strong...take lots of breaks.

Sorry for the absence. I didn't have the energy to post here. I did catch up your pf-a-thons once or twice though.

Thanks for the support Manda, BooYah and nabby :) Very lovely of you.

I'm doing ok, but my hair is not :( Sigh, my crown is a mess. Imagine having a mohawk, that strip of hair which would be pointing upward. Well that strip of hair is my problem area, and what a large problem area! It's very very thin. I do have a thin section of hair that runs parallel to my part that I kind of comb over the area. Ughh, disaster. It's not too bad when dry, my hair just looks thin. But I just looked at it wet because I died it (too ashamed to go to the hair dressers..) and UGH. Am using my dermatch again. I know it's a crazy big goal but I'm aiming to go pull free for 6 weeks, and in 6 weeks time I'll get a haircut and a professional dye job as my reward. Of course I'm breaking it down into smaller goals. 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks etc. I'll have to think up rewards now and write them out. This time round, I think the main tactic is willpower.

Ok rewards.
1 day - A really nice bottle of wine
3 days - An item of clothing
1 week - (it's my birthday also) A pedicure & a nice lunch
2 weeks - Something nice from Lush or The Body Shop
3 weeks - An item of clothing or a massage
4 weeks - Dinner out to my favourite restaurant
5 weeks - An item of clothing or a massage
6 weeks - Haircut and dye

Ooh my rewards look good. Very motivating. It's 2:30 in the afternoon and I'm pull free, grrrr let's go!

Yaaaay will power!!

I totally think I am going to copy this reward system because it is awesome. Although you have the advantage of having delicious affordable wine in Australia : D

I know it's hard not to freak out when you look at the "problem areas" in your hair, and you just feel so sick and embarrassed about how bad you may think it looks. I totally know that feeling. I used to spend inordinate amounts of time just obsessively photographing my bald/thinning spots from multiple angles, or staring at them in the mirror. But it's like, well, those problem areas aren't going to disappear overnight. What helped me was just compassionately accepting them and making peace with the fact that those problem areas are there, and that's cool, and life will just go on with my hair looking funky.

Plus, thank goodness for products like dermmatch and Toppix!