So I came right out and told my hair stylist. Seriously, it was like "coming out" - I had never been so direct with someone not in our inner trich circle. I said, "John - You'll see some loose spots. Nevermind those - I have a habit of playing with my hair and I've done some damage. I'm working on not doing this anymore, so just ignore it." I was like sweating and having an out of body experience as I said this to what seemed like a total stranger. He had the funniest response, he said, "I think you should take up smoking!" We both laughed and he never said anything about it and it's like we have this quiet understanding that we are not going to talk about it. He is just going to color my hair and understand that this is the circumstance. Regardless, I have had anxiety about him noticing that it is leaner or emptier in places. BUT - and this is the big, big BUT - but he is going to be the first to notice that there's regrowth as the months begin to pass by. He is a quiet witness.

Thanks Manda! You're right, I will focus on that :) Yep I'm the same, need to actually DO IT (remember to carry stuff).

Thanks for the story stroodleblooms. Lolz about the smoking. Everyone in the hair salon I go to knows that I pull my hair (there are only like 4 stylists). They seem unfazed about it. I try to educate them a little bit. The girl who cuts my hair actually used to pull her hair out when she was younger, but she had a milder form a guess because she was able to stop. Her hair is AMAZING. So so beautiful...

K I'm going to call now! :) Thanks guys :)

Wow, I missed a lot ... as usual, my excuse is gonna be shingles ... and yet, it's awesome to see the growth of your ability to do what you do! Keep at it, and whatever works, add it to your box! I have a piece of paper and pen in every area where I need to keep hands busy, and that's helping. I do have a container with a stress ball, nail file, and string to play with in three places, so I know that can work for some. Best wishes with everything, and I agree, you do much better than I would dealing with stress.

Thanks mid, good tricks you have there!

Zero pulling yesterday and day before.

Hip, hip, hooray! Let's leave the trich in the dust! You're doing wonderful, know we are with you every single finger-tip point direction! :)

Awesome, how many days PF are you at now? Must be a lot!

Stroodleblooms, that is an awesome story about telling your hair dresser! Must be nice to have an understanding hair stylist like that.

Ha, wouldn't you know, I just pulled 1 hair. Derp! But prior to that, I had - lemme just count on my calendars - 30 days pull free. I just got these insane urges about 2 hrs ago. I think it might be pms, but I'm not sure, as I lost my phone and I keep track of that stuff with an app. It may be the alcohol I drank last night, or lack of sleep. Or a delightful combination! I'm just doing my best to keep my hands out of my hair. I can do it.

In the past 42 days, I've had 33 pull free days, 7 low pulling days, and 2 "not good" days. I'm very proud. That's 40 smiley faces out of a possible 42!!!!!

Thanks Manda and Mid, very much, for your support.

Barriers on, check!

I swear white wine is a massive trigger for me.. unless it's pms! Damn me losing my phone.

Was doing great til early evening when I had a glass of white, and the urges ramped up. Could also be cause its evening, plus stress. Lots of searching for loose hairs. Scoring myself a 1, 2 hairs pulled. I was so proud of myself today.. tomorrow I will wear barriers all day.

Yes, bring in the barriers!

My hormone cycle is my biggest trigger. It used to be that it was at the same time as 'TOM,' but now it is the immediate week after. So strange! I am certain that the hormone stuff is real and since we know this is gender driven to a large extent by females, chances are excellent that the hormones play a measurable role. Any-who --- you are doing great. To be at 1 or 2 with urges is still a win in my book.

Thanks so much :) Yeah I do believe hormones play a decent role.

Thank you :)

Blarg, insane urges and I'm not helping matters by stranding. I have pulled 8-9 hairs. Most were very loose hairs, but, they count. I'm putting bandaids on now. I'm stressed and sad at the moment and I'm finding it hard to cope without pulling. My classic response is avoid avoid avoid. And pulling helps me avoid. I'm confident that with the aid of barriers and doing some positive things for myself, tomorrow I can be pull free.

So today I'm thinking, why didnt I put on barriers after the first hair yesterday? Because "it was a loose hair and didnt count", because "I could easily stop after 1" Bullshit bullshit bullshit! In the future, after one hair, BARRIERS.

Sorry to hear that you are stressed and sad. You are still putting up a good fight though! Your determination= inspiration!! Do not beat yourself up over having a rough day. Just curious, what other barriers are you using now besides band-aids?

Waaa, I hope white wine is not a trigger for you, I wouldn't want anyone to go through life without the option of drinking white wine (I loooove a nice chilled white wine, yummy).

That does suck about your phone, but remember, at the end of the day it's all just stuff. Stuff comes and goes, stuff breaks or gets lost... that's what I try to tell myself if I've broken/lost something valuable/important (which used to happen to me quite a lot!)

Hugs to you, sending you pull free vibes!!