Thank you :) :) :)

I was doing well yesterday until I wasn't. I got a rating of 4 by the afternoon, all but a couple were subconscious pulls. I was reasonably happy with that. Then I did some more conscious & subconscious pulling and I ended up with a rating of 5. One my ratings are a 5 and up I'm basically in a bad place, that almost definitely involves conscious pulling and a high level of agitation/anxiety.

*once not one

Same for me....5 is where I feel it start to really go downhill. I think our scoring systems are quite similar. Keep up the hairspray thing if it is working for you!

Yep 5 is downhill for me, that's why my ratings of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 have a much bigger span than 4 and under. It's kind of like a snowball effect.

The hairspray thing works if you don't play with it! I think it can actually be a trigger if there's not enough hairspray and if it's not combed down very smoothly. I'm taking a break from it today and wearing my hair out. I might put on some bandaids later. 6 hairs pulled so far today. 4 were subconscious. 3:30pm.

Wow I totally did not realize our time zones are almost equal (stereotypical American fail at geography, haha).

Oh are they? I knew they were close. I often notice that we post around the same time as each other.

So when I last posted I was on a low 3 rating. Ended up with a 4. Mostly subconscious.

[Argh! I just posted a reply that disappeared.]

Good to see that the recent pulling is mostly subconscious. It's the conscious stuff that I think gets us into the most trouble because it is deliberate violation of a plan to attain a goal (if your goal is to curb pulling) and knowing that we are purposefully suspending a long term goal for a short term pleasure feels self-defeating after the fact! Use the recognition of the unconscious stuff to simply trigger the barrier response. Of course we recognize the moment (after) the subconscious stuff happens. Use that moment in a motivating way (don't waste an ounce of emotional energy assessing the subconscious, habitual pull - that's my philosophy. Use it as a gentle reminder to reach for the barrier!) Critical is reaching for the barrier upon the recognition. Maybe you are due for a new "treat" barrier - like a hat you really like...

Have a good day today! :)

Stay strong, and yes, often time zones sneak out when we are thinking of other things. I have found myself on the computer late at night and been able to chat with friends overseas to catch up.

You got this! No matter what, you got this!

Thanks Stroodleblooms! Ugh, so frustrating when you lose a big long post! Yes, subconscious pulling is a good reminder to reach for barriers. Ah.. But I often chose to ignore that reminder. Maybe we should also reach for our commitment.

Thanks mid!

Ooof, have already pulled 11 hairs today (that's a rating of 4). It's midday. 9 were subconscious.

Another 4 for yesterday. It adds up so quickly! Early afternoon til evening I wore a head scarf and that was very helpful. I stopped pulling for the whole afternoon and night, except for 2 or 3 subconscious pulls in a row at a random point later in the evening.

I had my headscarf ready to put on this morning, and I did. I pulled 3 hairs from nearmy neck though. I never pull there (well I guess that's a lie because I see that I do that when my preferred areas are sealed off!) I'll have to cover my whole scalp from now on when wearing the scarf. I wish it were normal to wear it in public. Unfortunately, I care what people think.

But anyway it's 1:20pm and those 3 have been it so far. Went for a walk/run to cheer myself up after I finished a length job application (ya, the hunt is on again).

Good for you! Here's what I finally had to do, if when I care about what others think, I wrap up my head and neck in a silly scarf, or add a silly accessory. I know, if they're gonna look, I'll give em something silly to look at! Stay strong, keep those hands busy!

Best wishes with the job hunt.

Haha that great mid. Make it a fashion statement. And thank you :)

3 pulled today. I think 2 were conscious..

Oh and yesterday I was on a 3 and I was so proud but then at night I did some conscious pulling (like 5 hairs) and I ended up with a rating of 4.