Exactly. I read that introverts need alone time to recharge and extroverts gather energy from social situations/people. Crazy huh?

Hm it's more like 9 hairs now. Awarenesssss. I really thought I was on the path last week, I was getting low numbers and felt more in control. Then my numbers gradually went up instead of down. I had a great weekend by the way :)

I'm with you. I think I'm basically an introvert, as well. I love my recharge, alone time. That would surprise some people who know me, however. I just can't deal with too much input after awhile.

You can do it. Awareness leads to the realization that you can break the link. You are aware of the sensations that an urge creates, but you have the power to say to yourself, "I don't have to react in this was. Urge does not have to equal pull. X does not have to equal Y.

I think a lot of people confuse being shy with being an introvert. You can certainly be both but also one can exist without the other.

And thanks, I do repeatedly tell myself that x does not equal y but I'm not always so vigilant.

I got a 5 for yesterday. Had a haircut and dye today, yay! Have only pulled 1 hair, subconsciously.

How did your haircut turn out? Did you change the color? Great job for today; just one hair is pretty much pull free :)

well done! How long is your hair now? and what colour? I've booked in for mine...eek! xx

Haircut and colour was same as usual. Shoulder length, soft layers, deep but vivid red. It's a great colour. This is pretty much my ideal length, though I'm not wearing it in ringlets at the moment as my problem area (large-ish section of my crown) is still too short.

Thanks manda and mrs kolo. Ended up pulling another hair subconsciously. Still, first time getting a score of 1 in 9 days.

Ok here's my breakdown for this month. It ain't pretty:

10: 1
9: 0
8: 0
7: 0
6: 3
5: 8
4: 7
3: 6
2: 1
1: 4
0: 0

So..
Good days: 11 out of a possible 30
No zeros (that's a first since I've started tracking my pulling)

I wonder if this month has been harder for me because there's been a lot of pressure on me (from myself) to get a job, and it's the thing that creates a lot of fear and stress in my mind (yeah I have career related issues).

Oh I've decided to get rid of the whole sub pulls = 0.5 rating thing. But I do like the idea of noting days with no conscious pulling. Those days might get a yellow highlighter mark. Also I've decided that days where I score a 1 (one or two hairs pulled) and neither of the hairs were consciously pulled can get a smiley face WITH sunglasses. Prior to now only days with zero pulling got a smiley face with sunglasses. I'll have to upload a pic of my calendar at the end of this month so you can see my system in action, and you can see its not actually that complicated ;)

Posted 2 pics of my most recent damage. Just felt like sharing the pain! I have no other bald spots currently, but a large section on my crown is about 4-5cm (2 inches maybe).

Yesterday I was on a 0 til midday, then I was on a 1 til evening, then a 2 and I finally landed on a 3. I was just so tempted to keep seeking out those very loose baby hairs.

Hands down.

Struggling. Constant desire to play with (and pull out) the growing section on my crown. It's finally thick again, so noooooooooo I must not touch.

Hold tight! My crazy urges lasted for two whole days and then vanished.
Just thinking back now, it is so easy to get stuck in the thinking that the urge is going to last forever if you don't pull but it is quite the opposite. It's going to go away in just a bit in fact minute by minute it is going away now. Fight the dragon w all of your weapons!

I was so close to self sabotage the other day -
The urges were just about paralyzing. Today - gone!

I love your hair color!! Ugh I pull from very similar areas. So difficult to hide damage there...I feel your pain!! You have a lot of regrowth!!

I love what stroodle said - it is so easy to get stuck in the thinking that the urge is going to last forever if you don't pull but it is quite the opposite. Very true!!

Wow thanks stroodle! It's SO easy to forget that. I've definitely been in the mindset of "this will be unrelenting for all time". Easier days are coming..

Thanks Manda :) I love it too and it makes be feel good about my hair even when it's imperfect. And yeah I do have a lot of regrowth there, it's been trying to grow back for a long time now.

2 hairs already today. But I'm heading out for a bit so that will help heaps. I haven't exercised OR eaten super healthy OR been very proactive this week so it's no surprise my urges are up.

Keep busy, stay focused ... and best wishes! Enjoy going out!