Keep it up Sam, you're doing so awesome and it's so impressive that you are still diligently monitoring your trich behavior, recognizing that vigilance will help prevent a relapse. You rock!

Maybe it would help to go back to the beginning and start recording what you're doing when you want to play, what you're feeling right before, and start looking for patterns? Just like how in the beginning you probably made plans for what to do instead of pull when you were stressed, bored, tired, depressed, etc., maybe you can do the same type of thing for the urge to play? So if you find you always start playing as you're trying to brainstorm a new design, maybe you go "old fashioned" and get an easel and pace around the room, marker in hand while brainstorming? Just thinking there's got to be patterns that you can plan and accommodate for, just like with pulling.

Stay strong and know that you are inspiring many others through all your posts!

Ah, stress.

Congrats on 146 days, Sam. You're an inspiration!

Know you can do this! Keep going!

Thanks you so much Mid, Chickabee, kauxfire and BKC :) :) :) makes me so happy to read your comments.

Thanks so much for your advice Kauxfire, I will definitely have to take it. I really need to do that diary thing.. been meaning to for ages. I'm lazy. And I love your idea of doing something different when thinking up ideas etc. Hehe great image!

Yes stress Phoebe, must not stress. Don't want to get an ulcer!

148 days wooohoooo!

I can go the whole day without playing with my hair, without even THINKING of playing with my hair, until I sit down at my damn laptop, gr.

That is all..

Ok, for the laptop hands exercise, you can do something different-and only you know what will be different from your usual position of hands at laptop ready.
The reason I say that is that I sat down at my mom's laptop and couldn't think of anything that would help. I use a computer desk, computer chair, and a stress ball next to the computer.
You can do this!
148 days!
Go for it!

Have something to play with attached to your laptop. Its great that you can pinpoint when you are vulnerable. Way to go!!!

Laptops are the hardest! I used to have a squeeze ball with rubberband-like hair. That really helped to squeeze and play with. These days, if I get the urge I fiddle with my spinner ring which helps some, but mostly I make myself stand up and stretch or just go outside for a few minutes. Sometimes it helps to change my perspective and the urge to pass.

149 days!! Oooh!

All very good advice. I really like the idea of something being attached to my laptop, just trying to figure out where I can attached it to... hm.. And yep, getting up and doing something else for a little while helps a lot. I do this too often, damn procrastination!

xx

Yippee for 149! Well, at least the urges are only around the computer. That's amazing you go all through the rest of the day without thinking about it - that's so awesome!!

I also get them if I sit down to draw or design without a computer. And occasionally I will get them when I'm not even working, like when I'm tipsy.

Did you try a bubble bracelet? I know I don't have the right word for it. Hang in there, 149 days! Hurray!

A bubble bracelet? I'm intrigued. Right now I'm seeing a bubblewrap cuff.

Hang in there.... You are really doing great job.... I think all the advices are good its just up to you to find what fits you the best.... !49 days is like a dream.... If i get there soon or at least 60 days or so without ruinning my hairfirst thing i will do will be a hair cut.... Have you got something done on your hair lately???? Tell me!!! love ya!

No Mid, haven't bought the rubber bracelet yet. (Phoebe it's a rubber bracelet with rubber tentacles coming off it). If I bought it online it would have been a 6-8 week wait, blah.

Thanks luna, I'm dreaming of a haircut, my hair is a MESS! It's a million lengths, sooooo unkempt. I dye it every 6-8 weeks, but that's about it, and I trim the ends myself occasionally. I will probably get it cut in about 2-3 months.. I hope to still be pull free then. No idea what kind of cut I'll get, nothing crazy, as I have soft ringletty hair and I can't do any crazy styles. I'm pretty much limited to subtle layering and dye jobs (that could be fun.. I've never had a professional dye job before).

151 days pull free! Was 5 months pull free yesterday, was pretty meh about it (I'm sorry!) I'm looking froward to being 6 months pull free. Will definitely do something to celebrate then :)

xo