Beating Trich Community Group

You mean that there is a name for IT? Im not weird? Trichotillomania, that big, long word that is the bane of our world. With knowledge and support of others we CAN break free and live without this disorder interfering with our lives. Lets keep this uplifting and supportive and give each other the encouragement the other needs to make it to that next day.

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Anxiety Disorders
/ Beating Trich Support Group

Mystique18's pull-free-a-thon

Mystique18
Mystique18
Finally found a group perfect for me!!
I've pulled for 4 years now after having picked my split ends for 5-6 years. I pull from my scalp mainly but sometimes pull from my eyebrows and my arm hair. I used to pull my eyelashes as a child too (10-11 years ago). My record of being pull free is 14 days, a few years ago, now I rarely make a day, at most a week.

Apparently it takes 28 days to break a habbit, while this may not count its a start.

I want to stop this!
Community LeaderMid
Mid
Welcome to this wonderful support group! Best wishes from everyone!
mandapanda89
mandapanda89
Welcome to the group! Coming here often is so helpful.
BooYah
BooYah
Welcome!
Mystique18
Mystique18
20th: 2 strands from scalp 18 strands from else where. 21st: 0 from scalp!! 4 other. 22nd PULL FREE!!!
Community LeaderMid
Mid
Hurrah!!!!!
Mystique18
Mystique18
Not a good weekend for my hair, I have probably made up for my pull free days and some. Now I can't stop again!!! :(
confidenticandoit
confidenticandoit
Nooo, there's no can't!

You haven't undone your good work, every hair not pulled is a hair saved.

Take some deep breaths and concentrate on your achievements. You can do that again. Be kind to yourself!
Mystique18
Mystique18
Maybe, I stopped myself pulling while I was trying to get to sleep yesturday, however I now have another bald spot. Lukily I can hide it with my growing out fringe, I can feel it still though...
confidenticandoit
confidenticandoit
It's so hard isn't it..... A constant struggle! maybe set a tiny achievable goal and reward yourself! Eg 1 hr pull free = treat.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Welcome! Glad you found us all...I'm sorry you are having a hard time right now, do you have barriers in place where you pull? Its good to have little helpers to fight the urges-I like to use Lavender essential oil to rub on my scalp or places that have a crawly feeling to help heal and soothe. I like having an ice bag ready in the freezer to put on any crawly feelings to numb the area so I won't pull. I like to have a rubber hand ball to hold in my pulling hand to hold and use as a massage device on my other hand or roll on arms or legs. Write down all the comfortable places you like to pull and put a sticky note to remind you of using your barriers when you feel the urge-and check back often on DS, for more support...Hugs.
Mystique18
Mystique18
Good idea, I wear a hat and elastic band but I'll try the post it thing!

Pulling very varied at the moment, not pull free at all though. I think I'm getting too stressed because of school work and such.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Do you exercise? This is so great for stress. Everyday take a walk, or do some form of aerobic activity-lift some weights a couple of times a week. If you get on a regular schedule the stress won't pile up and you will have more energy to get things done without feeling the usual pressure.
Wearing a hat is a good idea to keep hands off, as well as other barriers. With work and school, remind yourself to take breaks often to stretch or close your eyes for a moment, this helps keep things in perspective to stay connected to relaxation mode. Hugs...
Mystique18
Mystique18
I've tried the sticky note thing, suprisingly helpful!! I've yet to be pull free at all but my pulling is less extreme than before. Down to between 3 and 10 hairs a day from my scalp, pulling from elsewhere is the same though.

However one of the problems with sticky notes is one of my most likely place to pull is in my lessons...
deleted_user
deleted_user
You can still have reminders of not to pull even when at school, its time to be creative!. Stick on top of books, desk, intertwine a pen or pencil in between fingers of pulling hand. I find this interesting when you catch your pulling hand wandering up to your head only to find you can't pull because of the object in between fingers! Its always a good thing to carry around a cotton ball saturated with lavender essential oil (in a small zip bag). This not only calms you by smelling it, it also helps calms any areas that are crawly at the time by patting the area with the cotton-ball scent-its antibacterial so will heal any swelling or bumps in the skin.
For stress at school, I like to take 'Passionflower Tincture" this is a non-toxic herb in liquid form that can be taken with a little water-1 dropper full. It takes the edge off when under stress or anxiety and can be taken several times a day. I keep this handy in my purse and take when needed-it also helps to relax before sleep. It can be purchased in a health food store or Vitacost.com
mandapanda89
mandapanda89
All awesome suggestions from Nabby. I could definitely use to implement a few (or many) of those myself.

I have been doing this relaxation thing I read about lately that is useful and very quick...just to reflect on the times I was most anxious in the past day and how I could avoid being anxious in those situations in the future, and then to anticipate when I might feel anxious in the next 24 hours and how to prevent that as well. I do it during lunch.
Along the same lines as post it notes....I use small green stickers in random places that I see frequently and when I see them it is a reminded to stay calm (since green is a calming color).
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