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.
Hi,
I’ve spent a few weeks reading some of your posts and becoming inspired by everyone’s honesty and willingness to fight the urges to pull. I want to stop pulling and I want to lose the shame, guilt, and anxiety it creates.
So, today I’m going to start my first ever Pull Free A Thon. I need to stop and am committed to stopping. And writing this here with your encouragement will certainly help.
I started pulling in middle school, maybe around age 13? I’m now 26. That means I’ve been pulling for half of my life. Ahh! I’ve never thought of it in that way! It frustrates me so much! I’ve always pulled my eyebrows, though as some of you described the urges come in waves of intensity. I’ve had some healthy growth periods, and then other times of shortening, thinning, to non-existent eyebrows. I hate the pictures of those times. I want to burn them all or deny them. Yet, I feel myself falling into another period of extended pulling and I want to stop it. I don’t want this any more.
In high school I met with a counselor, but I didn’t feel many benefits from the meetings. She focused on big events in my past, assuming they were the cause, rather than helping with just the daily urge to pull which is so hard to fight. She ended my meetings with her just saying, “A few hairs a day isn’t bad, you seem happy enough.” I guess my problem is I can fake it pretty well, pretending to be happy or healthy, while I’m sometimes overwhelmed with the stress my pulling causes.
But despite my best efforts to pretend I’m OK, I still pull. I can remember the few people who have asked me about it, bringing out my shame and confusion while I try to stop and be healthy. It’s so hard for me to talk about, but I don’t want to do this or be embarrassed anymore. I’m a graduate student, so my days are often stressful with many assignments. I want to be able to cope and overcome without pulling.
So, here I go. Panthera’s Pull Free A Thon begins today!
I’ve spent a few weeks reading some of your posts and becoming inspired by everyone’s honesty and willingness to fight the urges to pull. I want to stop pulling and I want to lose the shame, guilt, and anxiety it creates.
So, today I’m going to start my first ever Pull Free A Thon. I need to stop and am committed to stopping. And writing this here with your encouragement will certainly help.
I started pulling in middle school, maybe around age 13? I’m now 26. That means I’ve been pulling for half of my life. Ahh! I’ve never thought of it in that way! It frustrates me so much! I’ve always pulled my eyebrows, though as some of you described the urges come in waves of intensity. I’ve had some healthy growth periods, and then other times of shortening, thinning, to non-existent eyebrows. I hate the pictures of those times. I want to burn them all or deny them. Yet, I feel myself falling into another period of extended pulling and I want to stop it. I don’t want this any more.
In high school I met with a counselor, but I didn’t feel many benefits from the meetings. She focused on big events in my past, assuming they were the cause, rather than helping with just the daily urge to pull which is so hard to fight. She ended my meetings with her just saying, “A few hairs a day isn’t bad, you seem happy enough.” I guess my problem is I can fake it pretty well, pretending to be happy or healthy, while I’m sometimes overwhelmed with the stress my pulling causes.
But despite my best efforts to pretend I’m OK, I still pull. I can remember the few people who have asked me about it, bringing out my shame and confusion while I try to stop and be healthy. It’s so hard for me to talk about, but I don’t want to do this or be embarrassed anymore. I’m a graduate student, so my days are often stressful with many assignments. I want to be able to cope and overcome without pulling.
So, here I go. Panthera’s Pull Free A Thon begins today!
I have just read your intro and your other posts and I can totally relate, as everyone on this forum can - what a relief not be alone eh !
I had a similar experience with a counselor , I think unless you have trich, you really dont understand the anxiety and frustration that goes with it and it seems some counselors just don't get it.. but on the upside, thankfully some do help at least.
I am delighted that you decided to start your Pull FREE a thon today..
today is my first day back for tooo long and I like you are determined.. its a struggle, but you can do it ..
You have already taken the first step..
heres to day one !!!
I'm motivated to keep it up!
I'm a grad student, so I have to spend a lot of time at my laptop... but that's where I pull most often. Anyone have any advice about how to prevent pulling in this setting?
i find hats work the best for me.. (in the summer, i wear a hair net when i am alone ;-)
hands down girl :)
if u work from home , the most obvious and best barrier is a hat .. i wear a wolly one that covers my head completely .. though I appreciate it might be too hot where u are for something like that ..
.. other barriers are plasters on your fingers ?!
I'm feeling ok, but can't seem to have another pull-free day. It's been one or two hairs for a couple days now.