Yes that is a good way to look at the data.... thanks Sam!

Unfortunately, I do *not* have good news today. I pulled *********252****** hairs. At the very least. There were definitely a few times when I wasn't keeping track as well as I should have.

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

I don't even know what happened because it wasn't even a particularly stressful day. I think part of the problem was that I started pulling, and I didn't have a hat or hair extensions or gloves or anything to remind me to STOP THE MINDLESS PULLING CYCLE.

Maybe it was also a thing of, well, let's see how far I can REALLY go.

Wow. just, wow. 252 hairs. Like, DAMN.

Well, at least tomorrow if I only pull out 200 hairs, that will have been an improvement?

I may go back to wearing my extensions again tomorrow. UGH. My hair is feeling thin again. For obvious reasons.

If I make it through tomorrow morning pull free, I get a cookie from my favorite bakery.

If I make it through tomorrow the whole day pull free. I get to buy myself a clothing item on Amazon!

LET"S GO REWARDS SYSTEM.....

I'm sure I've pulled that many before. Many times before I'm sure! Many times pulling itself is the biggest trigger. Stupid well worn pathways in our brains. Pulling = reward, followed quickly by a need to pull more. So on and so forth. So fun right!?

Your rewards sound great :) YOU CAN DO IT. Keep your hands down as much as you can, remember it's worth it, and think of your rewards. Oh and don't forget to breathe.

Pulling is definitely the biggest trigger for me. As soon as I've pulled that one hair, that's it, I'm going to pull out dozens more.

Well today I pulled out something around 120 hairs.

So no rewards.

I actually forgot that buying an item of clothing was a reward I set for myself (all I remember was the cookie, ha ha ha) that I ended up buying a pair of jeans today and then being like, oh, crap, I was only supposed to buy a clothing item in reward for not pulling.

Tomorrow my reward will be a NICE EXPENSIVE BOTTLE OF WINE if I manage to stay pull free.

If I manage to pull under 20 hairs, my reward will be AN EPISODE OF LAW & ORDER (hey, I love watching "Law & Order."!

If I manage to pull under 30 hairs, my reward will be NICE SMELLING BATH SOAP

I hope I can do it. : /

Pull free! Day 1 is in the bag!!

If I stay pull free tomorrow my reward will be AN EPISODE OF LAW AND ORDER. WOO HOO.

Soooo much stuff to do tomorrow, erk.

All I can say is that hidden in the brain is something you worked out with your scalp. Here's to Law and Order! I'm hoping you find rest in the tug urge, and hug the scalp instead.

Stay strong, you've got this! A cookie works for me!

You are going to do this!

One day! Hurrah! One day, one moment, you can do this!

I have definitely had days where I've pulled that many, too...don't feel too bad about it! Go for that reward! If you catch yourself pulling one hair, stay extra aware to avoid a binge. It is great that you are willing to reward yourself for minimal pulling as well as pull free days.

Awwww thanks guys!

I should have read your advice earlier : /

Baaad day for pulling. 272 hairs. Ugh!!!!!!!

I have so much going to this week that to be honest, I don't have faith that it will be a very good week in terms of staying pull free. Sigh. Maybe I need to start wearing my extensions again? Or something? UGGGH.

Rewards for tomorrow:

Pull free entire day: LAW AND ORDER EPISODE..... AND I get to buy delicious expensive bougie ice cream next time I go to Whole Foods!!!!

Less than 30 hairs pulled: A cookie from my favorite bakery next time in that part of town!

Less than 100 hairs pulled: glass of wine

UGH, I hope I can get better. My problem right now is that when I start I just *can't* stop. As soon as I pull that one hair, that is it for me, I am done for. : (

So maybe for the next few days I just need to practice pulling less than 100 hairs a day. I dunno. Urgh.

Sometimes you need to be extra strict for a few days to raise your own awareness levels to a point where you can be pull free. Is it possible to use some sort of barrier constantly for a day or so? Hats, band aids, scarves...whatever works for you.

You are being very honest with yourself, and very diligent in your counting. This is to be commended. If it works, do it. Do you think, however, that it is working? Are you just torturing yourself?

Perhaps you can try re-working your strategy. You use your phone to count. Try to use this to reinforce your awareness. Try to break the link between urge and pull. Separate them out. Type in the number...you are aware of what you are doing...... breathe, stop. Put on your barriers, or clasp your hands and ride the urge out.

Sometimes I focus on feeling the bones in my fingers press against each other as I squeeze my hands together. Just that little bit of sensation can take me away from the urge, and break the cycle. I just pulled 4 hairs, about 20 minutes ago. The urge is dancing on my scalp like the a Northern Lights. If I let myself, I will binge. My awareness is helping me not to. One hand is typing on my tablet. The other fist is clenched.

You can beat this thing. You can!!!

Phoebe, what great advice. I tried hard to follow it today --- squeezing my hands today and concentrating on the sensation of my knuckles pressing against each other, every time I noticed that my hand was in my hair, looking to pull.

Amazingly enough, pull free today!!!!

I rewarded myself with an episode of Law & Order. SO GOOD. I love Law & Order.

I can going to continue trying your strategy the next few days. You're totally right -- counting is a good strategy to be aware that I'm doing this bad habit, but at some point I need to use that awareness to actually break the link between my urges and the actual action of pulling.

I am going to print out your ABC's and carry them around in my wallet, see if that will help : )

Pheww! I really need a pull free day today. I was starting to get discouraged!

Meant to say "I really needed a pull free day today," not "need." Wish I could fix typos in posts, oh well.

Also, Chris Noth was in Law & Order?? (I watched an episode from Season 1). This just made my award that much better. I love Chris Noth.

Good for you!!! This is possible. HUGS

good idea about putting the ABCs in your wallet :) i like that idea!

cheers for being pull-free! such a great feeling. you deserve that episode! :)
i wrote like a whole fricking paragraph about hair extensions on my thread just now hahaa so sorry it was so long, but hopefully it is semi helpful

i figure everyone needs a good old fashioned rant on here every once in a while hahaa

sending hugs your way!

Agreed that Phoebe's advice was spot on. Also, I like the idea of carrying the ABCs in your wallet...maybe you cat put it somewhere more visible, though? I used to write "ABC" on a sticker on my phone, or sometimes write the number of days I had been pull free on my hand as a constant reminder to stay motivated.

One day pull free!!! Great job!!

Ooo manda, I like the sticker on the phone idea. Discrete, yet a clear reminder of my pull free strategy. Plus I am using my phone anyway to track my progress, so it would make sense to decorate it with positive reinforcement! When I had a bad breakup with a boyfriend in 2010, I wrote a list of reasons why I was happy I was single again, and carried it around in my wallet and read it repeatedly. So even though it's not so visible it's something that was helpful in the past so I'm gonna see if it can work again!

Jesden -- loved your long post! I replied to it on your thread. Thank you for the hugs!

Phoebe -- I'm on DAY THREE pull free!! I had SO MANY URGES last night, was SO CLOSE to pulling out that one damn hair on my itchy scalp that had that perfect thick texture for pulling. But I kept squeezing my hands together and focusing on the sensation of the bones in my fingers. I think it is an effective strategy because it grounds me back in the "present" moment.

Anyway, it's truly amazing I did not pull last night. I was writing, I was on deadline, I was super stressed (thank god for Klonopin or otherwise I would have been much more of a wreck). And my urges were like 9 OUT OF TEN. At one point I literally had to put a pillowcase on my head because I could not keep my hands out of my hair!

But, I DID IT. And today I was pull free too! (Although tired, only got 5 hours sleep last night and I'm the type of person who needs at least 10 every night to be remotely functional!) But it was a HUGE SUCCESS that I was able to do such stressful work on my computer late at night alone in my room..... and yet I didn't pull!!!!

Also Phoebe I have printed out your ABC's of trich and your earlier comment on your thread and keeping them in the wallet now.

3 DAYS PULL FREE, FEELS SOOOO GOOOOOD.