I've been dealing with trich ever since I was little, around 4th grade. Now I'm a freshman in High School and still I deal with the same problem, only it has slowly gotten worse. At first I would only occasionally pull my eyebrow hair, but only pulled them thin, never completely gone. In the summer of fourth grade, I remember having pulled half of my eyebrows off and having to make a middle part just to hide it. So embarrassing! Then in 6th grade, I started pulling my eyelashes, too. 6th grade was a very hard time for me, as I hung out with the wrong group of people and was constantly stressing myself out just trying to fit in. There were also drama with boys and issues with bullying, which I believe both played a huge role on my stress level and caused me to go so far with my trich. At one point in 6th grade I remember pulling most of my eyelashes out, and wearing eyeliner to cover it up. Of course, one of my "friends" pointed it out to everyone seated with us (we were sitting in a big circle talking). My friend goes, "*gasp* you dont have any eyelashes!" And me, being my insecure, embarassed, anxious self decided to roll with it instead of explain. (At the time I had no idea I had trich or what trich even was, I thought I was going crazy not being able to control my own hands) I was also big into drama then so I decided to put my acting skills to the test. I replied my friend saying, "What?! No way!!" Acting all shocked and whatnot. So, yeah. I kept up the act. To my family, friends, classmates, teachers, just everyone. I pretended like I had no idea what had caused my eyebrow and eyelash loss. And people believed. Heck, I believed me. I liked the idea that it wasn't my own hand causing this, that something else was to blame. I also kept up this act becuase I was so embarrassed I couldn't tell my parents how it was my own doing. I thought they would think I'm crazy, because hey back then I thought I was crazy. So my mom had me go througb lots of tests and eventually came to the conclusion that it must have to do with my low iron in my blood deficiency. And I was okay with that conclusion. 7th grade may have been the worst as I had picked every last one of my eyelashes, eyebrows, and even started working on my scalp. I was depressed the whole school year and even had suicidal thoughts. Miraculously, summer came around and I did very well. Everything grew back. 8th grade was okay compared to how bad 7th grade was. I still pulled but not as severely and even had a few months without pulling at all/ very minimally and everything grew back and I felt beautiful and confident. I even managed to keep this image till the end of my 8th grade. Then summer started and I was still doing well until HS soccer summer training started and went kund of downhill. I did not like the girls on my team, or the coach, or the training, it was all in all a very stressful environment for me. My eyebrows went to hell, but I managed to keep my eyelashes and head hair under control. (In fact I hadnt even touched my head hair for about a year at this point! :) ) So then school started and not knowing anyone, it was a very bad time for me. My eyelashes and newly grown eyebrows went bye bye again and I fell into depression again. This went on for a few months, and into and throughout winter. Then during late winter I found people I enjoyed spending time with and my trich was extremely better. I often got somplimented on how long and beautiful my eyelashes were and that my eyebrows were "on fleek" and it made me feel really good about myself but at the same time I felt obligated. Almost like I owed them something and I couldnt let them down. This actually ended up stressing me out but I didnt let trich get the best of me. I only pulled my eyebrows a bit thin. Okay so that was a few months ago and over that time my eyebrows and eyelashes did extremely well. Until last night. Last night I managed to pull out both top and bottom lashes on my left eye as well as starting back to pulling put the hair on my head, and now currently have a bald spot that is covered up by the rest of my hair. I'm feeling particularly rotten now, and I know its time to tell my mom, no matter how embarrassing. I need help, I know. Life with trich sucks, knowing you could do so well for months but its only a matter of time before you fall. And all the rude comments people make like really? Okay so yeah thats my story so far guys.. sorry for how long it is and for any typos. Feel free to share your stories, I would love to hear them! Stay strong guys, you're not alone.