Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

Impulsive control disorder is the inability to resist an urge, temptation, or impulse, even when it may cause negative effects to the self or to others. If you or a loved one suffers from impulsive contorl disorder, join the community to find support and share your challenges with others who know what you're going through.

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Anxiety Disorders
/ Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

Almost half a year!

katielynn08
katielynn08
It's been 5 months since I've last pulled.....but the past week has been really hard.

I've recently been able to put my hair in a pony tail again with the help of some bobby pins and hair spray...if you could have seen how excited I was the day I put my hair up for the first time in quite some time....lol. So I wear my hair up everyday...but lately I've been having a hard time. I keep tugging at my hair. more than usual, and I keep thinking about how "good" it felt when that hair came out of my scalp. I keep saying to myself..."just one wont hurt anything. It wont create a bald spot" but then I fight back and say "yeah one wont hurt, but it will ruin my 5 month streak....it will make me pull out another one, and then I will have bald spots again and will not be able to put my hair up again....so its a back and forth battle with myself. I'm afraid I'm going to mess up again...I just want SO BADLY to stop forever.....I need help :'(
deleted_user
deleted_user
Congratulations!!!! And you are right, just that one will turn into many - so keep telling yourself to keep those hands down. The pleasure in pulling can no way compare to my full head of hair that I've finally acquired after nearly 30 years, at least for me. I don't even have the desire to pull just one. Hang in there - six months is a huge achievement and the end result will be so gratifying, I promise you. Congrats again :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
DON'T give in... do NOT pull even ONE hair. No, one hair won't create a bald spot and even if you pulled one hair in five months, that would be great and something to be very proud of. BUT, if you pull one hair... you will pull more. I should know... as many of us do, I presume. I had new hair growing all over my head and my bald spots were filled in... then I pulled one hair. I told myself it was just one. Well then I pulled another... and another and another. Now my bald spots are all back and I'm struggling.

I know it's hard. I too, thought of how good it felt to pull a hair. I know when it things get stressful or you become lackadaisical in your efforts to remain pull free... you slip. So keep STRONG! You can do it. Congrats on 5 months!! That is amazing!
katielynn08
katielynn08
Thanks, you guys! I am trying really hard, and I hope to continue to stay pull free! It feels good knowing I have so many people just like me on here to talk to =]
deleted_user
deleted_user
how are you doing it??? that is so awesome. Congrats. Please share what has helped you!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Keep fighting back those little voices! You're doing great! Five months!
I surely hope I can say that one day too.
Keep going!
deleted_user
deleted_user
5 months that's great what is the secret? I am so happy for you. It's hard to get thinking about the urge, I know. Try do do something different than your regular routine that always works for me. Keep in touch on this site.
deleted_user
deleted_user
5 months is AMAZING!!!! i am currently 4 months pf... so not far behind!!! you CAN do this! dont doubt yourself, and dont give your mind the abilty to weaken you. everyday is a struggle, and it may be like that for awhile, or it might not. the only day we have any control over is today!! so lets make the best of it :)
katielynn08
katielynn08
Honestly guys, i have no idea how I am doing this. I guess it's just me telling myself not to...lol I know that doesnt sound like much, and most of us say that all the time and then we pull "one more" but it never really works. I guess it just started to work for me....I hope it lasts. Unfortunately the other day, i pulled one out. NOT on purpose though. It was a complete accident. I was just messing with my hair, not for pulling purposes, but to see what I could do with my hair, and a hair came out....I don't want to count it as a pull.....maybe it was just a weak hair?? lol yeah thats what I am going to count it as...a weak hair! what do you guys think???