Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

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/ Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

More like an itch

PinkieG
PinkieG

I've been pulling my eyelashes out for over twenty years. Most of the time it's not too bad but once in awhile (like today) I'll have a bad bout. Everything I've read about trich says it's a compulsion, a mental thing .But to me it feels purely physical, like an itch. Only specific areas of my eyelashes feel like they "need to come out" and pulling different eyelashes or other body hair doesn't feel good or satisfy anything. I've never really talked to anyone about it who knew anything about trich. I guess it would just be helpful to talk to someone who experiences it the same way? No distraction helps, I can't find a link to emotions or diet, it just seems so random and the only thing that makes the itch go away is to pull them out. Anyone relate?

meggy98
meggy98
Hi! I've had trichotillomania for about 4 1/2 years now so I can definitely relate to how you feel. I agree with you in that it feels like an itch and that a hair just needs to come out. I really wish there was something I could find to distract my hands...
geli101
geli101
I relate to this 100%. Nights like tonight I can feel the urge that maybe one or a couple eyelashes are bothering my eyes and need to come out. Then when they are out I am satisfied and can stop. I also find it strange and have always thought maybe there was a medical reason. I am sorry I don’t have any advise other than to stand up and do some stretches or exercises where you can distract your mind and hands. I often think about what it would be like to have a numbing cream to numb my eyes so I couldn’t feel my eyelashes..
healingslowly
healingslowly
Hi -I’ve had for 42 of my 48 years (lashes and brows). I really believe there is a physical side to this -read the below article -makes sense why it feels so good too.

https://malasseziahealthquest-wordpress-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/malasseziahealthquest.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/a-theory-of-trichotillomania/amp/?amp_js_v=0.1&usqp=mq331AQECAEoAQ%3D%3D#origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&prerenderSize=1&visibilityState=prerender&paddingTop=54&p2r=0&horizontalScrolling=0&csi=1&aoh=15281326787305&viewerUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Famp%2Fs%2Fmalasseziahealthquest.wordpress.com%2F2015%2F01%2F16%2Fa-theory-of-trichotillomania%2Famp%2F&history=1&storage=1&cid=1&cap=swipe%2CnavigateTo%2Ccid%2Cfragment%2CreplaceUrl
PinkieG
PinkieG
My trich is 100% not food related. In skimming the article I noticed it talked about shampoos and other hair care that helped. Is there anything safe for my eyes that might help?

Alternatively, if it's a mental thing, is there anything I can to do change where the urge occurs? I have tons of hair I'd rather lose than my eyelashes!
kmik05
kmik05
Pinkie, you say it's 100% not food related? What have you tried to rule that out? Just wondering, because for me, it seems it IS pretty close to 100% food related.

Otherwise, I'm exactly like you. Eyelashes, feels like one particular one is twisted or something, and I have to keep trying to get just that one, or just that one area. And they come out super easy when I have that sensation. I could yank hard on all the rest and they won't budge, but I gently pull in that one area and they come out. Sounds to me like a physical thing, not a compulsion!
trickster2016
trickster2016
Trich usually starts when you are under a lot of stress or have experienced trauma. It soon becomes an addictive habit. I relate to the itchy feeling before pulling and I think most or all of us experience that. I know I do. I do agree too that certain foods can trigger pulling, like sugar, chocolate,coffee, alcohol, etc.