My name's Emily and I'm 17 years old. I've had trichotillomania since I was 9-10 years old. It began with looking up to my sister and seeing her nicely shaped brows, while mine looked like bushes. Oh how I wish I could have them today. I started noticing the difference of my brows in 5th grade, when kids would ask me every day if I shaved them off or burned them. I'd act like I never even noticed them. In middle school, I was made fun of by people near my locker. That's when it really became bad. I began filling them in with pencil, people asked if I sharpied them in. Looking back at photos, I had no clue how to work with makeup. Having 8ish years experience filling in my completely bald eyebrows really upped my brow makeup. In high school, people notice but are much more mature about it. Some will ask ignorant questions still, but at least they don't stare at me anymore. I can't imagine ever going to school or a store or even walking outside without putting on my brow gel now. Every summer, I hype myself up and tell myself this will be the year that I go and stun people with how beautiful my brows look. I just wish it wasn't fantasy. My therapist told me a year ago to find a support group, but Im just now giving myself the courage to look online for one. I also have social anxiety, so it affects what I do on a daily basis. A tip I learned not too long ago, although Im not sure if it works with all locations on the body. Putting olive oil on the location you pull can help a lot. I do it every night, and leave it on until the morning. It has two advantages, making it slippery and gross feeling to pull, and I've heard it helps it grow faster. I'm not any doctor but it's just something I read online. I also rub it into the location for 5 minutes. I'm starting to feeling like I will never overcome this part of me, though. I'm starting to work out, plus buy teeth whitening paste and pretty much anything I can get my hands on that might make me pretty or distract people from it. I've told 3 friends in total, but they all didn't react. My family will only help if my therapist insists that they tell me to stop plucking or hold my hand when they see I do. Only lasts for a month though. I just wish that once I start getting better, I can keep with it. (sorry for rambling but ive been keeping everything in for 7-8 years and not one of my friends or family has understood what i go through)