Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

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Anxiety Disorders
/ Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

Perceptions and Details

deleted_user
deleted_user
I have been aware for a while that my perceptions of time and other things is off. Does anyone else relate? It's especially a problem in the bathroom... I tend to avoid going to bed even when I'm bone tired b/c I feel that the whole thing will take to long and be too much effort. Dumb thing is that by the time I do get to it, I'm so tired that my defenses are down and I end up pulling even more than normal (whatever normal is!). I also find myself in the bathroom pulling or scouring my face for zits when I'm avoiding a task that I know I need to get to. I'm always overestimating the amount of time and effort it will take to do things.

And then there are details. I am so aware of the tiniest things... a picture hanging slightly crooked, if the seam on my sock is over too far on my little toe, if the sheets are crooked or too rumplely, if my teeth aren't brushed the "right" amount... and it'll bug me until I fix it. (OCD?) Makes me great at art, especially realism! But it sure can be a pit otherwise! This sensitivity crosses over to trich in that I want all the hairs to be the same, not stick out. With my skin, I don't want to feel bumps or anything irregular, so I pop zits and pick scabs. And I am very much aware that by pulling, popping, and picking I am guaranteeing my skin will be scabby and my hair will not behave. I hate when I can see that my actions and thoughts are totally illogical and I do it anyway!!!

What I'm curious about is if anyone else is overly sensitive to details or has trouble figuring out how long a task will take in reality?
deleted_user
deleted_user
YES. I under and overestimate the amount of time it should take to do various tasks. I actually get 'stressed out' just thinking about getting ready for work in the morning. The thought of standing in the shower washing my hair, blow drying it, putting on clothes, and applying minimal make-up completely exhausts me.

Also, I think one of my underlying problems is good ol' procrastination. Anytime I am pulling there's a good chance I'm procrastinating or avoiding something unpleasant in my life. It might be paying a bill, giving someone bad news, confronting someone- anything really.

I am also super-sensitive to my surroundings. I notice EVERYTHING and am very 'jumpy' because I'm constantly scanning my environment. It is certainly an anxiety issue- but it makes me who I am. I am very entertaining to follow around because of all my random observations and spastic reactions to the world. My husband LOVES that about me.

Anyways, thanks for posting your thoughts- I can totally relate.
deleted_user
deleted_user
when i really think about it this is exactly what i do. i hope to do so many things the next hour, day, week in my mind. except my hands will do something else, like my thoughts cant contol my hands. wish i could get my mind to control my actions. i really do think about doing other things and yet i pull or pick at my pimples instead.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I know what you mean. I find myself pulling when I know I have other things that I know I should be doing. Definantly procrastination. I think the pulling is a result of stress due to the things that we need to do, but don't want to do. And by the way, I know what you mean about being exhausted just by thinking about how long it will take you to do something. Mine is definantly showering, shaving, fixing my hair, putting on make up. I hate to spend time doing these things, but the thing is, I wont go anywhere or do anything.....even at home, if they haven't been done.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I know what you mean. I find myself pulling when I know I have other things that I know I should be doing. Definantly procrastination. I think the pulling is a result of stress due to the things that we need to do, but don't want to do. And by the way, I know what you mean about being exhausted just by thinking about how long it will take you to do something. Mine is definantly showering, shaving, fixing my hair, putting on make up. I hate to spend time doing these things, but the thing is, I wont go anywhere or do anything.....even at home, if they haven't been done.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I feel revved up at the end of the day...so much that I am awake all night then exhausted the next day and it is a tough cycle to break. I am at my weakest when I am tired....I buy into the lie that I am worthless and no good. It's not until I am rested again that I can see myself in a good light. I worry about the things I have said and done in the past then I worry about what is going to happen in the future. It bothers me that the color of carpet my husband chose for one area of the house is a cool color and the carpet in the next room is a warm color. I can't stand certain smells and I cant sit still for too long because I am straightening of fixing something. I get overwhelmed with projects because I focus on every last minute detail....
deleted_user
deleted_user
I can relate with bits of all the above. I have alot of projects that got stuck in the middle. Lots of time spent on pulling and a fair amount of picking as well.
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