thanks for the reply. I bite the roots too, which is odd, but i do know its common.

sometimes i get worried that my eyelashes will stop growing back because i have been pulling them out for so long. they already dont grow back as thick.

LB
age:20

I can definitely sympathize, it's usually when I'm sitting idle at the computer that my hand goes up to my scalp and hunts for the thick, unruly hairs. I just pulled one out a minute ago. =/ My reasoning is always that it doesn't belong so it must go. But it always grows back and in the process it just looks silly to have so many short hairs. I also look at the root after I pull it. For some reason it's more satisfying to see the dark melanin type of root.

I can totally feel your pain about having no eyelashes too. It took one really bad time where I pulled out almost all of them to scare me into not doing it anymore. I learned to transfer my urges to my scalp and legs (legs aren't too bad until you start digging for ingrown hairs...my legs look terrible).

I don't know if this will help, but when I put nail polish on or cut my nails real short, it prevented me from pulling my eyelashes and eyebrows.

Yes, i am going to try and make it harder for my fingers to grab my eyelashes.

Its annoying how the new hairs that grow back are thick and curly, because i just want to pull them.

Im embarrassed of it. i have only told my mom, and thats because she noticed and asked me about it. i think my friends notice but they dont say anything.

i just want a full set of lashes so bad. its silly, but i wish for things like: to have beautiful lashes and to stop pulling, when other girls wish for jewellery and shoes.

i have had this for 8 years. and to know i will always have it makes me want to cry.

Welcome to DS! This is a wonderful place to find encouragement, support, and understanding!
It's really hard to switch off the urge for the "hair", and sometimes, we trade one area for another to help us give the first area time to heal.
As a leg puller, and, yes, I have started it again, however, my eyebrows are growing in, and I'm able to stop pulling the hairs on the legs with just a reminder or two now.
Know you are not alone.

Laurna, I think the more you open up about your trich, whether to us or to your bf/family, the more you will feel in control of it. We've all been at that rock bottom level and know what you're going thru. When I first came here I was about to shave my head, which would be a little shocking for everyone around me since I hide it pretty well!
I stopped pulling about a month ago. I had no idea how important support is, I've been "on my own" for so long! The people on this site are so supportive and helpful, keep coming here to learn and heal. Try to stay positive and not beat yourself up for pulling, don't cause yourself more anxiety. You are not alone, day by day we'll help each other!

I'm like you, I find the roots absolutely fascinating. I would always go for a thicker, kinky hair if I could find it. Someone is has a discussion going here called "What do you Pull For?", an interesting questionaire that people are answering.

I pull the thick, dark hairs too. I have very light brown hair, almost blonde, but I can always find at least a few really coarse black ones. Honestly, they remind me of pubic hair on my head. They gross me out and fascinate me at the same time. Yes, I look at the roots. I pull most from the top of my head because I know it's where the fat, dark, slimy roots are.

To stop/minimize eyelash pulling, I suggest curling them every day, if and when they're long enough. Even if you can just barely curl a few of them, do it. It keeps them from touching your skin, so they don't drive you as crazy. :)

QUOTE "i just want a full set of lashes so bad. its silly, but i wish for things like: to have beautiful lashes and to stop pulling, when other girls wish for jewellery and shoes. " UNQUOTE

Oh dear, am I totally with you on that one... It should be so natural to have lashes, just like 'everybody'...

An encouragement for you to keep your hands down: lashes are amazing, yes they DO come back and back again... I've been pulling for 35 years -- now about 3-4 weeks pull-free and some are back already, which is a great comfort and incentive.

I remember when I was 20, whenever I pulled one or two or three, they would start to grow back after just 2 days. Now it takes weeks on end because when a bald spot starts to have new baby lashes coming through, I pull out grown lashes next to the spot -- hence it's starting all over again for in newly created spot... Aaaargh!

Hands down. Come here for support. It works!

xoxo

I do feel like I am soooo hopeless I could just rip my head off. But I do too look for certain hairs (when I'm looking in a mirror). I look at the roots (if one comes out). Idk wats so special about it lol. I don't pull anything but my head hair, which also makes me feel bad because everyone says I have beautiful hair (I am a brunette w/ natural blondeish streaks) but I never know what is so beautiful about it. When people comment good things about my hair, I think to myself "If they only knew............" And it seems like the days when I pull the most hair, the more comments I get! What's up w/ that?? But just hold in there, we're here for u

hey i always feel like i am at rock bottem. i pull from my head to and i also bite the root try looking at them under a microscope it is soooooo cool!

Hi LB. Welcome. We all feel "rock bottom" sometimes, but trust me, you just dust yourself off and get back up and try again. I am a 43 year old mother of two and have been pulling since my early teens. I only pull from my lashes so I don't know anything about head hair pulling. But, I want lashes so badly too and it is not silly at all. I carry around a magazine ad picture of a lash ad to give me motivation. Whenever I feel the urge to pull, I look at that photo. It does help. Putting vaseline on your eyelids also helps to keep them slippery, as well as moisturizes them. They do grow back. Not as quickly, but they do. If you can, Latisse really does make them grow faster. I started with bald lashes again, and today I am 40 days pull free. Lashes are growing all along my lash line in both eyes. It is very exciting to me. Sometimes when I remove my make-up at night, I think that I've left some on but then realized it's actually my lashes. It has been so long since I've been pull free. This site really helps. I love the "Pull Free A Thon" group where you keep a type of online journal. I love to add a new number to my pull free days. It's sounds corny, and such a small goal, but day by day really does help. I really want lashes by the summer. It really is such an odd disorder. How can someone feel a lash growing in??!! But, I feel every single one of them. Weird. Hugs and keep your head up and your hands down!

I pull when I'm alone or think no one's watching. I am also most attracted to the super thick dark hairs. I find myself twisting for hours or standing gape-eyed in front of my mirror with tweezers because I find them so fascinating and rewarding to pluck, but after I pull them I toss them like they're nothing (unless they're impressive enough to keep for a little while). I feel like my fascination with them is the root (haha-root, get it?) of my pulling problem because once I get into serious pull-sesh I seem to want to pull out all strands that are even the slightest bit thick.

Does anyone have any advice for making them seem less appealing?

So reading this kinda blew my mind...it was like someone had experienced exactly what I've gone through, even down to the whole '8 years, quitting for 1 then it came back' part. I'm honestly at the end of my rope right now...
I heard somewhere that if trich comes back after childhood it's going to be chronic...and that's me. I don't know how to stop or what to do. I'm a cutter also, partly bc of trich, and I've made little cuts on my thumbs as a deterrent to pulling...even that hasn't worked. Only 2 people know - my mum and my friend Makayla, who also pulls. I don't know if this is the right place to put this or if I should start a new topic or whatever, but I guess I'll leave it here, esp since my story is almost identical to the person who wrote the original post.

Welcome LB and MisguidedHost. Glad you found the site. I'm new here also but am finding that reading everyone's posts and writing my own has been a life saver.

This is a rough illness and yes probably it will always be lurking in the background for us multiple-year-pullers. But, it IS possible to get it to more manageable levels...read through the posts - people here have done. Inkiri is on one year pull free! You are not alone!