Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

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/ Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

Scared and shameful

megan926402
megan926402

Hi everyone. I'm 23 and am feeling very overwhelmed, embarrassed, and full of shame. I started with picking at my split ends about 10 years ago or so and it has slowly progressed into constantly pulling hair out of my scalp. I have tried many times to just stop. My parents would always tell me just to stop... But the problem is half the time I don't even know or realize that I'm doing it. I'm currently in graduate school for physical therapy, so I spend most of my time reading textbooks and sitting in lectures. Without even realizing it, I've been picking at my hair. Lately, my biggest problem is the fact that depending on where I am I leave a pile of hair that I've pulled out of my hair where I was sitting.. and everyone knows that I was there. Whether they actually notice or not - I feel like they do. It makes me feel so much shame. Just when I focus so hard on trying to stop... all of the sudden I'm doing it without realizing it again. It's such a stress reliever for me. It feels so good. And I feel so weird saying that. I just... I don't know what to do. I want to have healthy hair again and not be the weird girl that pulls out her hair during class all the time. 

sunnyd55
sunnyd55
Please know that you're not alone. I'm 61 and had the hair pulling especially in late teens. Had to wear a wig. A therapist gave me some stress relieving visualizations. That can help. I've learned this is part of who I am when stressed or going through changes. Although it's not an attractive habit, I'm grateful not to be a cutter, use drugs, gamble, etc. Many things people can't give up are destructive or illegal.
trichbride
trichbride
Hey... I understand what you mean! I have trich too. Had it for 20 years now and I’m 34 :( school and all anxiety around it just makes it so much worse!!! Have you considered a hair topper/postiche? Google it... it may boost your confidence. I actually don’t pull around other people (or very very rarely) as I’m super self conscious about it but that’s tough if you don’t realize it... maybe with something like a wig on, the texture is different so you’ll realize? Or even wear a hat... scarf to pull on the scarf strings? You need something else for your hands!
trichbride
trichbride
Also FYI, I doubt ppl are noticing as you think! They’re probably way too busy taking notes and paying attention to the prof. Try to relax a bit about it :)
hopeforrecovery
hopeforrecovery
I completely understand where you’re coming from, because I do the exact same. I will be pulling my hair without even realising that I’m doing it, then before I know it, i’ll look on to my pillow and see lots of small hairs!

Im ordering horse shampoo to help thicken and grow my hair so maybe i’ll take more pride in it and it will allow me to stop pulling.

Good luck for the future!
Trichster724
Trichster724
I do it at work when I have too much down time and I used to be really ashamed of it but I'm committed to trying to stop pulling so I actually told a few coworkers that I trust and consider good friends that if they ever see me doing it to tell me to stop or hit my hand away. Some of my best friends do it automatically too. Most people don't even realize I pull because I only focus on my eyelashes for some reason. Pulling hair out of my head or eyebrows or anything other than my eyelashes is too painful for me for some reason.