Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

Impulsive control disorder is the inability to resist an urge, temptation, or impulse, even when it may cause negative effects to the self or to others. If you or a loved one suffers from impulsive contorl disorder, join the community to find support and share your challenges with others who know what you're going through.

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Anxiety Disorders
/ Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

So discouraged

Rachel1994
Rachel1994

Hey guys, Rachel here. I hope this group can find me some relief or helpful advice and comfort as this is my first time on here. I'm pushing 28 years old and have easily been pulling my head hair out since I was 14-15 years old within months of overcoming am eating disorder. For whatever reason I've started pulling out the top row of both my eyelashes for 4-5 months now and am so discouraged like where else from my body could I possibly pick at on top of all this ?!? I've tried therapy off and on over the past few years and feel really discouraged and like nothing truly works and fits my state of mind. I never stopped pulling even with therapy just the usual ups and downs of the tendency to pull with some days great and others a constant pull. Reaching out to whoever is listening for helpful advice or simply to know I'm not alone because even in my late 20s I can't connect with anyone on this who even comes close to understanding the urge and relief I feel from this bad habit. 

Community LeaderMid
Mid
Welcome to the anxiety board at DS.

This particular board is not active at the moment. Try the main board for other self-soothing techniques to manage your anxiety.

Keep a journal private to help you sort out your thoughts, words, images as you work to find your better balance.
zinniaz
zinniaz
Hi Rachel, I'm 29 and feel very similar to how you feel- discouraged and kind of hopeless. I've never been able to make any progress with stopping pulling. I don't tell anyyyyoneee about this, except my mom who knows about it because she was heavily involved in my eating disorder treatment from many years ago and the hair pulling was brought up during that treatment. However, the hair pulling isn't something that I talk to her about these days. I've make immense progress in my eating disorder recovery, but my hair pulling started at the onset of my eating disorder when I was a teen and I just can't kick it!
Rachel1994
Rachel1994
Mine stemmed from an eating disorder as well! so crazy, I beat the eating disorder fairly quickly but the hair pulling developed almost immediately after that. I would consider myself a severe hair puller to where I have to wear extensions, wigs depending on the occasion and I hate it!
zinniaz
zinniaz
Hey, I am curious how you find the ED and Trich to be related. My ED and Trich started during the same time, and I guess I can see how in someways the Trich has helped me feel more calm and to kind of numb out- which was helpful when the ED was full swing. I do not have to wear wigs but I am always suuuuuper uncomfortable going to hair salons or having anyone touch my hair because I am worried that they may notice the patches where I don't have hair. That discomfort is short lived, since I don't go to the salon that often... but I think mostly I'm just feeling frustrated and confused- why can't I stop? why do I struggle with this? what's wrong with me?
Zaina
Zaina
I feel the same. I have had therapy twice and it has not worked. Now that I am coming to an end of my second therapy session, I have been asked to look for online support.
But I do not want to lose hope. I have been pulling for at least 30 years
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