Hi. Have you tried inositol ? It is a B vitamin and has been known to help some with trich, in that it has taken away or decreased the urge to pull. It is also good for anxiety/stress. I find that it really helps me a lot.I take it daily, and I have not pulled for 37 days, and no urges to pull. I take a total of three 500 mg capsules daily. They are known to help you sleep also, so if you try them I would suggest taking one in the morning and two at night. Look up " nositol and trichotillomania" on the net if you want more info.
Also, positive thinking is key. When you find yourself thinking negatively, like can't stop pulling"or dwelling on the slips when you pull, turn it around and change your thoughts or statements to positive, like "I CAN and I WILL stop pulling. " But you must really BELIEVE in yourself and the power of positive thinking. Come on the forum here daily for support. Keep your hands busy. Find projects to do, hobbies, etc, and be sure to come here and type away here as often as you can.
There is an online journal here that you can write out your victories, struggles, thoughts. You could also consider writing yourself short term goals in the goals section - like " Do not pull for one day, "or one week. But do not beat yourself up and think negatively and get down if you have a slip. Just carry on and start again and BELIEVE you CAN stop, and you WILL. There is great power in positive thinking.
There is a great book you might want to consider reading, called "The Power Of Positive Thinking". It really helped me when I was in a depression. It gives many examples of what changing a person's thinking from negative to positive has done for them.

I too struggle most when reading or studying. I stayed up half the night studying for a big test the other day, I did well on the test...but lost alot of hair because of it.
tonight I once again have alot of homework to do. to prevent from going bold I've tried some new things. I put tape on my thumbs so its hard to grip the hairs or sometimes I put a bandana on my head. Every hour, or when I catch myself pulling, I get up and move around. Walk around the block or run up and down the stairs, then come back to study some more. Also, I find if I talk outloud to myself about what I'm doing I can stop pulling.
So night one of studying was bad, but these tricks have really helped and tonight I've done much better:) hope this helps you!

So common. I think the stress of the situation like studying and knowing you will pull during it, actually increases the tension and urge to pull. I know when I was younger I read much more than I do now, but noticed that I am more likely to pull at the computer than if I am reading. I noticed when I read that I am able to use both hands to grip the book, paper etc and while they are both engaged I won't pull. I must have subconsciously moved toward this, but apparently it does work because I don't have the same urges to pull when reading. Rubber finger tips (the kind used for mail) really don't let you get a grip. I don't often remember to use them but the few times I have I found them to be affective. Incidentally I found sitting on my free hand (can just be fingertips) is enough and occasionally I will sit on my free hand absently!

Thanks guys! Going to look up the rubber finger tips- they look promising and going to try the tape while I'm revising. I have tried cotton gloves but they are impossible to type with!!

If anyone else has found inositol helpful, and has seen this post, can they say??

Thanks

Where do you pull from? If it's from your head, perhaps wearing a scarf when you are reading will help, which is kinda like the rubber finger tip idea but on your head instead of your hands.

I pull from brows/lashes and sometimes I put vaseline on them, or on my fingers, to make them slippery so they are harder to pull.

I also try to wear my false lashes when i'm reading because I don't pull those out.

But I'm totally in the same boat! It's such a struggle when i'm reading/studying to not pull. I read that OCD tends to come about in either periods of stress or periods of inactivity. And reading is sorta an "inactive" activity, ya know? And studying is stressful on top of that.