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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Sommya 02/19/2018

I have been pulling my hair ever since I was 14 years. It has been 13 years now, and I am still not able to give it up completely. I give up in bits and pieces, leave it for 5 days and the get back, maximum has been a month but it takes so much effort to not do it while just going with the flow is so easy. After every session of pull, I look at those hairs and regret why? And every day I decide I will that I am not going to do it anymore and I fail every day. Every morning I look at myself in the mirror with that almost bald crown and imagine when it will all be back, analyze if the damage that I have done is curable or not, will the hair ever regrow, whether I will be able to flaunt those long hair ever in my life again, when I can swim with no worries of getting caught with a bald head or dance in the rain not thinking about anything.

I think most of you will relate to this pleasure that we get from pulling hair. You pluck your hair in hope of getting that root of the hair, that white part. You separate it from the hair and somehow I want to do it over and over again. I keep moving my hand on my head to find any thick strand of hair or any twisted strand (anything apart from that regular thin hair), and then I have this instant desire to pluck it. It's regret, remorse or anger that I build up because of my actions, I could have had those 10 more hair on my head :(

I am getting married in 6 months and I really want to just stop it once and for all. I want to look my best at my wedding, I know I still have time if I stop and I am starting today. Looking out for suggestions that can help.

MaryBridie 03/26/2018

You've basically described my life too. I started when I was 9 and then again at 13. I feel so hopeless and embarrassed and ashamed of myself.

How are you doing today? Have you found anything to help? I just bought a CBT course online after seeing how big the patch on the crown of my head is.

Sommya 04/01/2018

Yaa I am trying too many things, trying to stick to the 21 day rule, hope I am able to justify it.

OldSport 04/02/2018

You described what you enjoyed about pulling hair. Does that include the plucking sensation at the moment the root is extracted? That's what I have to resist and I'm wondering if anyone has the same issue and how they deal with it.

My addiction and obsession has brought serious consequences. Now I'm 14 days pluck free -- I've never gone this long since my addiction began. I'm now trying to recover from the damage.

Wishing you success! What is the 21 day rule?

Sommya 04/13/2018

I am trying to not do it for 21 days, they say that if you do something for 21 days, it becomes a habit, trying to do that. But have failed since the time I posted. I intend to start again everyday till I get there

OldSport 04/14/2018

Hmmm. I went just went 18 days without plucking from my upper back. It ended when I was just checking the hair growth and I pulled a bit too hard. After that, I plucked a few, then completely broke down and plucked most of what grew.

For me, it's not appearance. Back hair is not particularly attractive. Instead, it's the amount of time I waste. I 'm addicted to the tingle at the moment of the pluck. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes to find a hair to pull. The day I broke my streak, I had plenty to pull and spent hours getting one after the other.

Good luck with the 21 day rule. I don't know if that would apply to me. The craving for the plucking sensation is with me all the time and once I pluck I cannot stop.

trichy_me 04/19/2018

I’ve been pulling for 31 years. I’m 43 years old and I have just (past few months) accepted that I will forever have this disorder. Im only speaking for myself. I certainly dont mean to discourage anyone from trying to stop. I am just exhausted of feeling like a failure or that Im weak for pulling. I wish we didnt have to hide behind wigs and ponytails and hats. If only we could just let our bald spots be seen without shame. We should definitely strive to control it as long as we dont feel like a failire when we can’t.

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