Thanks so much for posting this! It really helps to think about what preceeds pulling!

I get the itch, but I've noticed that my trigger is stress, most usually stress having to do with people. My academic stress could have an effect, but people stress always causes me to pull.

Boredom and extreme stress trigger for me. It's an interesting combination, but hey.

I pull when I am bored, frustrated, sad, angry....sometimes my hand just automatically goes to my head and I am able to say stop and I don't pull. Other times it is like an addiction where I just have to have that coarse hair. For a while I was keeping a water bottle with me and taking a sip any time I felt the urge to pull. I also like your suggestion of counting to ten. I just need to remember to get up and get away from what I am doing when I am pulling. Usually it is on the couch or in bed. I used to pull at the computer and when I was driving, but I have been able to stop that.

I haven't really thought before now about anything in particular that causes the pulling, but it seems to always be worse when I am stressed. Not too many occasions when I am not, but it is interesting to know that there may be something in particular that occurs before the pulling. Will have to make a concerted effort to see if I can figure what triggers mine. Thanks for the post.

I pull when I'm alone and watching TV usually.

for some reason I feel the urge to pull when on the phone, it's a sure fire trigger, I also get a lot of spots & ingrowing hairs which get both sore & itchy I use a spot stick on it witch hazel or tea tree, its really good at preventing a full scale pull session

Stress and having nothing to do are what do it for me. Thanks for the post. I give it a shot.

For me its everything that everyone else said, but mainly its when I begin daydreaming. I find that when I just zone out I'm not aware of what I'm doing. By the time I do realize its just too late. So now when I feel like my mind is drifting, I put either a scarf or a hat on my head. Hey I'd rather look silly than just pulling.

My triggers really seem to be stress and boredom. Any kind of emotional stress will surely lead to bald eyes and six weeks of awaiting new growth.

When im alone I usually pull or when I am stressed in traffic. I pull everywhere where I am alone

wow those all help a lot. i have a stress ball and squeeze realy hard or excersise both of those help.

homework and studying are when i do it the most. also when im watching tv or movies, or im just bored.

Seems to be a common thread, stress and boredom. When our hands become idol, they start to wander, when we are stressed we release it by pulling. I never ever pulled in front of anyone.

I think that my "triggers" are boredom mostly and stress and yes i do get an itch before i pull.