Hair removal specialists and trichotillomania

Tw: trichotillomania I wanted to use this forum to talk about my recent experience with a hair removal specialist and see if anyone has has a similar experience. I have been pulling my hair out for about 30 min a day, every day, for over 15 years. About a month ago, I don't know what hit me but I finally had enough. I booked myself a consultation with a woman who specialized in laser hair removal and electrolysis. I was very nervous to do this, in fact I tried to do this 2 years ago and chickened out. The area I focus pulling on is very damaged from years of pulling. Scarring, open wounds, etc. I did not know how that would be received by a hair removal specialist. Not to mention, I had a doctor look my mom in the eye and tell her I was lying about pulling all the hair out, and it was simply razor burn. (I guess I was really good at getting it out?) So I finally get the courage to go to a hair removal specialist and don't touch the area for two days prior to the consultation in a desperate attempt to make it presentable. The day comes, and she takes a look at the area. I brought my fiancee along with me because they are my number one cheerleader. I had emailed her in advance giving her context of the situation, since it's complicated. Despite this, she really didn't know what she was in for. She didn't know what trichotillomania is. I think all people who specialize in hair removal should learn what it is, as I imagine many of their clients struggle with it, regardless if they tell them. Further, since I had very little hair in the area she asked me how I remove it. I said I pull it out, but she proceeded to ask me if I shave. I said no, all pulling for 15 years, not much grows in anymore because a lot to the follicles have sustained permanent damage. She was physically shocked and wasn't afraid to say it. Her - that must be crazy painful girl Me - haha, actually I've been doing it so long I don't feel it anymore Her - that must take so long Me - yes, it has consumed many years of my life Her - didn't your mom teach you how to appropriately remove your hair Me - awkwardly exchanges looks with my fiancee because we both know I had an emotionally abusive mother who actually taught me nothing Suffice to say, the laser she did on my wasn't what hurt, but her comments did. Worst of all, as I was checking out she stressed that, for the treatment to work, I could not pull the hair out between treatments (which I knew). She ended her statement with "you can't tweeze it, have some self control". That was the statement that hurt the most of all because I know that trichotillomania is more than just not having self control, at least it is for me. It is an addictive compulsion, something I need to feel okay, something I have done every day for more than half of my life. I wish I would have told her it wasn't that easy, but I only laughed awkwardly, paid for the session, and walked home in tears.

Anni23

Date posted: 2y

I can definitely relate, it’s not easy at all to stop. It took me 8 years to do so and I must have tried to stop a million times before, but that’s just not how it works. Stopping it might have just been the harfest thing I’ve ever done. So yes, people who didn’t go through it might not get it and those things she said were totally inappropriate. Just try not to take it personal, but rather think of it as someone who didn’t have to go through this and just simply doesn’t understand. I know it’s everything but easy!

cherubb

Date posted: 24w

pulling hair

does anyone else struggle with this? specifically it is my eyebrows! i get a thought that one hair feels weird, and i’ll pull it out, but then i can’t stop because it triggers me to think another one feels weird. now, i barely have any hairs on either eyebrows. i keep trying to grow them back but it feels impossible to stop pulling the hairs sometimes. i’m excited to talk to my nocd therapist about this so i can start to regrow my eyebrows and not have this compulsion affect me so much!

Young adults with OCD

Bookgirl📚

Date posted: 17w

Hair pulling

Hey, my name is Mercy and I have a hair pulling disorder and I was wondering if anyone has some advice for stopping my habit. Thanks

summerloveru...

Date posted: 7w

my story

So... I few years ago, I did self-harm a few times, and then I got super into spirituality, and about a year ago, I remembered I did self-harm and ever since haven't been able to shake the guilt off... Constantly, every day, my mind would make me feel guilty about it and think about it all day. It's like my brain knew the thought that I could/ have cut myself scared me, so it kept bringing it up. My family had no idea I had ever done this, so my OCD told me I was a liar for not telling them about every day. I was afraid that they wouldn't love me anymore and send me to a mental hospital if I told them. About 2-3 months ago, I had gotten so fed up with having these thoughts every day and confessed to my mom what I had done, and her reaction was great. And I thought I'd never have thoughts about when I did self-harm again because I finally confessed. I was wrong. Even with people telling me that it's okay, I did that, I can't shake the guilt I had around this event, and even more so the fear/guilt around my own thoughts... My therapist and I talk about how the problem isn't the thoughts but what the OCD does to them. I try to create positive neural pathways, but that just makes me more stressed about it. There are things I'm supposed to tell myself when I feel negative, but I think I get that confused and tell myself those things every time I have thoughts about what I did. Which is feeding into a mental compulsion (replacing every "bad" thought with a "good" one. What works for me is (if I can) do nothing and have the thoughts... It's been hard to get better because I have had no idea what's been happening to me and felt like for the last year I was going crazy... I always thought OCD was cleaning stuff and physical compulsions . Everything that happened to me happened in my head. On the worst days when my OCD is really bad, every single time I was conscious and aware, I was thinking about the fact that I did self-harm. I would lie in bed all day trying to figure out my thoughts because I thought if I watched TV, I would be avoiding important things. I thought I had to figure out all my thoughts. I would ruminate, replay, and second-guess all. day. long. It was hard to do any of the things I loved; OCD took the joy out of it. It was hard to recognize it was OCD because I thought I had done something seriously bad and wrong, and that I must deserve these thoughts. I think the trick is that you feel like you must have positive thoughts, and the most distressing thing wasn't necessarily the fact that I did self-harm, but the fact that I couldn't stop thinking about it. I find the best thing you can do is just have all your thoughts in your head and try not to separate them from good and bad, if you can. It's nice to have people who understand!!!! More to come, about the journey. My favorite thing to say when I'm stuck is "that sly devil... OCD. Silly OCD is getting to me right now, but it won't last forever. That sneaky guy tricked me again." Love you!!!

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond

Hair removal specialists and trichotillomania

Related posts

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Be a part of the largest OCD Community