- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
Comment deleted by user
- Date posted
- 3y
yes i only found out it was a year ago! google it you’ll have a better understanding. Trichotillomania also sorry you deal with this as well
- Date posted
- 3y
I’m 30 and I really struggle with trich. And skin picking as well. I have gone thru really bad anxiety episodes where I pull my hair and have to cover it up by wearing head scarves or hats. It is very frustrating. There are periods of time where I let it grow back bc of the guilt/ shame I feel for pulling in the first place. However, its not really something I feel I can control. Working with an ocd specialist and a trichotillomania specialist has helped me find some coping skills to help with it, but it is definitely a subtype of OCD and has its challenges. I have found some of the best suggestions given to me are to get a fidget toy that has a similar texture to hair(I bought “monkey noodles” on Amazon), wear cotton gloves in situations where I am most likely to pull/pick, or to put hair gel, water, or even numbing gel on scalp to change hair texture or numb the scalp( bc pulling is very much a sensory compulsion, my therapist said this would help). Let me know if you have any suggestions or coping tools you use to help avoid pulling. Struggling with trichotillomania is not an all or nothing thing, I try to think positive thoughts like “progress, not perfection” because there are days I slip and get discouraged or mad at myself for acting on the compulsion.
- Date posted
- 3y
it’s so frustrating especially when it comes to people who *don’t* struggle with this. they don’t understand and their always like “just stop” . that just makes it worse!!! like if i could just stop i would have a long time ago!!!! also i have a fidget and some stress balls i need to take advantage of using them more because as i said my hair pulling and skin picking is persistent and some days worse. sorry you’re also dealing with all of this. hoping it gets better! glad we can all relate!!
- Date posted
- 3y
Thank u for ur reply! I appreciate ur suggestions. For it wasn't an issue really just something I did when I was anxious but 6 months ago it got worse. I had long curly hair now I have to wear a ball cap or bandana every day... I have a bandana in EVERY color! I have one strand in the back that I braid to keep from pulling! I'm too ashamed to tell people. I don't date and I'm afraid to get a job bc I know people will talk about me? So I'm staying w my sister w no money and no life for myself. I can stay here much longer? Everything I've read leads to shaving my head being the only option?! I refuse!
- Date posted
- 3y
@amymarlo78 i understand you are not alone. don’t be afraid to talk to people about it, that is the first step!! especially talking to people who understand what you’re going through!!! i’m looking forward to speaking with a therapist here and hoping it helps me! have you considered trying that?
- Date posted
- 3y
@kayla mierzejewski Yes... I am too. I hope it helps too.I have some new growth and for some reason I don't feel the need to pull there? Only strands that feel different to me? But I'm learning how to keep it under control so I don't self destruct again! Thank u I will let u know of any progress. Know u r not alone and u have me to talk to!😀
- Date posted
- 3y
I am sorry that you guys struggle with this too but am glad we can relate and talk openly about it. If anyone wants to talk about it or needs tips on how to deal with active trichotillomania or helping new hair growth message me bc I have been pulling for 9 years and know of pretty much every option out there for helping to cover bald spots or helping with new hair growth.
- Date posted
- 3y
If u have any tips on helping new growth that would be VERY helpful!?
- Date posted
- 3y
Of course! I recently saw a dermatologist who specialized in hair/ scalp issues and she recommended a few things. First, she told me to brush my hair ( or lack of) and to massage my scalp twice a day to get more blood flowing to my scalp which is supposed to help with new growth. She also gave me this hair growth serum( i know there are a ton out there but I personally didnt find rogaine or other over the counter hair growth products to be helpful). I will try to find out the name of it becuase it was specially packaged by their dermatology practice but whatever is in it really has helped with new hair growth. Honestly seeing a dermatology specialist in person who could take a look at my hair situation and make recommendations for me was probably the most helpful thing I have done. New hair growth varies on a case by case basis and one product that may help someone might not be helpful for another person. So I highly recommend finding a dermatologist who is familiar with trichotillomania and other scalp concerns.
- Date posted
- 3y
I have a sore under my chin and I can't stop picking. I keep wanting to stop too You arent alone
- Date posted
- 3y
it’s so hard!!! hoping it gets better for you! glad we can relate
- Date posted
- 3y
There’s a name for this? I have soo many scars on my body. I pick at my skin absentmindedly sometimes, but even more when I’m anxiously working on an assignment or ruminating. Come to Think of it, it makes sense that there’s a name for something like this lol. Learn something new every day!
- Date posted
- 3y
yes! I only found out about it a year ago and it all makes sense now
- Date posted
- 3y
@kayla mierzejewski Yes! When I found out there was a name for it and that it's not just me is when I felt a bit of hope!
- Date posted
- 3y
I have Trichotillomania... Had it for years but it's gotten really bad the last 6 mos. It controls my life
- Date posted
- 3y
same, sorry to hear you’re struggling too. hoping we can all overcome this!
Related posts
- Date posted
- 24w
I think I might have dermatillomania. I am not self diagnosing. I get skin picking so bad that my whole back is covered in sores, there's at least 40 of them. I also pick at my head horribly I seriously cannot stop either. I have open sores all over my head and pick and pick and just can never stop. Sometimes I don't notice, and I'm always looking for a spot to pick at. I looked at all the symptoms and ik it runs with ocd. Whenever I get anxious my skin picking becomes very severe. Whenever I wake up I pick at my head too. I seriously don't know how to stop picking and I'm trying to get a diagnostic for dermillomania. I also have started to pick at my nose horribly. I have these blackhesd removers and I keep using them constantly on my face, everytime I'm home from school I use them on my nose and pick at everything on my face.
- Date posted
- 19w
I don’t know what I can do. I guess this is more of a depression thing than OCD but who knows. I have been battling this ongoing war within myself for years now and it’s been affecting my academic performance. situation of mine right now: I haven’t done a lot of work for my classes this month and I feel like I’m going to fail the semester again. I don’t know what it is but I can never seem to begin any work. I know I am capable but why can’t I get myself to start? why has this been going on for so long? I don’t understand. I have a history of good grades back in high school before I turned 17. I don’t even know how to describe it. it’s like I’ve been paralyzed and cannot do any work. but I can somehow do offside tasks like pinterest boards or random youtube videos. if I get rid of those, what do I do? I end up sleeping. because I’m tired. I have a low vitamin D deficiency & have been trying to get energy. I’m at a loss. I also bought unnecessary stuff on sunday when I went out with my family. I bought some things for the kids and I ended up buying myself a dress and a few accessories. now I have to work extra to gain that money back doing uber eats because I need it asap. it’s like I don’t want to work, for now. my coworkers who are around my age don’t work as much & I think to myself, “wow, they must be getting in the work done” meanwhile I’m working 3 days a week (which isn’t much) and attending school. I feel like if I change my schedule again, I’ll ruin it for the rest of my driver coworkers. I’m in a lead position at work so having to put on a mask is quite tiring. there’s so much I want to say that I don’t think it will fit in this post. I have booked a mental health session with a school counselor. all I want at the moment is to have my own place and be in a better mental state to take care of my cats. they mean a lot to me but this stupid ass undiagnosed mental issue is getting in the way. sorry for the long rant. I am tired.
- Date posted
- 15w
i’m back in a cycle of having harm related OCD thoughts and feelings and urges and i get these episodes where it’s like i’m disassociating and feel like i’m about to snap and go crazy violent. does anyone else experience this? i need help
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