- Username
- kmezzy05
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Just pulled a piece of my hair out right now before reading your post. I didn’t know that was a thing. I just assumed it was a bad habit.
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
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.
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!!
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!
@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?
@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!😀
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.
If u have any tips on helping new growth that would be VERY helpful!?
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.
I have a sore under my chin and I can't stop picking. I keep wanting to stop too You arent alone
it’s so hard!!! hoping it gets better for you! glad we can relate
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!
yes! I only found out about it a year ago and it all makes sense now
@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!
I have Trichotillomania... Had it for years but it's gotten really bad the last 6 mos. It controls my life
same, sorry to hear you’re struggling too. hoping we can all overcome this!
For anyone who has OCD related disorders like dermatillamania or trichotillamania (I'm sreally sorry if I'm butchering those names) what is it like?
Hey everyone!! So I’ve been diagnosed with moderate ocd. Sometimes when a new symptom arises with my ocd, I don’t how to combat it. Since I have ocd, sometimes I get scared that it might mean somethings else. So basically I have this weird thing where I need to pull my hair or rip it out. I thought it was trichotillomania but I’m not sure. I was gonna talk about it in therapy today but I forgot. When this happens I usually get a feeling in my scalp where I have to pull or rip my hair out to feel better. It is weird. Sometimes I don’t need to pull my hair out, I can get that satisfaction just from tugging of it and feeling the hair being tugged . The feeling of needing to pull my hair even shows up no only on my scalp but my shoulder muscle and I have to pull my hair or stretch it to feel better. I’m not sure if it is Tourette’s. Can someone let me know if they have had this or similar to it. What if so what is it? Is it just plain ocd. Help!!
Does anyone ever feel like they force themselves to endure their triggers? Like you can’t physically stop yourself from doing something or seeing something that you know will trigger you and you know it won’t help or give you any joy but you literally can’t physically stop?
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