hair pulling disorder...help!!!

I have anxiety and depression. I can most of the time handle depression on my own because due to previous drug abuse, I hate being dependent on a pill to make me feel better. But my hair pulling disorder is really bugging me! I pull out my eyelashes all the time, and I put on mascara for me to pull off instead but that doesn't always help. I cant explain it but I like the feeling even though it hurts. I also pluck out my pubic hair as well as the hair that leads up to my belly button. It isn't very attractive but I can't help it. I don't even realize I'm doing it most of the time! I know there are people MUCH worse than me, but is there anything anyone can do to help me stop? I hate taking medication but is there something I can take...I'm really sick of it!! I miss my eye lashes!

[Leah22]

First of all I just want to say I know exactly what you are going through! I am right there with you! trichotillomania is the name of the disorder where people pull out their hair compulsively. This is usually related to anxiety....especially OCD. I was put on anti anxiety meds which helped my OCD and that ended up helping with the hair thing. Good luck!

[Shan36420]

i feel you pain! i thought it was just ocd tendencies......ive been that way all my life. The only thing ive ever seen similar to my behavior is when ive watched those shows about people using meth! My bad habits are picking my split ends to the point i had to cut my hair so that it wasnt long enough for me to see or pull around to pick at. i also constantly pick at my eyes. Im takin phentermine right now (diet pills) and it makes me do these things soooooo much worse its driving me batty! Which meds helped leah? Im takin cymbalta right now as others caused the weight gain thus now takin the diet pills!!! UGH! lol!

[HockeyShark]

For some reason I started cutting my own hair to the point of having bald spots. I am constantly twist and pulling the hairt i do have.

[erikam]

I have been peeling apart my split ends since I was about 14 ( am now 36!) And has gotten to the point that at least half my hair is 3 inches long and the rest is halfway down my back. I do it all the time, everyone tells me to stop, but I cant. I could spend hours a day doing it. I never knew anything was wrong, just something I did. My sister has trich, and shaves her head now so she wont pull. Is peeling all your hair away a form of this?

[bluepearl12]

[bluepearl12]

I am wondering if someone can give me advice on my split end picking obsession. I've done some research and do not believe I have trich - so far, what I've read is that it entails "pulling" your hair whereby the individual will lose hair from their scalp. Not something I experience. I spend a lot of time each day (I find the perfect light and dark backdrop to see split ends) and I begin to cut above the split end. I search and search and cut and cut. I go into somewhat of a trance. I've been doing this for years. I have experienced neck pain and without doubt know it is caused from this. I am too embarrassed to tell my doctors - medical or chiropractor. I keep thinking I will cut all the split ends off and my hair will be normal. The next day I check and get irritated that they still appear! I follow the basic hair care tips (top of line shampoos/conditioners, no hair dryers/flatirons, frequent trims etc) and still cannot get rid of those split ends. I really don't think I have OCD. I have no other similar habits. I don't have depression or anxiety. Just the desire to be split end free. I've tried to rationalize with myself that it is wrong to look through my hair, to pick up scissors, that I waste time and it is ONLY hair...I can keep myself from looking when the urge arises most of the time - but then I will be driving down the road, my hair will fall in my face and will automatically look at the strands and see a split end here or there. I try to withhold that urge to separate the hair strand but most times I fail! Putting my hair up in a pony tail does no good either. I'll start to twirl my hair and eventualy I'll take off the scrunchi. Please help! Can anyone tell me what this is? Am I just insane? I really want to stop!

[feistygirl79]

[feistygirl79]

I have been pulling picking at my eyelashes for about 10 years now.   I am 28 and can remember doing it in HS so maybe even longer.  I used to twirl my hair around my fingers in elementary school.  I guess I constantly have to keep my busy, I also bite my nails and grind my teeth at night.  This may sound weird but I guess you guys know what I am going through but I will put mascara on and then slowly through out the day I will pick the mascara from my eyelashes.  I will then re-apply the mascara only to do the same thing.   I have had times when I had gaps in my lashes because I tugged to hard.  I do it more often if I have mascara on my lashes then if not but I still will do it.  I know I could stop wearing mascara but I have blonde lashes and I look dual without it.   I have no idea how to stop because I do it without thinking and once I start I don't stop.  I can also relate to Shan36420 about the phentermine, it made me want to do it even more.   I am tired of picking at my lashes and wanted to know if anyone had suggestions other than not wearing mascara because that is not an option.

[sunnyup]

Well, I know exactly how you feel. I have anxiety and depression also, and I'm also very leary about going on medications with my past drug use. I didn't like the fact that I had to take a pill to be "normal". I also never found the right pill or dosage, so I was up and down for several years. After a few years of trying to make myself feel better, I just quit all the pills and tried it on my own. It was hard, but I managed to pull through. I turned to more natural ways of eating and living, and that really helped a lot. It does have its price tag, but I only buy what I can afford. I do think my past drug and alcohol abuse did cause a lot of my depression. As for my anxiety..it's always been there. Your eyelash pulling hit home for me, as my mother has not had her real lashes since she was probably 20. So...she's been pulling her eyelashes out for 35 years! I never understood it, but now I see it's more common that I thought. I always knew she had anxiety. My habit is biting my nails..down to the bloody pulp, and I can't stop. I wish I knew how to help you stop, but I did want to let you know that I can relate to you, and I wish you luck. If you ever find something that works to control your anxiety let me know..and I'll let you know the same. Good luck to you,

[texasgirlof2]

I have been a puller for 16 years.  I too focus on only split ends- pulling with the thought that if I could just have 'perfect' hair....  It has turned into a bit of skin picking as well- I develop sores on my scalp that I assume are related to the pulling that I pick at as well as other imperfections on my skin.  I just finally mentioned this to my doctor. The breaking point was my generalized anxiety/ depression and straight up anger were out of control.. The pulling didn't so much bother me as it has just become a part of who I am.  My doctor put me on zoloft which has made a world of difference in the depression and anger.  I am actually enjoying my kids and family again!  The anxiety is somewhat better- no more phantom pains, obsessing over the pain ( I was constantly having toothache pains to the point of seeing a dentist every other month convinced I had cavities -which I 'counted'- in every tooth) and some of my other OCD symptoms are not as bothersome- even tolerable- repetition is not as compulsive and urgent..BUT the pulling persists.  I obsess over the split ends and removing them.  Which causes me to obsess over the damage I am causing my scalp, with the certaintity (in my mind) that I will be more bald than my husband in no time flat. When I pull- I zone out and I miss things.  My kids ask me what I am doing and that snaps me out of it.. I pull while sitting in traffic, watching tv, on the toilet, witing to get my haircut...anytime a strand of hair falls across my face- I check it.  It always seems to be a damaged hair.  I just wish I knew what caused this to happen.  Why it is so odd- it isn't exactly what trich is defined- the SELECTIVE removal of hairs...how, why...People hear OCD and you think of washing, counting, sometimes hoarding...I noticed someone mentioned their hair care routine-...I say to myself- I use high quality, expensive products- why isn't it better...in HS I pretty much stopped styling my hair for fear of further damaging it...no hair dryer, curling iron...then I stopped haircuts, just wore a basic pony or bun.  Still do.  I bought a CHI knowing it would damage my hair but thinking it would make me feel good about styling my hair- It would be perfectly smooth and pretty like other girls hair....I  have used it 6 times in over a year...My skin issue- pretty much has put the breaks on any makeup use...so my flaws are very visible but at least I am not further damaging it...One thing I have necome very good at, which is sad....first thing I notice @ people are flaws- crooked teeth tops the list...skin, facial hair......I notice all flaws in seconds and then can think of nothing else.  I havetrouble remembering people names when I meet them- but I remeber the flaws- I think I need my meds upped- Hair pullers- how does it effect your eyes?  Convinced I am making myself blind from pullig....

[converted]

I can tell you about a man named Jesus. He will take every anxiety diorder and urge away. He can do this, I know!
God Bless