Trichotillomania - (Hair Pulling)

[Violet_Dream]

Has anyone experienced this awful disorder? I've had my share of addictions: I've been clean and sober for over 14 years and smoke-free for over 12 which I'm very grateful for.

A little background: I sat down one day when I was 15 and proceeded to pluck almost all my eyebrows out. Years ago, I stopped keeping tweezers in the house and when I did, I'd ask my husband to hide them - only to ask for them almost every day. About three years ago, I discovered that I can pull my eyebrows out with my fingers and since then I've been pulling also from my legs (I'll watch T.V. cross one leg over the other and proceed to pull) and most recently (for the last two years or so) I've been pulling from my upper crotch area. Today, it looks almost like raw meat because if I see an ingrown hair, I'll take baby scissors and dig the hair out (drawing blood every time). I've developed neck pain from looking down and after my bathroom business, I've spent up to an hour in the bathroom doing this. WHY DO I DO THIS???

I'm a member of a support group and need to release all the bad habits because I know I'm a wonderful person and want to learn to love myself.

Thanks for reading...

[smilinsage]

I just wanted to say that you're not alone...I'm a scalp puller.

[cprcheetah]

I pull out my eye lashes and eye brows....have been to the point I barely have any eye lashes :-( Mostly in times of stress/anxiety.

[Violet_Dream]

I'm glad I'm not alone. I'm a member of this free support site if either of you are interested.

Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group - DailyStrength

[everystep]

I have a weird obsessive thing where I pick at my skin...I've stretched the skin on certain parts of my body where now it looks nothing like it use to... (unfortunately chest area...female ;/) and left many scars that i'm so ashamed of

I've read a little bit about these obsessive things being linked to low dopamine levels. Also, interestingly enough, the urge for me to pick comes on very strongly a few hours after eating a very sugary meal or a food sensitivity, which makes sense because sugar + food intolerances spikes dopamine up like a drug and then it crashes below normal afterwards. Sometimes L-tyrosine helps my urges when I'm in a mood
Does low carb help your condition at all?

[Violet_Dream]

Not really. I'm also a recovering alcoholic/addict with over 14 years clean and sober and have been a non-smoker for over 12 years. I think to myself that I've gone through a lot so this should be nothing.

I need to turn this over to God, which I haven't done. Have you gone on the website I mentioned above? It seems to be helping me, but I need to stop pulling completely.

[Orphalie]

My Daughter is puller. She pull her eyelashes and eye brows. It started when she was in 4th grade. Shes pulled them out till shes had nothing left for 3 years. Finaly this year for the last few months shes hasd some break throughts. Shes actualy damaged her eyes by creating ulcers from the constant pulling. She now has her entire eyebrows, and most of her lower and some of her upper ones growing now. I've told her to pull ANYWHERE else but her eyes. She does seem to pick some at her arms and legs now but that concerns me much much less than her eyes. I don't want her to have perminent damage to her eyes. I've taken her to all kind of therapists and psychologist and even a hypnotherapist. All these seemed to do was focus her attention on it an increase her pulling. I've bargined begged and threatened till I'm blue in the face. I've tried reasoning with her ect with no response. She knows other ppl see it (she looks very different and odd with out eye brows and eyelashes) and she seems unconcerned over it most of the time. It has literaly at times drove me to near mental breakdowns. Seeing you child go through this is horrific, painful and maddening. But like I said she seems to have it much more under control now than the last 3 years that its been happening and its a huge relief to all of us. I think partly because of vanity (she's really into makeup and fashion now and she was totaly not before). But regardless of the reason we're very happy shes getting some control over it.

[Monkeyfish]

Hey I'm also a scalp puller! Working on it, day by day...

I've found that since starting this low carb journey (just a few days ago) I've taken on an attitude of living a healthier lifestyle in general, beyond diet. So I'm experimenting with yoga, meditation, reading a LOT of self helpy stuff and trying my hardest NOT TO PULL. Thanks for posting this thread, Stephanie, you're very brave. (((HUGS)))

[janetsbreeze]

I'm an eyebrow puller. I do feel your pain.
It's better than it was in the past. For a long time, I had virtually no eyebrows and they are still very thin.

[Violet_Dream]

Thank you all for sharing. I can totally relate to the eyebrows. My poor fingers are all calloused from all the pulling, but I keep doing it. It is possible to not do any more behavior that causes me to sabotage myself, but I keep trying to maintain that control.

Have any of you tried this site Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group - DailyStrength

When I go on there daily, I usually do pretty good.