Beating the urge but I'm terrified it will return

[Catastrophia]

I've been living with Trichotillomania since I was 17 (7 years) to the point where for the past 5 years I've had absolutely no eyebrows at all. At times in the past, I've been able to overcome the urges to pull out my eyebrows and grown partial eyebrows back, but I always end up plucking them when the anxiety gets too much.

Now I'm in a stable relationship and a good job with a great group of friends, I've felt the urges easier to resist and now have a fairly healthy amount of brows growing in and I'm ecstatic - but I'm terrified that one bad day is going to ruin months of work. I can already feel my anxiety building up and I've had to start taking prescribed anxiety medication and OTC herbal anxiety relief to quell the tension I can feel building.

I want to know if anyone has had a similar experience and can help offer some advice to help me, or even just validation that they know what I'm feeling, as I feel so isolated with none of my friends REALLY knowing how hard this is for me.

[chloe40 Administrator]

Hi Catastrophia

Welcome to our Community.

You're doing brilliantly well, so congratulations. Now you know you can do this and the urge is just that 'a urge' try to think of it in a 'matter of fact' way and don't let it dominate your thoughts.

Please don't let this spoil a lovely relationship that has made you so happy and given you eyebrows. Be strong now, you can do this, you deserve to be happy, keep telling yourself that and keep in touch, we're always here!

Chloe

[Hidden]

Hello Catastrophia,

Congratulations on resisting 'the urge' and having a healthy amount of brows as a result.

A stable relationship, great job and a great group of friend has all helped you.

I can understand your anxiety and I would endorse Chloe's reply. However, you may find it helpful to wear an elastic band around your wrist. If you feel 'the urge' you could 'ping' the elastic band to distract yourself and maybe focus on another activity.

Just a suggestion, but one recommended to me and I found it effective.

Lottie x

[ToLiveLikeWeRDying]

I don't know what you would call it, but ever since 5th grade when I got lice I've scratched my head. Whenever I'm deep thinking (all the time) I scratch my head, play with my hair, clean my nails out the entire time. I thought getting into a relationship would curb it. For me it's keeping my hands busy! So get something in your hands.. something full of slime or something that moves around or something you can squeeze! Don't forget to remember how great you look with eyebrows and you want them to stay!

[sixpence0407]

Hey - not sure if this will help, but its something I use to curb binge eating urges (when I remember to do it) - whenever I get the urge, instead of beating myself up or actively trying to resist, I do 20 star jumps or 10 push ups (could be whatever kind of exercise/whatever amount) and then usually by the time i'm done I've got rid of the feeling that was causing the urge and also given myself a distraction/little serotonin boost. Hope this helps! Well done on trying to beat it, you're doing really well!