Do you guys have tips on how to stop pulling at your hair?.

[Star990]

I suffer from aniexty and depression and for months now I’ve been pulling at my hair because it feels good when I get anxiety.

[Hidden]

My sister, who is 24, does the same thing, and she has been doing it for the last 5 years. I'm not around my sister a lot these days, but, I know whenever my mom tells her to stop, she stops. With that being said, having somebody else as a support might help.

[Star990 in reply to Hidden]

I don’t have anyone with me most of the time I’m usually home alone. My sister works and she’s really the only who could probably stop this madness but this info is still helpful. I just hope my brother could maybe help out instead, thank you for the advice!

[msneverending]

I've had this since I was 19 (I'm now 41), but never really got a name to it till maybe I was 21 or 22. There's a lot of literature and study on trichotillomania in developed countries; it's not so well known in my part of the world so I've kind of had to search out solutions.

I had it a lot a year back when I was living by myself in another country, away from family, and I was fighting depression. I didn't even know I was doing it sometimes. I have it now when I'm under a deadline or under severe stress. It's like I do it to detach myself from the anxiety. And you're right - there is a kind of physical pleasure in pulling the hairs - for me, it's like some hairs are particularly painful and pulling them provides a release. Some literature indicates that it releases endorphins, hence the feeling of pleasure. But it's difficult to explain it to those who don't experience it - they think it's solely a mental impulse.

For me, some of the actions that have had some positive effect have been changing my diet (away from bread, pasta, oily foods), exercise, cutting my hair short (not drastically, just shoulder length) and keeping my hands busy. I've tried to also consciously record what triggers a pulling session. For example, dealing with anxiety by myself was a really bad trigger but not anxiety in general. Now that I'm with family, it tends to be less.

I was also eating unhealthily when I was by myself; now I'm consciously trying to eat well and doing exercise which involves my going outdoors. It also seems to have lessened the pulling frequency.

Why I cut my hair is that I realized I have a tendency to fidget or mess with something when I'm stressed. Short hair means when I'm frustrated, I just run my hand through my hair or just yank it when particularly stressed. Not the ideal scenario but better than completely pulling it out.

Sorry for the long post, and I know this differs from person to person, so hope some of this is helpful. I have a long history with this so if I can help any more, please holler.

[Star990 in reply to msneverending]

I’m 19 and I’m scared it’ll become a habit for a very long time. This was helpful information. And funny you said that, I’ve been eating bad but thankfully over these past few months I’ve quit any sugar beverage and only drank water instead. So, if I can quit sugary drinks, I think I can quit eating unhealthy. Once again thank you for this info!

[msneverending in reply to Star990]

Glad my long post could be of some help. Please don't worry that it would become a long habit. Dating myself the internet wasn't as developed as it is now, and I really didn't have access to the information and support that these kinds of forums provide so I struggled with it for some time. As I grew older, I had other stresses (change of jobs, moving countries, infertility) that probably made it worse. But like I said, having more information and addressing the key issues has helped.

Trich is defined either as OCD behaviour or impulse control behaviour, not just a habit. There are certain physical characteristics which differentiate trich from just normal habits. So I don't want to say you have trich when it could just be you reacting to stress. I think best to read up on it, and maybe go from there? If you're in the UK, I think there's some organizations focusing on this.

[quitter333]

Hmm.. what about every time you feel the need to pull hair to calm down, you consciously do something else.

Like finger snaps.

Or even something that looks "normal" froma side. Like twirling pencil or zippo lighter etc.

I am pretty sure that if you consciously choose doing that instead of pulling hair, you will simply get into habit (so, idk. You'll have to think about it for a couple of weeks, but after, you will do it automatically(much like how you got into habit of hair pulling)) of doing the other thing, and with that your hair problem will be solved.

[Angry101]

Yes, I can understand completely. I pull my hair all the time. If I keep it short it’s better, but if there is any length to it I can make a pile in a very short time. It always comes with anxiety. I don’t know how to stop. I don’t even think I’m on a med that helps me with it. My doctor knows about it, but doesn’t seem to care that much. I hope you get better.