Any ideas on how to stop hair pulling?

[lowridin76]

Okay, so when I was in high school I used to have like the worst anxiety issues in the world. It was really bad my senior year, and somewhere along the way I started pulling my hair out. It became a thing that I would do without even realizing that I was doing it. I did not pull out any hair, I had to root around until I found one that I thought didn't feel right, and I'd pull that one out. Well, now it's 3 years later, and between my senior year in high school, and now I had stopped pulling my hair out. It just seemed to stop after I stopped being so nervous, and took care of a lot of my anxiety issues. The past 4 or 5 months I've started pulling my hair out again. The exact same hunt around for hair that doesn't feel right and pull it out. I've been trying to think of reasons why, but haven't been able to come up with anything yet. My hands are in my hair all day. If I'm at work and doing something that doesn't require two hands I have one hand preoccupied with work and the other is in my hair. If I do have to use two hands I get one hand back into my hair as soon as possible. I don't notice it a lot of the time, but it's really setting me back. I can't figure out why I'm doing this again, so maybe someone has some ideas on how I can stop pulling my hair out!

 

[gissellr78]

Okay, so when I was in high school I used to have like the worst anxiety issues in the world. It was really bad my senior year, and somewhere along the way I started pulling my hair out. It became a thing that I would do without even realizing that I was doing it. I did not pull out any hair, I had to root around until I found one that I thought didn't feel right, and I'd pull that one out. Well, now it's 3 years later, and between my senior year in high school, and now I had stopped pulling my hair out. It just seemed to stop after I stopped being so nervous, and took care of a lot of my anxiety issues. The past 4 or 5 months I've started pulling my hair out again. The exact same hunt around for hair that doesn't feel right and pull it out. I've been trying to think of reasons why, but haven't been able to come up with anything yet. My hands are in my hair all day. If I'm at work and doing something that doesn't require two hands I have one hand preoccupied with work and the other is in my hair. If I do have to use two hands I get one hand back into my hair as soon as possible. I don't notice it a lot of the time, but it's really setting me back. I can't figure out why I'm doing this again, so maybe someone has some ideas on how I can stop pulling my hair out!

I have no experience with this but I think you should definately go to your physician so he can refer you to the appropriate specialist....Maybe get your anxiety under control...good luck

 

[~*~ShopAholic~*~]

Yeah see your doctor, but in the mean time braid it up.

 

[GV-NA-GI-TLV-GE-I]

Okay, so when I was in high school I used to have like the worst anxiety issues in the world. It was really bad my senior year, and somewhere along the way I started pulling my hair out. It became a thing that I would do without even realizing that I was doing it. I did not pull out any hair, I had to root around until I found one that I thought didn't feel right, and I'd pull that one out. Well, now it's 3 years later, and between my senior year in high school, and now I had stopped pulling my hair out. It just seemed to stop after I stopped being so nervous, and took care of a lot of my anxiety issues. The past 4 or 5 months I've started pulling my hair out again. The exact same hunt around for hair that doesn't feel right and pull it out. I've been trying to think of reasons why, but haven't been able to come up with anything yet. My hands are in my hair all day. If I'm at work and doing something that doesn't require two hands I have one hand preoccupied with work and the other is in my hair. If I do have to use two hands I get one hand back into my hair as soon as possible. I don't notice it a lot of the time, but it's really setting me back. I can't figure out why I'm doing this again, so maybe someone has some ideas on how I can stop pulling my hair out!

Therapy. Probably see your doctor who can recommend a behavioral therapist.

 

[lowridin76]

Oh goodness, I guess this is going to be more involved than I thought! I guess if it must be done. I'm kind of bummed because I've come such a long way and rarely get nervous talking to people now. Oh well.

 

[CocoBunny]

It's seems to be a compulsive behavior pattern. Possibly a precurser to OCD? erplexedTherapy might/might not help. I had a similar compulsion, except I plucked my edges. I stopped on my own by placing a rubberband on my wrist and everytime I'd pull a hair I snapped the rubberband HARD on my wrist. It took 3 days to cure a compulsion I'd had for years.

YMMV.

 

[kblc06]

It's seems to be a compulsive behavior pattern. Possibly a precurser to OCD? erplexedTherapy might/might not help. I had a similar compulsion, except I plucked my edges. I stopped on my own by placing a rubberband on my wrist and everytime I'd pull a hair I snapped the rubberband HARD on my wrist. It took 3 days to cure a compulsion I'd had for years.

YMMV.

Trichotillomania is in fact a form of OCD related to anxiety disorders. Usually these disorders are due to a chemical imbalance so in addition to behavioral therapy, you physician may prescribe a low dose SSRI or anti-anxiety medication such as Ativan in order to get you anxiety under control. See if there is a pattern that you notice prior to the onset of the hair pulling; normally, triggers can be avoided or can be coped with in alternative ways HTH

 

[BrooklynSouth]

Okay, so when I was in high school I used to have like the worst anxiety issues in the world. It was really bad my senior year, and somewhere along the way I started pulling my hair out. It became a thing that I would do without even realizing that I was doing it. I did not pull out any hair, I had to root around until I found one that I thought didn't feel right, and I'd pull that one out. Well, now it's 3 years later, and between my senior year in high school, and now I had stopped pulling my hair out. It just seemed to stop after I stopped being so nervous, and took care of a lot of my anxiety issues. The past 4 or 5 months I've started pulling my hair out again. The exact same hunt around for hair that doesn't feel right and pull it out. I've been trying to think of reasons why, but haven't been able to come up with anything yet. My hands are in my hair all day. If I'm at work and doing something that doesn't require two hands I have one hand preoccupied with work and the other is in my hair. If I do have to use two hands I get one hand back into my hair as soon as possible. I don't notice it a lot of the time, but it's really setting me back. I can't figure out why I'm doing this again, so maybe someone has some ideas on how I can stop pulling my hair out!

It's OK 1969ITS, thanks for being brave enough to tell us about this..please, get some help. Trichotillomania can be helped. You may need a 'regular' MD, a psychotherapist, bio-feed-back or even medication. You are not alone in this problem...many people have it, some pull hair from the head, eyebrows, lashes, etc. Are you enjoying your life and doing all the things you want to do? Boredom can lead to an exacerbation of hair pulling. Good luck...I pray you overcome it.

 

[Caramel Jewel]

You should work hard on stopping or it will never go away...why don't you try to substitute it with something else, that's not harmful, that you find relaxing....

 

[Denise11]

Don't be afraid. This can be taken care of with help from your Doctor. You don't have to have this forever.

Some people also pick their skin, bite the skin on their fingers, pull out their eyebrows and eyelashes, and some people even cut themselves. But with therapy and medication you can get rid of it.

 

[supermodelsonya]

I have this problem BAD!!! I would pull my hair out in the back just....because. It was something that I didn't do conciously...but I'd look up and I'd have hair that I pulled out in between my fingers. I don't know why.

It is something that I have curbed by keeping my hair in sew ins. That stopped the urge. Now that I'm in a constant bun, I don't have this problem a lot anymore.

This is something that can be stopped OP. I even pull out my eyelashes sometimes. Its just a nervous condition. You can overcome it.

 

[preciousstone]

I know exactly what you're talking about. I had a lil milder case of this but I clean pulled out a good chunk of the back of my head once.. and while in grad school i pulled out so much hair.. i had thinned edges.. i also would pull out my hair whenever there was new growth.. anything where i could feel the diff textures.. but it became an automatic thing that i was doing w/out knowing i was doing it.

it's come and gone over the yrs.. the more control i've had over my anxiety the better..

recently i started using more oils.. coconut oil to be exact.. and i had the runniness of it.. so whenever i put my hands on my hair.. i get this runny oiliness and i stop right at that moment..

dont worry.. you're not alone! focus on the underlying problem.. for me it really was a reaction to stress and anxiety... and somehow i also figured out that any kind of oil on my hands just is too icky and that helps too..

hth

 

[haitianchick]

I think I have this condition also. Unthink I could have a severe case because I pull me eyelashes, brows, the crown of my head and the back. Ice had to start wearing my glasses to keep from pulling my eyelashes out. I pull my brows to the point that there is no hair to pull and I pick at the skin until it bleeds. My mom and my English teacher would slap my hands away whenever they saw it near my face or head. I didn't know it was an actual condition thought it was just something I did.

 

[lowridin76]

Thanks everyone has been helpful. I guess someone would have to help me find out underlying causes because I can't think of it. I'm baffled because it's like I'm happier than ever, and finally having an easy time talking to and meeting new people. I did notice that the other day I was super stressed out, and I didn't pull my hair hardly at all that day. My mind felt like it was pulled in 10 million different directions, so I guess it kept me distracted.

 

[MissRissa]

yeah i have a very very mild case of this. i dont do it very much and i only do it in the very front of my head where my "widow's peak" is. I feel around for a hair until i feel one that feels "odd" then i rip it out from the root and play with it for a few minutes. there are people who feel compelled to bite the bulb (root). behavior therapy for this disorder is relatively successful. the discover channel has had a couple of specials about it. very intriguing.

 

[crazydaze911]

yeah i have a very very mild case of this. i dont do it very much and i only do it in the very front of my head where my "widow's peak" is. I feel around for a hair until i feel one that feels "odd" then i rip it out from the root and play with it for a few minutes. there are people who feel compelled to bite the bulb (root). behavior therapy for this disorder is relatively successful. the discover channel has had a couple of specials about it. very intriguing.

Pls let me know if you find out about that program. I have a similar problem. But i dont pull from the roots, i just play in the curls until they become knots and then pull out the knots. When i was in grade school i used to BITE my hair ends - NOT good for retention. i also bite my nails, play with my piercings, always have my hands on my mouth, laugh when i hear bad news, etc - many MANY nervous habits. I tried one of those hypnosis tapes for getting rid of anxiety, etc - didnt work and i felt dumb just listening to it - lol. 1969 - let me know how things work out for u.

 

[CandiceC]

I've never felt compelled to pull my hair, but I do have an issue of playing in my hair which I know has caused some unnecessary hair loss. I got it under control for about two years after joining the forum and then started up again. I'm a former thumb sucker and when I stopped sucking my thumb when I was younger I replaced it with playing in my hair. It's soothing.

I would suggest wrapping your hair up when you're at home. I'm about to do that now cause I had my hand in my hair before I got to this thread.

 

[Amber_moon]

Its called Trichotillomania. I have the same disorder, Ive had it since highschool. It comes and goes during times of extreme stress or when Ive just recovered from stress and am relaxing.

Ive never gotten rid of it I have to make concise effort to monitor it and stop myself. I can usually tell when I need to cut down on my activities and give myself a rest when I have a bald patch on my head.

I feel your pain. Sorry babe.

 

[Opalsunset]

Hey OP, I know what you are going through, I also have trichotillomania. I've had it for years now and i pulled quite a bit of hair from the kitchen, I was so tired of it that I just made up in my mind once I needed to stop and tried to make myself more aware of it, For about a year I was able to stop, I started using BT and it grew back in beautifully, but now that I have started college I get anxious at times, and also when Im bored or just unaware I tend to start bothering my hair again, it's something that can be treated but also self control can help it as well, you just have to be aware of it. It is rough though, believe me I know *Hugs*

 

[Joyful1]

Try taking a good calcium supplement twice a day (so you get two times the recommended daily allowance for it.)

 

[crazydaze911]

Try taking a good calcium supplement twice a day (so you get two times the recommended daily allowance for it.)

how would that help?

 

[CandiceC]

how would that help?

I'd like to know too.

 

[lowridin76]

Okay, so I've been trying a few different things. I started wearing my hair in a bun, but because I wanted to start doing that anyways. I stopped pulling my hair a lot, but sometimes if I'm bored, or not having some sort of constant stimulation I would take it down, and start pulling. The other thing that has helped is that I've started cowashing on a fairly regular basis. My hair has been so soft, and when I go to pull my hair...it's like my hands have no interest. Because I'm going in there and searching around for hair that doesn't feel "right" and pulling it. Since I've been cowashing, and really taking better care of it in general I have no interest in pulling it. I think the amount that I have stopped pulling has helped tremendously! I've finally added some new pics to my fotki album, so hopefully it's up from here.

 

[MileHighDiva]

 

[coolhandlulu]

Me too. i've suffered from all three conditions. Hair pulling, nail biting, and skin picking. Hair pulling hasnt been a problem since early childhood. I took care of nail biting by wearing acrylics. Helps witn skin picking too. But meds has been the best help for me. Whether there are issues going on that you can work on in your life or you have just sensitive to anxiety, you can beat this.

Also, find an activity to do with your hands. Crochet, knitting, embroidery, coloring, etc not only keep your hands occupied, but are great stress relievers.