What is Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder) & how do we deal with it? 

Michaela Gee I know it’s the worst feeling ever

I mean it brings me pleasure

True

Michaela Gee and i feel like no one understand people always wanna sum it up to something easy whenn anxiety is far drom easy

I hate when I do it or people point it out because I feel embarrassed or I just regret it😔😕

+Hayley Robinson I understand :( What I did was telling them how bad I felt about it and that it wasn't just an addiction.. That helped me a lot, telling them how I really felt about pulling my hair

Thats a really good idea :D x

I feel you it's hard

ikr my doctor said that. I was thinking I would if it was that easy.

LollypopA Plays its easy for the other person to say that

Me too 😔

Me too 🙈

Damn

Its triggering me so hard

squashed potatoes same 😣

ayushi rastogi I feel it but I’d describe it as pleasure rather than pain

It feels as a relieve..

ayushi rastogi I know

I don’t feel pain either.

ayushi rastogi same

same. I've literally tried everything. I've dyed my hair, cut it short, nothing worked. I ended up getting 2 lace front wigs from a wig shop, and I wear the every day to stop me from pulling them:(

Asly Simpe i hope we can get rid of this habit 🥺

It’s so nice to see I’m not the only one. My hair used to be so thick and now it’s so so thin. If I don’t stop right now I’m going to be bald at age 25

@@KellyCK7 same dude. I have a huge thin patch on the top of my head I am so self conscious and I'm only 25

Jessica yes!! The whole top of my head is super thin and I’m 20! 😔😔 I wish we didn’t have this!!! Just know I’m rooting for you to be able to overcome it!!! I’m here with you and I’m trying really hard! It’s a struggle!

Dang we have so much in common

Sean Nash holy crap. Same, I am also 13years old and I also have trichotillomania and I also have a bald spot and I also get teased for it. I'm glad I can relate to someone my age x

Same ♥ :p

I started when I was about 10 years old but it didn’t start getting worse till I was about 13 years old. I remember being really alone and I was constantly picked on for my bold patches. I’m 16 years old soon to be 17 and I still have it but I’ve improved and no longer have bold patches but still pull it out on a daily basis. I hope things improve for you in the future and that you can relate to other people and get through this

It started for me at this age too

Same

well well well its back

hi guys i wrote this comment ages ago, i’ve been doing a lot better recently and all my air that i had pulled out has grown back, just remember you can do this and stop doing it.

Im scared to tell my parents about my condition

hey i think it’s best to tell your parents as soon as possible, they might be able to help you and get you therapy as that’s one of the best ways to deal with it. hope it goes well

me too

Same thooo

Me aswell

Same but my mom found another man who has trich

same

Thank you .. I just want to know that it's possible :( Sometimes I don't think it is

Can you please tell what a counselor tells you to stop this urge

This gives hope 💜

Thankyou! .. hope I feel.like tht soon.. But atm it feels like an impossibility 💔

Ys

I get that. I've had it since birth. My parents got mad at me for pulling my hair out and it was really difficult.

That's my sister! She'd be studying and you'd see her kinda stroking at hair at same spot. Only when she's sitting studying hard.

@@glorioskey do you have it?

No, my sister does. I have dermatillamania. And if there's a term for obsessed with pruning. My brother had something where words would repeatedly pop in his head, not that he couldn't control saying them, not bad words either.

Me exactly

Omg, i does the samw

+GreenSunshine95 It can be not trauma related. Because pulling your hair is something that hurts, when you hurt your-self you leberate adrenaline and that's really addictive. When you learn how it feels and that you like it you usually do it when you are stressed of depressed because you liberate also a lot of energy and of course, because it makes you feel good. That why it's common when you have some mental disorder

I'm in my second year of university, and I've been pulling my hair since the summer after first grade. There was no major trauma to cause it. *shrug* It didn't help that the therapist I used to go to for it only had one other patient with it I knew of, and said patient was a parrot.

Maybe it's a self inflicted punishment or stress coping mechanism. I get stressed and do it. But I do some things to punish myself too

not trauma related for me either. My mom is worried that she traumatized me when i was little because of it.

holy fuck i- was todays years old finding out this actually exists and i have this same thing omg i feel so relieved that i’m not alone

Yes that does count

me too omg constantly

same. i’m always picking at my spilt ends. i used to pull out hairs and now i don’t really anymore. i just pick at split ends. i thought i was the only one

Omg sameeeeeee

I used to do this. I seem to transfer areas. Legs arms split ends. I cut split ends now, it gives me the same satisfaction. I still split them after I cut them though o:

I pull my eye lashes out i been doing it since middle school . shit sucks

Tf race got to do w it lmao

Same I have locs and they’re getting super short 🙁

Facts.i have been doing it for yrs and never even know it was an issue till I was pulling for hours and when i ended I decided to Google "why I keep pulling my hair" and then I discovered it had a name😔 I wish I can get Tru this🙏🏽

Try to use Silver Sulfadiazine cream if it feels itchy. Othertiles, I use pure Salicylic acid. It works for me.

Hey I'm not sure if i have it but I've done all these things and i was wondering how u can be sure its trich i do other things that i dont think are trich but i cant stop pulling my hair (sorry if this is confusing u dont have to answer it lol) 🖤

Yes I've been doing it for 9 years and I hate it

yeah i wish people knew about this and didn't judge firstly

i have this problem really bad at the moment. just if you need someone to talk to about it.

Nickiii I will I eat my eyelashes and I lick them

So? Of course they are, time passes.

@@nickieb9656 me too🙄

Ur point ass clown?

Alex Pryse me too! I pull when I'm laying in bed knowing I have to do things fo school. Or when I'm at home alone doing homework, I pull without realizing it.

Alex Pryse I pulled my first eyelash at my grandmothers house in the bathroom infringe of the mirror

When I am bored I pull my eyelashes and eyebrows 🤷🏽‍♀️

Same

omggg yess and my eyebrows

I can relate to you. Hopefully things will get better

Yup its just a thing i can't even tell them

I'm exactly the same. It's so hard

Try going into a quiet spot and listening to calming music. It sometimes helps.

Hiii!do you want a friend?(NOT TO SOUND WEIRD)

same

Same

Same

Same

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Thankyou

thanks, i just heard of this disorder and up until now thought it was a "bad habit". im still getting over the fact i may have a mental disorder, but thanks. also...advice?

Don Hed I l know this is 2 weeks old but don't worry. I'm a guy too and I have this problem as well.

Don’t worry, I’m a boy, and I do suffer from this too. I think it’s most common among females, but I’m not sure

Don Hed I'm a 18 stone bricklayer who trained in MMA and boxing 5 days a week so it can happen to anyone! Not that I'm King Kong (just saying) lol

32 year old man. Always pulled body hair for years and years. I'd get in these fits where the pleasurable sensation of pulling out the hair would almost put me in a trance, and I would just keep doing it until I started to run out of hair to pull in that area. Last year, for the first time, I did it to the hair on my head one night. I was terrified once I looked in the mirror. I hadn't done that since, but two days ago I got really depressed and bored and started doing it again, pulling too much hair out of my head. It's scary, because it feels good to do at the time, and you don't want to stop, but then you have to deal with messed up appearances. You don't realize what you're doing until it's too late.

yes completely normal, a lot og guys just don't talk about it ususally.

I promise you, you are beautiful just the way you are. I'm not going to lie, I'm proud of who I am, and I have a big bald patch on the side of my head. Maybe try wearing gloves, or a cap. Good luck

You are not alone! I used to have thick eyelashes and know it is thin and short. I got you pal. 😉

I cant seem to keep eyelashes or eyebrows. I was able to stop pulling long enough to have my eyelashes back for a few months last year but that's it.

I started with my eyelashes. I remember my mom being freaked out when I was younger because I came in with only one eye with eyelashes. I ended up moving on to my eyebrows, luckily those are easier to draw on if you pull them all. Now I pull my head hair. I've been doing it so many years that it's stopped growing in some places.

I want the facebook with you i need to talk to you please

I do think parents can cause their kids to stress and wana yank their hair out .. looking back..yep

How much time it take to grow back hairs?

@@jjfelix2408 A while , but it will happen once you stop

my scalp was bleeding so i had to find a bonnet this is crazy! 🤦🏾‍♀️

same my eyelids where my eyelashes grow are sore and they itch and the itching makes me wanna pull more

That's exactly what I m feeling right now

Me too

I have been where you are ...I had hair that would stick up because it was baby hairs growing back in from where I picked it ...just mom dsnt understand so at best write in a journal...you will be older in a few more years. ..you are doing great finding videos to learn from like this ..I'm 40 and still do it .

What did u do to do it in a healthy way

@@chanelxoxox eh sorry to say i relapsed one year later and now im bald all over again and struggling to stop 😶 Idk anything anymore

Stress, anxiety and depression... I am going through it

Coder L.T Army here for the same reason ❤️

You should watch @meganprosser

Hey has your hair grown back?

Can I talk about this with you, I’m 16

Please see a doctor. Its not just a bad habit and it doesnt go away on its own

I’m 17 and I’ve had it for literally as long as I can remember and I’m trying to start the process of breaking the habit, so pls don’t give up

If you guys need someone to talk to about it I’m here I’ve had this for many years too and I’m 18

If you guys need someone to talk to about it I’m here I’ve had this for many years too and I’m 18

Even i have this problem of pulling eyebrows from the middle to the start area of the eyebrow. It feels so soothing while you pluck them each one by one although i know that gonna be so awkward ending up as a white patch with no hair at all. It feels embarrassed when i look at myself in the mirror. However i kind of stopped doing for a while but started doing the same without my notice. I have no idea how ill stop doing this.

Me too and my dad literally scolded me bc I had nice thick hair and long too and now it's less than an inch long and I only tend to do it for the top of my head in some places and btw I had feed In braids and I still found a way to pull and eat it I hate myself for it😭😩

Yess boss

I was about 6 when I started hair pulling and I’m turning 13 in a month now and I have experienced everything you’ve said I do the same I just randomly pull my hair for no reason without even realising the damage I’ve done when I get up form that room I look at the floor and see how much hair I pulled out it it was so confusing for a 6+ girl to just see that and think why am I different my whole life until a few months ago I thought I was weird, that I was different and that there was no one like me and I hated that feeling it made me feel alone so I’m so happy that there are other people that have experienced the same thing as I and I just want you to know that you’re not alone and I feel a lot of envy for those who have long and healthy hair every time I see someone with nice heathy hair I can’t help but fee jealous and beat my self up in my head saying look what you’ve done to your self if only you could’ve been less stupid and pulled it all out my hair isn’t as soft and healthy as it used to and it’s very rough instead washing my hair isn’t an easy job either but KTC 100% pure coconut oil has helped me a lot it grew a lot of my hair back and made me happy again I used to put it on my hair and massage my scalp in it for about 10 mins and then either leave it in for a few hours or overnight and then my mum would wash my hair for me and wash it out properly so there was nothing left and I did that for about a year in 2020 and my hair grew more than I expected it almost looked normal but things went down hill when I started hair pulling again and learned how to shower myself when I wash my hair it feels soapy and hard to wash weirdly and the oil makes it worse which makes me not want to put it on I think that my mum knew how to wash my hair properly and that’s how my hair grew back the way it did back in 2020 but I personally the key is to wash your hair properly and as embarrassing as it is to say I don’t think I can but I’ll try and watch some videos that show how to wash your hair properly anyways this disorder definitely makes me procrastinate too it had made me not want to go somewhere so many times and stop my fun and any time I go somewhere with my hair shown I feel anxious and only care about how my hair looks because I don’t want people to judge me by my hair and that is why I started wearing a scarf but I think that might’ve been the wrong desision as I think it’s thinning my hair because I wear it 8 hours a day for 5 days and unfortunately it will take time for your hair to grow back mine is still growing and still looks horrendous but I’m trying my best also I don’t think your hair will be the same as before and please don’t and buy all these expensive fancy products that promise you amazing hair because they’re just a waste of money and just a scam instead maybe try getting a vitamin C shampoo and conditioner and try having iron tablets and your regrowth of hair could take years unfortunately about 2-4 or maybe even 6 if you’re unlucky like I said coconut oil will help your hair grow thicker and you should also try castor oil writing this has helped me a lot to share my feeling and I hope it helped you too and whoever else may be reading this thank you so much for reading this and I wish everyone who has this disorder or who has bad hair hairs grow back healthier than before, as well as mine thank you for you’re time have an amazing day :)

Wow girl you have the same name as me. My name is also Melissa diaz and I have the same disorder trich... random loll

tropicalgirl54 I am the same! it's so hard to stop, I think my trigger is boredom and stress as well :(

Melissa Diaz l

I think we all need a hobby like knitting or drawing or beadwork or something

shadowkestra around 6-8 years old I had no eyebrows or eyelashes, now I look back and yeah.....it looks like that.💀😂

What meds did you use

Same

Yeah it helps a little bit

Its horrible, isn't it. Well done on your two months! I have been asked by multiple people if I have "Shaved the side of my head?" They don't mean it to make me awkward, they are just curious. But I promise you that you will be OK. Maybe wear a cap or a hat when you can, that has helped me!

Me too 😭😭😭

It's that one spot that feels so good and when you get the little bulb to come out too, especially when it's a small hair is sooooo satisfying

When you have one of those sessions you are in a manic state, you are really worked up about something, take a moment to think about what is really going on and then do something soothing and calming for yourself, sooth your eyebrows with creams and water massage your temples and try to relax.

JJPlaysMC I know how you feel,I will stop for a period of time,then I will pluck so many out and I tell myself to stop but I can't

Cassandra Stylinson that's exactly what happens, 😞

I have the same thing I do it to both my eye lashes and eyebrows. I have hade it so bad that the ends of my eye brows are almost completely gone and now have a bald spot in my eye lashes I just want to have it so it stops. I get it when I am nervous or have anxiety. I always have had anxiety but it has gotten better I thought. but how I would stop the anxiety was to pluck my eye lashes and eyebrows.people look at my eyelashes and laugh and say u have a bails spot in your eye lashes but I try to act like I don’t know what they are talking about I am so glad that I looked it up on the internet because I thought it was just me I hope this will help me thank u.

Same ,i try to stop but sometimes i dont even realize that im picking and everyone stares and judges put i cant do anything about it and i just pick

Literally not even lying I’m in the exact same boat as you, I was 15 when the trauma happened(assault, I don’t feel okay to say the R word right now) and although I told my sister she said I’m lying, it’s my fault and I just want attention. I never told my mum to because we lost our connection when something happened with her and me. I’ve been told that most disorders can start from trauma. I know you may have wrote this comment awhile ago but I want you to know that it’s okay to not feel okay and that although it’s hard to seek professional help you should try to. I’m almost 21 and it started around 14-15, I say 14 because something else happened around 14 and a half years old and that’s when it started really. And I’m only just getting help 7 years later. Also do not feel like it’s not a problem even if sometimes you don’t do it and sometimes you do, that’s still tritch and still means you have an issue. Just hearing about this gives me pulling urges.

Absolutely. It *is* anxiety related. There might not be anything else related to it. You're not doing it TO hurt yourself, are you? Not like if you were cutting yourself or burning yourself to feel the pain. Now that you are an adult, you might want to revisit the idea of seeing a therapist to work through the trauma you experienced, not just being raped, but your abusive ex-boyfriend, alcoholic mother, etc. Surely those experiences have left imprints on your psyche, so it might be something you want to explore if you are having mental/emotional/anxiety issues.

@@DEATHVIAL, first of all, I am so sorry you experienced being assaulted. Second, thank you for encouraging this young lady. It really helps to remember that we are not alone and that people care, even if we only know each other for a second or two reading a comment in a thread.

@@DEATHVIAL I told my sister a while ago about me thinking I have it and before I told her I did hours of research at night the day before and almost stayed up all night when I told her she didn’t believe me and she said I was over reacting I had rlly low self esteem after and then a few months later which was in December I told my older sister who’s a pharmacist I thought it would be best to tell her as she’s a pharmacist and might know so I told her and then she asked me question and I answered them and then she told me about when I was about 6/7 my sister and mum searched it up and they booked me a doctors appointment but I lied for most of the questions anyways so they prolly thought I didn’t have it anyways I wanna tell her I wanna get diagnosed and see if I can get help but I’m too afraid and anxious to do so cos if I do she might think I’m seeking attention when I just want help she also told me that it’s all in your head or soemthing which I think is true because I searched it up and it says it’s soemthing to do with repetitive brain signals so yeah

Mostly Anxiety related, and maybe boredom. I have bad anxiety, so I assume this relates to my condition. I'm sorry that you have these problems aside Trich. I hope they improve!

Until you wont be able to stop. I also thought this some years ago...😭 Hope it doesn't happen to you

@@queraltvivocasanovas It didn't. I only did it one more time after that comment. (:

Thank you for this comment 🌻

it gives me satisfaction too, i wear a bandana on my head to prevent the urge to do it, it helps a little bit :)

Yes, yes, yes! Exactly how I feel.

Bobbi J Same here 😢

Same. Is this trichotillomania?

@@klarisa1784 yes

this is me. The feeling it gives

Hope you overcame it 🌈

Me too

Same Edit: started at 8. I'm 29.

SAMEEEE🥺😔

Rip me too😅 I only pull from the back half of my left eyebrow tho

Same 😪

@Tansy Thomson No. Bald as an egg. Been drawing them on since i was 17.

@Tansy Thomson sometimes, but usually it's to compliment the drawn eyebrows and then they ask what happened to my hair.

I've been doing the tangled one and I just either untangle them or rip them out entirely now

How much time take to pulled hairs grow back?

@@jjfelix2408 1/2 in per month on average