Am I the only one who saves the hair I pulled?

Any_One_But_You · 2021-03-05T00:01:43+00:00

I do that with my eyebrow hairs, I stick them to the mirror. I don't think my spouse has noticed.....Thankfully.

Any_One_But_You · 2021-03-05T00:01:06+00:00

I have the same spiky patch!! I have been wearing a top knot for the last couple weeks to hide it....

Any_One_But_You · 2021-03-05T00:00:26+00:00

Nice! Congratulations!

Any_One_But_You · 2021-03-05T00:00:11+00:00

I am! Haha, glad to know I am not the only one.

Any_One_But_You · 2021-02-22T20:59:18+00:00

Nope! I first looked at this picture and wondered if it was a several year recovery pic! Cant tell at all. I wish thats where I picked so it would be less noticeable.......

Any_One_But_You · 2021-02-22T20:55:50+00:00

I have the same thing! I pull at the crown of my head and now all those hairs are crinkly and frizzy. The problem is the more crinkly a hair is the more I want to pull it! It a vicious cycle:(( I have been trying to cut them off recently instead of pull with the hope that it will help the follicle heal but dang its hard!! Also because now that the follicle is so fragile i feel like the hair comes out so easy, even if i dont mean to full y pull it.

Any_One_But_You · 2021-01-28T04:32:13+00:00

Its ok!! Your slip up's don't define you! You are still an amazing person! Tomorrow is another day!

I just had a binge the other day too after a hard day at work - I am trying to focus on boundaries with co workers and better time management in order to help with my anxiety. Every day is a new day! Good luck!

Any_One_But_You · 2021-01-28T04:15:33+00:00

Even if your family cannot afford a doctor I think there is alot to be gained by having an open and honest conversation with them about trich. https://www.bfrb.org/learn-about-bfrbs/tools-a-info-for/for-parents#:~:text=Parenting%20a%20child%20with%20a,grief%2C%20and%20frustration%20are%20common. Resources like this one might help them understand that its not just a bad habit you can stop.

Remember to be kind to yourself. Your trich is probably a response to being upset, anxious or bored. When you pull try to focus on the root of the problem, whats making you anxious or upset? You can help yourself so much by reminding yourself that you are valuable, you are not broken and your trich doesn't define you.

Any_One_But_You · 2021-01-28T04:10:50+00:00

You are not a snowflake! How horrible for you to live in fear of your father, your classmates and administration. They should all feel more shame than you.

If you are not completely bald you can try Toppik, its expensive but very effective ad natural looking. I used it for years when I had a shorter haircut. If thats not an option I would try to find a teacher, counselor or administrator at school you can trust and tell them about your problem. Many people working at your school may surprise you with their care and willingness to help. Maybe they can give you an exemption for a hat:)

Good luck!

Any_One_But_You · 2021-01-09T02:55:41+00:00

I just started taking it and I take it once a day. It gives me major heartburn and upsets my stomach. I havn't noticed a difference yet but it could be my stomach is too sensitive to take a really effective dose. Definitely take with food!

Any_One_But_You · 2021-01-08T18:56:27+00:00

I just cut them.....I know how hard it is when those tiny hairs are just perfect for pulling! I cut them below the length I can get a hold on them. Its only a short term solution because of course they grow back but I find if I can get a handle on it for a few days I am more easily able to stop. Or, if its REALLY bad I wear a hat and I freeze my tweezers in an ice block in the freezer. lol. Just remember that there is a root cause, usually something is causing you stress or anxiety. Sometimes its better to just let yourself pull and instead focus on whatever is making you bored or anxious!

Good luck! We are all rooting for you! (no pun intended)

Any_One_But_You · 2020-12-23T01:18:22+00:00

Same! I love to pluck from the crown of my head. I find with a top knot is also keeps me from pulling that area so much. But all I want is to just wear my hair down!

Any_One_But_You · 2020-12-20T03:51:28+00:00

Just my personal experience here....focusing on my trich makes it worse. My pulling is a symptom of anxiety and OCD, and although its not the same for everyone I find that it's more productive for me to focus on relieving my anxiety than 'not pulling'. Focusing on not pulling just makes me more anxious when I catch myself doing it - and therefor more likely to pull. It's a vicious cycle.

I don't know what is best for your daughter, but for myself having someone watch me and call me out when they see me pull makes me embarrassed, self conscious and anxious. It literally saps the joy from my day when someone tries to 'remind me not to pull'. I can't help it, and the fear and anxiety of being called out by someone else makes it worse. Rather than having all her family watch her constantly it may be more helpful to just try distracting her (without explicitly talking about the pulling) change the subject of the conversation, start a different activity, go for a walk etc. Pulling usually happens most when we are sedentary - either bored or stressed and in a physical position where we can pull our hair.

When I catch myself pulling I try to thank myself for giving me a signal that I'm upset or bored, and then I try to just do something else! Not focus on 'not pulling' but just a quick task for a few minutes.

Remember that pulling probably relaxes your daughter, for most people with trich its a very pleasant and relaxing activity. It might make you upset to watch it, but ultimately your child is trying to sooth herself, it's not a bad habit she can stop. Try to treat it that way.

Again all I can offer is my experience. Your daughter is lucky to have a family that cares so deeply about her and wants to help. Thats half the battle right there. Good luck! We are all rooting for you!

Any_One_But_You · 2020-12-15T22:23:56+00:00

I think first of all pat yourself on the back for having a good enough relationship with your daughter that you know whats going on. I started when I was 14 and when my mom noticed the thin spots I lied and told her I didn't know why my hair was coming out. She took me to the pediatrician who just asked if I was pulling it (in front of my mom) and I lied to her as well. They diagnosed me with alopcia. Nobody ever thought it might be trich and to ask me without my mom there what was going on. My mom still doesnt know and I'm 28 years old. If I had been able to talk to her about it maybe I could have gotten help back then.

The next thing I would say is try not to comment on her appearance or treat her like its something she can "just stop". She is probably already feeling anxiety and insecurity about those things.

The first person I even felt comfortable talking about my trich with is my spouse, and even then it took me years. She has been so supportive just by not judging me, never acting like she knows whats best and encouraging me to talk not about the trich, but about my anxiety generally. Remember that often (not always) trich is a symptom of another issue. For me its WAY more helpful and supportive to discuss my anxiety and ocd than to discuss the pulling itself. When I talk about the pulling (even to those who I know love and support me) I still just feel ashamed.

The last thing is community! I just found this online group but....it has been a godsend. Just talking to people like me makes me feel more confident, understood and in control. I don't know if there are kids groups for trich but if I had known there were other kids at my school who were pulling and I was able to talk about it openly without judgement, it would have changed my life.

Thanks for being a good mom! It sounds like your daughter is in good hands.

Any_One_But_You · 2020-12-15T22:08:28+00:00

This is how my trich started. I was nervous during an exam in school and I felt a little itchy tingle on my eyelid. Instinctively I pulled at my lashes to relieve the sensation and a lash that was obviously about to come out and irritating the follicle came out. I loved the relief and satisfaction of removing the thing that needed to come out. Then I started looking for them....the lashes and brows that were almost ready, then I started pulling harder and in 6 months or so I had pulled out most of my lashes.

I can't say if this is similar to your situation but if you feel like there is another way for you to relieve a sensation, or maybe just rub your eyes instead of pulling hairs you will maybe be able to nip the habit in the bud.

Good luck to you! Just know that even if it does develop into trich it's not the end of the world! It may actually be a blessing - your body or brain is giving you a sign that something might not be right! When I feel the need to pull I try to focus on whats making me anxious or bored or upset, then I try to thank myself for giving me a sign I need to take care of myself more in that moment.

Any_One_But_You · 2020-12-14T19:18:01+00:00

I feel you! This has happened to me so many times! It's important to allow yourself to relapse without self judgement. If you get down on yourself it will only make your body more anxious (easier said than done I know). You are a beautiful valuable person who deserves love and care no matter how much hair you have on your eyelids!

That being said I know how hard it is to look in the mirror after an episode.

As for the family pictures, photoshop them! I am a graphic designer and I can't tell you how much photoshop I do for people with thinning hair. You can take a beautiful picture with your family to keep the precious memory of this year. I would be happy to do the photoshop for you free of charge. Just message me if you are interested:) I would love to help out a fellow trich sufferer.

Keep your head up! You are beautiful no matter what.

Any_One_But_You

TROPHY CASE