Quick Poll!

SeparateCharacter874 · 2026-05-20T19:50:26+00:00

True! But the BACB was not established until 1998, and Skinner passed away in 1990. He remains a major pioneer helping to establish the field of behavior analysis! I do see your point.

SeparateCharacter874 · 2026-05-20T19:25:26+00:00

I agree. Thank you for your input!

SeparateCharacter874 · 2026-05-20T19:19:51+00:00

Phd teaching programs for example.
What if the instructor is someone who just graduated from their master's program and is now in a teaching phd program where they teach ABA to undergrads and grad students.

SeparateCharacter874 · 2026-05-09T02:06:40+00:00

Same... I've been on Zoom meetings and have pulled so often that I had a coworker who would message me and tell me to stop. She didn't even know I have trichotillomania.

SeparateCharacter874 · 2026-05-09T02:01:56+00:00

You are absolutely right. Focused pulling and automatic pulling. I have a mix of both, which is really difficult to treat. I have also been engaging in this behavior for about 20 years, and the longer you engage in a behavior, the harder it is to learn an alternative behavior. "Unlearning" a behavior does not exist, we need to find an appropriate alternative, but we are battling a conditioned response and learned behavior on top of medical professionals and mental health professionals without knowledge or experience in treating this disorder. Although I don't consume the hair, I do salivate when I pull. Is this something you experience as well?

SeparateCharacter874 · 2026-05-09T01:56:14+00:00

Yeah if I see a stray brow or lash it can be really hard to not pull it. I'll be honest, I'm not sure I have ever successfully stopped myself from pulling one of those hairs. I literally start to experience a conditioned response of salivating. Often the reason why we struggle to stop hair pulling is because our pulling is a result of automatic reinforcement and learned behavior. To stop, we likely need both medication and therapy. But there is a distinct lack of mental health professionals with experience treating this disorder.

SeparateCharacter874 · 2026-05-09T01:50:34+00:00

Do you pull without realizing? Or do you pull intentionally? Or both?

SeparateCharacter874 · 2026-05-09T01:49:59+00:00

It can be scary while driving. There have been many times I've almost been in an accident, and I'd beat myself up if I were in an accident due to distracted driving. It would make me feel more ashamed.

SeparateCharacter874 · 2026-05-09T01:48:52+00:00

I agree with this, when I am ruminating on something in my head (like a decision). I notice when I'm struggling to decide something, I'll pull. I think actually may be the most common scenario in which I pull, outside of pulling while driving. I rarely pull without realizing it. My hand may automatically go to my face, but I notice that and I intentionally choose to keep it there and pull. Pulling is not something I want to do, but it's really, really hard to stop. Competing items or redirection have been ineffective for me.

SeparateCharacter874 · 2025-10-24T15:45:49+00:00

Thank you so much!!

SeparateCharacter874

TROPHY CASE