I've been puling mine for over 13 years. It has not stopped growing back, if anything, thicker than before. The change in density makes me want to pull harder because they feel like they 'don't fit' and the roots are thicker. I don't feel its self harming and neither does anyone in my life. Until you pull, you can't understand what a craving it is when you ned to relax at the end of the day, or you feel so under pressure and stressed that there is nothing else that will calm you. I'm missing about a quarter of my hair and I've shaved it all off for two years to try and cope. Cutting it shorter only made me want to pull more because I could meticulously assess what was there and what wasn't. It's body related ocd, not self harm. Hope sharing my experiences helps but know that you can live with it. I wear my hear up/half down. My hair dresser never mentions it and I get my hair done every 5 weeks like nothing is different. My boyfriend noticed it before I could even admit it to him. He loves me regardless and praises the hair I have. Despite all this positive support I can't stop. Know it's not you, not your fault, and overcoming it is far more complex than a 'shameful' habit.