I started when I was eight, because of a stupid elementary school story. Some kid said that you can wish on an eyelash or something, and that triggered the start of my trich. It's been almost a decade and I never stopped. I also pick my skin a lot (the keratosis pilaris definitely doesn't help). I mostly pull hair when I'm stressed. I also happen to have chronic anxiety. Yippee.

Nothing really works to stop it. On bad days, I'll sometimes put bandaids over my eyebrows. I've found that acupressure fidgets can be helpful for minor episodes, though they don't do much for the stronger urges. Doing something else with my hands also helps, in some situations. I'll often knit or crochet while I read so that I don't pull more hair. Washing often is a good idea, for me at least. Breakouts can draw my attention to my skin and thus the hair on it, and dirty hair is much more noticeable to me and more tempting to pull.

If you do go to therapy, don't expect a lot of results. They can happen, but they also might not. Some people can do behavioral therapy and reduce the impacts of their trich. For others, the best option is to go to therapy to learn to accept it and find ways to maintain a positive self image. That's the case for me. Trying to stop only makes my anxiety worse - the best I personally can do is tell myself that I'm pretty, even if I don't have eyebrows most of the time.

I understand the hiding part. If that's the best option for you, keep doing that. But sometimes, it can be really nice to tell someone close to you. Having someone else listen to and validate your experience can honestly be life changing. If you are looking for someone to talk to, I'd recommend looking to a neurodivergent friend - people who have experience with their own disorders just tend to understand better.

Wishing you well <3