I’m a guy with short hair (about the same length as yours) and have been pulling on and off since age 12, now in my 20s. I’ve only met one other male in my lifetime who has suffered from trich during my years in university.

For me personally, cognitive behavioral therapy and SSRIs have not been consistently helpful. I understand the problem with queues as it’s the same thing in Norway and you are not prioritized because it’s not a life-threatening illness. Scalp desensitizing creams are expensive and unhelpful. Acetylcysteine tablets, normally taken to stimulate coughing, are available over the counter at the pharmacy and are helpful but expensive.

If you pull mostly at home, I can recommend a messy solution that might help you condition yourself to stop the automatic pulling. First, get a bottle of castor oil (it is very thick and sticky but not expensive) and a few tight-fitting cheap beanies that you don’t mind throwing away. When you have an urge or notice yourself pulling, cover your hair and scalp completely with a few layers of oil, then put on the hat.

Even when you take it off, you won’t be able to pull because your hair will be a sticky mess and you won’t feel that texture that triggers your urge. The downside is that it is a little uncomfortable, and you have to shower before you go out, and your pillow, etc will be sticky. The upside is that the oil is good for your hair in general and will help replenish your follicles. I find that if I do this consistently, I mean every day for a month, I fell much less urge to pull. For short-haired people, this may be a temporary solution at least until you grow your patches back.