I’ve only just discovered that this exists and i think that it is amazing that there are finally places people can come to when they need support from people who actually understand what its like living with trich. When i first started pulling, i was far too ashamed to admit to it, i was around ten and really scared. So when my parents took me to the hospital, the doctors didnt have a clue what was wrong with me, as there havent been many cases of this in scotland before, so they put it down to attention seeking which pretty much made my life hell as my parents blamed me for what was happening.
I’d never felt so alone in my life until about 2 years later when i was finally diagnosed with trich, and by this time i was more or less completely bald and suffering from terrible bullying and anxiety attacks. I basically tried everything to stop myself, but it was almost impossible. Im 19 now and ive been pull free for about 2 years now, and ive never felt stronger. Since i know exactly what its like to deal with this on your own, i completely understand how all of you feel and if you ever need anyone to chat to please just get in touch. I didnt use any medications or anything because i was never offered them, the thing that worked best for me was just good old fashioned will power, and of course i still get so many urges and down days about it but then i just tell myself that im a young women living her life alongside having trich, not a young women letting trich run her life.
Ive been right to the very bottom then right to the very top only to pushed back down again, but you honestly can beat this! I wish all of you the warmest wishes and support, just stay strong and remember, no matter how bad you feel, your not alone, and you are beautiful 
My name's Penny, and I started OnTrich (a trichotillomania blog) to try and raise awareness about hair pulling, and also as a way to help me deal with my own pulling. I'm a 22 year old girl from the UK and I've been pulling for 12 years. Get in touch if you want to chat or need any help - I love meeting people here.
This is such an inspiring post, thank you so much for getting in touch with me and posting it. I especially love this:
“Ive been right to the very bottom then right to the very top only to pushed back down again, but you honestly can beat this! I wish all of you the warmest wishes and support, just stay strong and remember, no matter how bad you feel, your not alone, and you are beautiful”
Encouraging as always to hear other peoples stories about their experinces with trich, knowing we’re not alone makes us stronger. And it’s always nice to be told we’re beautiful
Thanks Lisa x
Lauren´s last blog ..unclelauren: @ontrich Great post, always encouraging to hear other peoples stories. New site theme looks fab btw
Hi, I’m about to turn 50 and still I’m doing this. I’m dating a guy I knew from high school and I’mm afraid he or his little girl will notice
and say something. I’m afraid he’ll ask and think I’m a psycho when I tell him. I’ve done this since I was a little girl. I have a small bald spot at my crown and I’m afraid it won’t grow in anymore.
That is similar to me, I pull from the crown. All I can say is it should grow back, it just might be a little more coarse. I hope you can get the courage to tell someone about this. I can’t talk to many people, but I did tell my boyfriend and he did completely understand. It has helped me so much.
~Penny
I still can’t tell boyfriend. It seems I pull most often while I’m in the car. It doesn’t matter if I’ve got quite a commute or just doing errands around town. I seem to look in the mirror, see a gray hair sticking up and pull it while at the stop light. Also, if I can’t see my hair and I’m anxious or bored, I’ll feel either a different texture hair or shorter hair (alot of those now!) and will pull. Sometimes I will talk myself out of it. Other times I consciously let myself go ahead. Very strange and I don’t understand how or why I operate this way. Is there anywhere where I can be accountable (online) and say if I’ve pulled and how many? Kind of like a weightwatchers weigh in for hair pullers? I think that would be helpful if I were accountable to someone who is going through the same thing and to be accountable on a daily basis.
I pull most often when I’m tired or before I go to sleep. A lot of the time I don’t even know I’m doing it and it scares me. Parts of my eyelashes are bare and I find myself making up what seem like the weirdest stories to tell people who don’t know about my habit. I don’t understand what it is about these little hairs that feels so good, but I find myself unable to stop. I cry when I realize the damage I’ve done but that doesn’t stop me from pulling at a later time.
Your story is inspiring and I’m happy that you have found the strength to resist your urges. I hope that I can one day find this strength as well.