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 
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
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.-= 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.
I’ve been pulling hair out since I was 15…if I can remember. And I am still doing so at 20. I know that I am doing it but I just can’t seem to stop it. I stop for a while and my hair tends to grow back but I just start doing it again later on. I don’t know whats wrong with me. I know that its an disorder. I cry when I noticed that I over did it. I tell myself just only a little but most of the time I do it till there is a bald tiny spot there. I really wish I could stop.
Miss Tina – I understand, it can be a vicious cycle sometimes between starting and stopping, especially when the hairs grow back short and thick and make us want to pull them more. Just remember, we all want to stop but we can still be who we want to be even if we can’t stop. Trichotillomania is just a part of our life but it doesn’t define who we are.
hi! i started pulling my eyebrows about a year and half ago. it started because I was anxious with my studies and it turned into a really bad habit, that turned into a compulsion. no one never noticed the problem, but when someone noticed the bald spots i would tell them that I over-plucked.
a while ago, I realized that when my brows start growing and looking normal i am less likely to pull them. But it is was difficult for them to grow and look normal, that I decided to try Latisse (on my brows) to speed up the growth and in two weeks both of them look normal and i don’t feel like I want to pull them anymore because they are so pretty. I just pray that it stays like this and that I stop pulling it for once.
Kate-e-lyn, you could consult a doctor and ask for a prescription for Latisse, since you can use it in the eyelashes, it might aid in your treatment.
I wish you girls all the best!
Maria – I am really glad you’re eyelashes are looking normal again, good luck with continuing to keep them that way
Thanks for sharing your tip with us all!