Trichotillomania - just trying to spell it makes you wanna pull your hair out!
So, is it an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? An addiction? Or just a nervous habit?
The argument for OCD - the pulling comes on as an urge, an itch that you just have to scratch. No matter what you tell yourself, "Stop! Stop! Stop!" You just have to do it. The only way to get rid of the urge is to give in to it. It has a will of its own, so it seems.
Addiction - the plucking or pulling is connected to a psychological need - stress relief, tension relief, anger, self-blame or self-pity, boredom. These are many of the reasons given by smokers for their addiction. Or just something to do with our hands?
One thing that Abby Leora Rohrer says about it is that it is a habit pretending to be OCD. When we pluck we 'seem' to be doing something, but it's a totally passive activity, right? Its passivity pretending to be active. Look at when you do your most plucking: when you're fatigued, stressed, angry, overwhelmed, feeling insecure. When? For me it's usually fatigue and boredom; or overwhelm. Any combination of these is a sure-fire recipe for the plucking. Like today. But I stopped short of total destruction of the lashes, not that there were many there in the first place.
Start recording in a journal when you have the urge, what precipitated it, what were the emotions before, during and after; what were the physical sensations?
And remember - you're not along. I'm here for you. We'll work this out together.
Let me know what you think. This is a safe place to share yourself.
3 comments:
Thank you for sharing your advice! I also suffer from 'trich' (self-diagnosed), and I've been suffering from it for over 10 yrs.I knew it wasn't "normal" to pluck out your eyelashes for hours on end, but I thought that it was a habit that I could easily get over if I put my mind to it. Yeah, unfortunately it didn't work. I always gave in to the "compulsion", and left my eyelids with that much less eyelashes and partially swollen. Now since I know there are others that suffer from the same thing, and I will have a support system, I know for sure I/we can get through this! I think my 'trich attack' comes to me when I become bored. I am going to start keeping track of it, and pinpoint what triggers this urge, so I can stop giving in to it. Hopefully I will be able to update you on my success, and will also be able to check on you on you on your success. I wish you all the best of luck with conquering this unfortunate act, because I know that it is going to be difficult. But WE CAN DO IT!!!! I believe in you, I believe in us!!! We will definitely conquer 'Trich' and leave her behind, never to be thought of again!!!! Best Wishes.
I had it too, and I hated it. My eyelashes were almost all gone and I had bald spots in my eyebrows. I kept saying I would stop because it seemed silly, but it was like an addiction to drugs. My eyelashes would burn and ache until I pulled them out and then I would feel relieved. I tried to explain to my family, but they just didn't understand. Luckily, I decided that I really was going to stop because I hated not having eyelashes. I lowered how many I would pluck a day, hid my tweezers, and generally tried to stop thinkig about it. After about a month, I had stopped completely. Now, whenever an eyelash comes out of natural circumstances, I cringe and remember when I deliberatly plucked them out. I now think I kinda understand why people cut, because I would pluck when I was stressed or bored or sad.
Uhh.. Hi i have been suffering from "trich" for 2 years. it feels good to know i'm not the ony one who does it! I think i mostly pull when i am frustrated or out of boredrom. I am currently on some medication, and it has helped a little. I think i will start recording when i pull in a notebook. Thank you sooo much! I know if we put or mind to it we will be able to face it and stop!
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