What is Responsible for Your Hair Pulling?

What is responsible for your hair pulling?
Do you have an answer to this question?

Is it your childhood? Were you abused? Were you teased?
Were you a nail biter? Were your parents inattentive?
Were you worried about being perfect?

No matter what you answered, no matter what you think CAUSED your hair pulling,
those things aren't responsible for your hair pulling.

Then what is? Not what - who?

Ok, so you may think your parents, classmates, teachers, clergy, siblings, community, the world and/or God are responsible for your trichotillomania.
But you'd be wrong. And looking for answers there isn't going to free you.

Your parents, classmates, teachers, clergy, siblings, community, the world and God aren't suffering from your trich; they aren't even aware of it, chances are. They can't do a darn thing about it.

There is one person who can. Yes, of course.

You.

Yes, you. You are responsible for it, and at the same time you are responsible for healing it or freeing yourself from it.
What? It's your fault?
I didn't say it's your fault. Placing blame isn't going to create an opening for your freedom. Responsibility empowers you. It all lies with you.
You had the power and creativity to create this little coping mechanism, you have the power and creativity to release yourself from it.

How? See my post "Habit, Compulsion, or Addiction"
about taking a look at the cost/benefit balance sheet of your hair-pulling behavior.

Until next time.

Remember - this is a safe place to share your thoughts, feelings, insights, struggles - whatever! You can post a comment and it will be shared on the blog after I review it; or you can use the link on the sidebar to write me a note that you'd rather not share on the blog. All sharing can be done anonymously.
I'll discuss the powerful experience of coming out of the closet in the next post.