Do I have Trichotillomania?!


Question: Do I have Trichotillomania?
I've been pulling out my eyebrows for three years and was only able to let them grow back in full once. I do it subconsciously and consciously. I sometimes pull out my eyelashes too but try to stop myself. I've been trying to stop myself from pulling out my eyebrows but it's SO DIFFICULT for some reason. I also pull out hair in other areas such as the little "invisible" hairs on my face and sometimes the hair just under my bangs (the long strands under my visible bangs).

Some other areas include hair around my belly (also invisible hairs since I'm a girl) and yes, my pubic hair, even though I normally have it shaved off, I find the ones that are left and get them off. I also pick my nose hairs obsessively almost everyday because I don't like them. I do, however like my eyebrows and want them to grow back. I have gone 6 days with minimal plucking but it's so hard not to.

I have anxiety and depression problems but have just heard of Trichotillomania recently since I was looking up why I might love plucking my own hair out so much.

Is there any hope? I really want to stop.

Answers:

i used to do the same thing, and still sometimes pull my eyelashes, so believe me, i know exactly how you feel! I was constantly teased for not having any eyebrows, and now only get by through wearing eye liner everyday. after about 3 years, I had had enough,and had gotten depressed and had thought i was worthless, so i gave myself a goal - i would stop plucking my eyebrows for a day, then I would reward myself by having a treat, like a bowl of ice cream. then i would say a week, and at the end i would go for a manicure. i eventually got to the one month mark, and had fully grown eyebrows, and it feels amazing not to think everyone is staring at you for not having eyebrows, and i gained a lot of self confidence.
it was EXTREMELY hard, butevery timee i wanted to pull them, i would think about how I wanted to look, and how i needed to beat this. now, i still go through times when i pull, but i stop myself before it becomesnoticeablee, and now get my eyebrows tinted every month as a reward for not pulling. i'm working on my eyelashes through the same method, andhaven'tt pulled them in a week.
i would recommend you find a way to do the same, focusing on one piece of hair that you pull, rewarding yourself for each amount of time you go without pulling, and keep doing that. it will be worth it when your done :)

sorry for such a long answer, and I really hope you found this helpful :) if you need any more information or tips, inbox me.




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