I suffer from Trichotillomania where i pull my eyelashes / brows out when i'm anxious or upset etc. I can normally stop myself from going too mental when i realise i'm doing it but...

My hubby left on a week long business trip today, my puppy chewed my new handbag & i'm worried about a doc's appointment tomorrow and i have noone to talk to since hubby is away and being the stupid idiot that i am i have just gone and removed the entire bottom row of lashes on both eyes! I didn't even know i was doing it and now i can't stop crying because i look freakish on top of everything else going on!

Why do i do this to myself? Why can't i stop?

I'm sorry folks i just had to vent to someone the one thing worse than having a lot on your plate is being alone with a lot on your plate!

Does anyone know any techniques to kick a trich habit?

i dont know how you can stop it other than trying to remain occupied!

I too have a problem similar to this and I have had to stop because my children noticed. Its hard especially when your alone - my partner does a lot of nights and when I get upset it sends me on a downward spiral.

Sometimes we feel we must punish ourselves when really we dont have to - not sure if that makes any sense. I get on the self destruct button when I sit down and think too much.

Kate x

Hi there sorry I cant offer any words to help you I would love to take that full plate of yours off your hands and give you an empty one back
good luck at the doctors and hopefuly things wont be as bad as they seem nowxxx:hug :

try coating your lashes/eyebrows in some sort of oil or vaseline, perhaps when you come into contact with it, it won't feel nice and make you think a bit about not pulling/tugging at your hairs? I have no professional training, it's just a thought. Or perhaps you could try the 'self-harming' route of putting ice cubes on your eyes/brows instead of pulling at them. I am told (by my niece who is a self harmer) that this takes her pangs away. I hope this helps.
Alison

I wish i could suggest something that will help but I can't.
just wanted to give you a

Oh hun, sending you big hugs. Try and relax and not worry about things so much and you'll get less stressed. Perhaps even yoga or something could help you xx

Thanks for all the support i really appreciate it!

I'm just off to get some nice false lashes on and hopefully i'll feel better.

xxx Big Hug back to you all xxx

Maybe a relaxation tape from a hypnotherapist would help, or even a single session with one., as it seems this behaivour happens at times of stress. Try to learn to recognise it and be ready for it when it happens.

For severe stress related problems I went down this route several years ago and it worked wonders.

Meanwhile, I keep a bottle of the pinkie size solar oil purely for eyelashes, a light coat at night time helps keep them supple and assists in growth.


Hope you get it sorted.

My hubby has suffered from this for years and I fear my youngest is going the same way (he is always biting his knuckles and biting hair from his arms!) I did a search on google a while back to try and find a cure but my hubby wouldn't even look at what I found, I think he is embarrassed. I think speaking with your doctor would be the best option.

Just to let you know that you are not alone, this is probably more common than you think. Most people don't even know that this habit is a condition so well done for raising awareness.

Take care xx

There are websites and forums for the condition but i never go on them!

Most of the people on the site have had something traumatic happen in their lives which caused them to pull in a self harm / control kind of way, My mum tells me i started as a toddler and used to tell her i liked the feel of pulling them out.... See i was always a weirdo!

I only learned their was a name for it about a year ago but even still i feel different from the other sufferers as i haven't had a traumatic life i just somehow started doing it and liked the feeling and now it's a subconscious comfort when i feel low. I don't even know i'm doing it!

I'm sure that the people you read about on the web pages are only highlighted because they have had trauma in their lives. My hubby has had a normal childhood and so does my son. I think it's just a "thing" some people do, just like some people bite their nails, crack their bones etc.

My husband doesn't realise he has done it either. I see him do it when watching tv and he is really concentrating. I think stress can make the problem worse though, just like a nail biter's habit worsens when under stress. His idea was to wear gloves when he feels like doing it, not sure how practical that would be though!

He sounds just like me! I dunno about gloves as if he's anything like me he won't know when he's gonna do it so would have to wear gloves all day!!!
We really don't know were doing it and we don't know when were going to!

Just got my false lashes on and i feel much better, puppy is also forgiven and hopefully the doc will go easy on me!

oh hunny -i cant imagine what you going thro to cause this - but i feel for ya