Still pulling hair and eyelashes

MOPS.... mothers of preschoolers?
Moms On Prozac Sedation?
Murdurous Off Prescription Sedatives?
???? explain please. hee hee.

I hope the Zoloft helps.
Sit on your hands or learn to knit or something and stop pulling your hair, ding dong. ;) (Yah, I know, and I just need to eat, right? )

I miss Prince too. So much.

So how young is your new doctor? is he cute?

Trich,
I just came across your blog today. I have been struggling with eyelash and eyebrow pulling for quite a few years. Perhaps you can give me some tips. I want to try to go one day without pulling but I need someone to report to...someone to hold me accountable...

Hi Cody,

My name is Shaina Feinberg. I am a trich sufferer too. Though I have now been pick-free for just over a week! I am a writer and I live and work in New York City. I have had some form of trich since I was in 6th grade...I am now 30 years old. I am really interested in hearing the stories of other women who suffer from trich and possibly doing some kind of piece--either written or radio--about trich sufferers. If you'd like to tell me more about your story, I'd be very glad to listen. Email me at shainafeinberg@gmail if you would like chat.

Thanks!
Shaina

Hi! I just found this site because I was seaching about eyelashes growing back. I too am a tric sufferer - for me it is mostly my eyelashes and for me too, it is worse in times of stress - currently i have several lash bald spots - I do pretty well covering it up with eyeliner (which I would wear anyway) but it's still embaressing - even when I'm the only one who knows about it really! I've finally told my boyfriend and my therapist about it - which is a relief of sorts but it's hard because I feel like such a freak - what a strange thing to not be able to control, you know? But it is finidng websites like this and realizing that there are A LOT of other people that do the same thing that helps me feel a little less alone in my oddball compulsion to pluk out my lashes - They do grow back but I am always afraid that one day i will have damaged them too much and they will stop. Fals eyelashes are a pain and seem like too much work and they LOOK fake most of the time. Honestly, I will look at people's eyelashes whereever I go and be jealous - when they are there and I can stop from plucking them, mine are so nice- they are dark and long and compliment my eyes so well, but I just can't stop myself - I'll even be telling myself to stop while plucking sometimes. it's so hard, and so frustrating! Anyway, thanks for your courage for writing this blog and helping all of us eyelash pullers feel at least a little bit less like freaks!

I started pulling out eyelashes when I was in 2nd grade. A kid in my class had an eyelash on his face and the teacher told him to make a wish and blow it away.
So every once in great while I'd pull one out to make a wish. I always had full long beautiful lashes....
Then when I started wearing makeup if I didn't have eye makeup remover I'd pull the mascara off of my lashes.
But I didn't really have problems. It wasn't until last October when I started habitually pulling out my eyelashes. It started with the sensation of having soming in my eye. (like an eyelash) Then it went from me pulling out the eyelash, and then it ended up turning into me sitting in the bathroom for hours picking at my eyes until they became puffy, watery, and red.
I ended up picking out so many eyelashes that I had bald spots. At first just one eye, then both, then I pulled them all out to make them look even. Then I went from the top to the bottom. I stopped for awhile, and then they grew back completely. That lasted for a month, and then I did it again. It turned into a habit because when the lashes grow back they poke at your eyes.....
At the same time I was started pulling out my lashes I went to shape up my eyebrows, and I ended up making them crooked. I ended up trying make them balanced and ended up plucking them down to almost nothing, and then just plucked them all out. I don't do the eyebrow thing anymore, but eyebrows don't grow back like eyelashes. (plus you have to pluck the ones that grow back in odd spots...) My eyebrows are still in the process of returning to normal, but I don't care so much about that because it's not noticable like not having EYELASHES. I pick at little "chin hairs" or "cheek hairs" because I'm paranoid that I'll have these long hairs on my face like my mom and sister.... In fact I have calloused fingertips from where I pull at non-existant hairs.
But back to eyelashes...
I went from pulling them out with my fingers to using tweezers. I'll stop for a few days and pluck the regrowth, or I'll stop for 2 weeks and they'll almost be back to normal (well where you look like you have all your eyelashes, but just shorter) and then my eyes will start bothering me (it feels like something is in it) and I'll start pulling them out again.........
I go places and look at other people's eyelashes, and wonder if they can tell I don't have any. If I'm standing in front of someone and I can see their's, are they able to tell about mine?
2 people I know asked me about it on 2 separate occasions, and I was embarrassed and self conscious. I don't like people getting to close to me now for fear they'll notice.
I used to never be like this at all! Like I said it all started last October, and has been going off and on for almost a year.
And in the past couple of months I've been having trouble breathing, and I'll have to sigh and yawn to get a breath. I get light headed and achey, and my heart palpitates. (I guess I developed an anxiety disorder) But in my defense, when I went to the doctor last week for swollen lymph nodes, and strep they told me my lungs weren't at full capacity. I also had a miscarriage back in June, and at that time my doctor told me I had a low platelette count..........Anyway, most all of the things I've been talking about is caused by nerves. But this eyelash thing has got to stop! The anxiety is getting worse. I can't stop thinking that everyone will notice...
I've been contemplating on whether or not to get falsies, but I'm scared when I go to remove them they'll pull out any regrowth.
I hope when you guys read this you'll be able to relate. That's one nice thing about the net, you can remain faceless and it makes you less insecure about discussing these types of things. I am going to go to the doctor and talk to them about this, because I'm lyterally making myself sick!

hi, i just found out that their is a disease called trench. i found out by my psychology teacher. i thought i was the only one who pulled out my eyelashes but im not. i started to pull when i was in fourth grade and now im in eleventh grade, and i still pull. i cant stop i just have the urged to pull and pull. i always wear eyeliner, but you still can kindof tell. i always have the urge to pull but i dont i want to stop i tried so many times not to stop but i just cant, my mom probley doesnt know about this disease but i just found out today.

I SARTED PULLING WHEN I AS IN THE 3RD GRADE I AM NOW IN THE 8TH GRADE AND I really WANT TO STOP I HAVE BEEN WEARING EYE LINER SENCE LIKE 4TH GRADE WHEN PEOPLE STARTED ASKING ME AND I WOULD FEELL ALL SAD AND WANT TO CRY I WOULD JUST SAY IDK WHT HAPPENED TO THEM I WAS SOO ASHAMED AND I STILL AM...I FEEL THE SAME WAY LIKE I FEEL LIKE I AM THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS DISEASE AND I WANT TO STOP.. I LOOK AT MY FREINDS AND I AM SOO JEALOUS OF THEM BC THEY HAVE EYE LASHES AND EYE BROWS AND LOOK AT ME I DONT HAVE ANY. I HAVE EYE BROWS BUT THERE THINNING OUT AGAIN.. BUT MY EYE LASHES I HAVE A COUPLE BUT THTS IT..I GEUSS AT SCHOOL I AM ONE OF THE PRETTIER GIRLS... IS WHT PPL SAY AND EVERYONE SAYS IM BEAUTIFUL,, AND ALL MY BROTHERS FREINDS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL THINK IM HOT BUT I DONT FEEL PRETTY WHT SOO EVER.. IDONT FEEL COMPLTE AND I WANT TO FEEL THT WAY.. I WANT TO FEEL PRETTY AND BE CONFIDENT IN MY SELF BUT IM NOT BC I PULL AND I TRY TO STOPP ALL THE TIME BUT THERE ALWAYS THT ONE DAY WHEN U LIKE HAVE BEEN DOING GOOD AND YOU HAVE LIKE A NERVOUS BREAK DOWN AND PULL THEM ALL OUT..I HAVE FAITH IN MY SEF THT I CAN DO THIS BUT IT SOO HARD AND I WANT TO STOP FOR I CAN FEEEL MORE CONFERTABLE AROUND PEAPLE. I ALWAYS THINK THERE LOKING AT MY EYES AND THINKING WHT THE HECK HAPPENED TO HER EYELASHES AND EYE BROWS ITS A TERRIBLE FEELING EVEN IF THERE NOT THINKING THT... I PRAY TO GOD EVERYDAY AND SAY WHY ME? WHY DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS I MEAN ITS HARD TO GO THROUGH THIS I MEAN IF ONE OF MY FRIENDS WENT THROUGH THS I DONT THINK THEY WOULD BE AS SRRONG AS ALL OF US THT HAS THIS TERRIBLE DIEASE BC WE ARE FIGHTERS AND I NO EVERYONE OF US CAN GET THROUGH THIS IF YOU HAVE FAITH IN URSELF...AND I JUST NEED TO LIKE TALK TO PPL THT HAVE THIS SAME DISEASE FOR I NO THT IM NOT THE ONLY ON E WITH THIS DISEASE IF YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY BC I JUST WANT TO GET THROGHT THIS... BUT I HAVE FAITH IN MYSEL AND ALL OF YOU GUYS.. SOO GOOD LUCK!! WIH UR PULLING AND HOPEFLLY YOU CAN STOP!! HOPEFULY WE ALL CAN!
=]

Wow Alyse Kobilarcsik, I completely feel for you. I too am in the 8th grade, and have been pulling since 3rd. When people noticed and said something I would make up these bogus stories about how my friend ambushed me during the night, or something rediculous like that. I have been wearing eyeliner since 7th grade. And I feel like I can't be the person I truly am with this disorder. I am also currently suffering from Depression and just got out of an emotionally abusive relationship with my ex boyfriend. I think that the trich is definetly linked to my depression, as I have been suffering from that on and off since I started pulling. I discovered trich and all the other people that had this disease only in october. I am relieved that I am not alone. My school counselor suggested I get help other than her. My parents cant afford It right now, but when they can I am hopeful to try hypnosis for pulling and I do believe that when I stop pulling my depression will end as well. THis has been a long journey for me, only letting few close to me. Telling almost no one. But seeing as how your story is so close to mine, it makes me feel like I can do this, because I am not alone. I personally want to thank you for posting that, an I hope you read this. I cant stress enough how close you story is to mine. I want to stop soon because I am moving, and entering high school in a new city, and dont want to have all the 'extra baggage' that comes with trich. I wish you the best of luck with your situation, and hopefully my suffering, and yours ends soon. thank you again for posting that, I have so much hope now.
-Ally

I have been pickin out my eyelashes and eyebrows out since last may. I dont know why im doing it. if anyone knows wats happening, email me at StormFuryian2008@gmail.com

P.S: I have stoped picking out my eyebrows, i just need to stop picking out my lashes.....

One thing iv'e noticed....everytime i picked at my eyelashes, when they grew back they were thinner.

Is there any way i can stop picking my eyelashes out???

my email is StormFuryian2008@gmail.com

I HATE when my brother makes fun of me!!!
And i hate when people stare at you or ask why you don't have eyelashes or eyebrows. I make up some dumb ideas like, "I accidently burned them off." or "I took some drug that makes your hair fall out." something stupid like that. Im tired of not being normal.....

I have being pulling out my eyelashes since 3rd grade. I'm now in college. When I was younger I would pick until my lids were red, swollen, and completely bare. I would cry myself to sleep when someone noticed. It took all the courage I had at 9 yrs old to tell my parents about my habit. I was so embarrassed and ashamed, and still am. They have been supportive of me since day 1, but I don't think they will ever understand how hard it is to deal with trich. By the time I got to high school, I had pretty much become conscious of what I was doing and would try to avoid situations when I knew I would be tempted to pull. But my problem was far from fixed. I got to the point where I was able to go for months at a time with such minimal picking that it wasn't noticeable. But then something would happen or I would get really stressed out about school, and I would pick out my lashes again until they were half gone on either side. Then I would start getting scared that it was bad enough for other people to notice and I would cry and sit on my hands or put on gloves so I couldn't reach towards my eyes. Still, it was getting better overall until; that is, until I came to college. This past year has been one of the hardest in my life. Living in a dorm with someone I didn't know and having to do more on my own then I ever had before was more difficult and emotionally draining than I could have ever imagined. And so, last fall, I started pulling again on a daily basis. Except this time it was getting worse. In addition to my eyelashes, I started picking and pulling out my eyebrows. And I still am and can't seem to stop. I feel as though I have lost all self-confidence. Whether by myself or in public, I can never stop thinking about how I look and what other people must think of me. Every morning and even at night before I go to bed, I steal to the bathroom to cover my brows with make-up in the hopes that my roommate won't notice the bald spots. I feel so defeated and depressed. Up until a few weeks ago, I didn't know about trich and that there were a lot of people with the same problem I had. One night when I had picked so badly that half of my eyebrow was gone, I took a chance and googled the condition. To my surprise, there were hundreds of results and stories just like my own. So I feel like I'm finally ready to start on a path to recovery. I am ready to force myself to swallow any pride and shame that's keeping me from seeing a therapist and make a real effort to stop. That's why I'm posting this (sorry it's long!)- because it wasn't until I read the stories of a dozen other trich sufferers that I felt ready to take this step. So hopefully my story can give that strength to someone else and let them know they they really aren't alone. Good luck to everyone! We can do this!

I have being pulling out my eyelashes since 3rd grade. I'm now in college. When I was younger I would pick until my lids were red, swollen, and completely bare. I would cry myself to sleep when someone noticed. It took all the courage I had at 9 yrs old to tell my parents about my habit. I was so embarrassed and ashamed, and still am. They have been supportive of me since day 1, but I don't think they will ever understand how hard it is to deal with trich. By the time I got to high school, I had pretty much become conscious of what I was doing and would try to avoid situations when I knew I would be tempted to pull. But my problem was far from fixed. I got to the point where I was able to go for months at a time with such minimal picking that it wasn't noticeable. But then something would happen or I would get really stressed out about school, and I would pick out my lashes again until they were half gone on either side. Then I would start getting scared that it was bad enough for other people to notice and I would cry and sit on my hands or put on gloves so I couldn't reach towards my eyes. Still, it was getting better overall until; that is, until I came to college. This past year has been one of the hardest in my life. Living in a dorm with someone I didn't know and having to do more on my own then I ever had before was more difficult and emotionally draining than I could have ever imagined. And so, last fall, I started pulling again on a daily basis. Except this time it was getting worse. In addition to my eyelashes, I started picking and pulling out my eyebrows. And I still am and can't seem to stop. I feel as though I have lost all self-confidence. Whether by myself or in public, I can never stop thinking about how I look and what other people must think of me. Every morning and even at night before I go to bed, I steal to the bathroom to cover my brows with make-up in the hopes that my roommate won't notice the bald spots. I feel so defeated and depressed. Up until a few weeks ago, I didn't know about trich and that there were a lot of people with the same problem I had. One night when I had picked so badly that half of my eyebrow was gone, I took a chance and googled the condition. To my surprise, there were hundreds of results and stories just like my own. So I feel like I'm finally ready to start on a path to recovery. I am ready to force myself to swallow any pride and shame that's keeping me from seeing a therapist and make a real effort to stop. That's why I'm posting this (sorry it's long!)- because it wasn't until I read the stories of a dozen other trich sufferers that I felt ready to take this step. So hopefully my story can give that strength to someone else and let them know they they really aren't alone. Good luck to everyone! We can do this!

hi im 47 and up untill 5 years ago i used to pul my hair and was bald at most of the back and front of my head . i had been pulling my hair since i was 10 years old . i nated hairdressers as was always petrefied but by chance i found a hairdresser who helped me and from this day i have never pulled my hair i do still get the urge and have to find it hard but have suceeded so there is hope

i have th same problem...i really used to pull my eyelashes and eyebrows.It started around 4th grade,now i'm in 6th.I know how you feel,nobody understands if you tell them the truth.One day i decided that i couldn't do this any more.It was SO hard but the trick was to have a picture of me before the pulling and every time i wanted to pull i compered what i saw in the mirror and what i saw in the pic.I decided i was going to look like the girl in the pic...it was very hard but in the end i didn't have the desire to pull anymore.But i still have i problem with the head hair wich for me is more diffucult for me.Aso visit this site:http://www.trichotillomania.co.uk/.I really don't want to see anybody in the condition i was -still am a bit- it's so sad...WE ARE NOT FREAKS,WE ARE SPECIAL PEOPLE

My daughter is 9 and has been pulling her eyelashes out for about 6 months. All of them. Completely bald eyelids! It started when she heard that you could make a wish on an eyelash, so she pulled them all out and made a zillion wishes. Her hair is really blonde anyway, so no one really notices, and a girl in her class has alopecia and has lost all her hair (except her eyelashes, oddly enough), so maybe there's an attenion-getting aspect for her. She acts like she wants to stop, but I know it will be hard (I've been cracking my knuckes since I was 10). We both tried giving up these habits for Lent, but I didn't really keep track. I'm thinking of making a poster and putting both our names on it and a path to no-more-bad-habit. If she sees that I'm struggling, too, maybe it will help her. And maybe I can get her to tell me what she was wishing for on all those eyelashes. If I can make it come true, would it help her stop?

I am so glad I found this site. I am 46 and have had this problem for years. I didn't know there was a name for it or that others did the same thing. Thanks for the info.

I am 30 years old. I started pulling my eyelashes and my eyebrows when I was 9 years old. I had no idea that there was a name for this condition until two weeks ago. Until then I just thought I was a freak and the ONLY one in the whole world that did this. It is so comforting to know that I'm not the only one and that I can stop. Since I found out that this is a true condition two weeks ago I have been pull free since then (on eyelashes only, it would be too hard to tackle both issues at once). I've been eyelash pull free for two weeks and two days. It is VERY hard not to pull. This isn't the easiest thing to do, but I have to stop this habit. I WANT the beautiful eyelashes (even if they are short). I don't want to worry about make up or hide behind my glasses. I want to wear my contacts proudly. And most of all, I don't want my 5 year old, who is starting kindergarten this year, to get teased by his classmates because his mother looks "weird" or "freaky", etc. Good luck to all of you dealing with this "disease"!!

I noticed my 7 year old started to pull at her eyelashes last summer. She is so beautiful-like island exotic beautiful and she has this bouncy curly hair and now she has pulled out almost all of her eyelashes and her eyebrows look mangy. What can I do for her? I have her sleeping with mittens cuz i got her to admit she usually does it while she is laying down. She isn't under any stress - atleast none that she has shared and she is a hard one to get to talk. Please, please please anyone who knows what I can do since I have caught this early on to help her??? I feel so bad because I used to pull my eyelashes as a very young child but I stopped without any coaching rather quickly after I saw what I did to myself. I still battle with picking my dry lips but that's my baggage. I don't want my daughter to go 30 years of this. anyone??

Well...i have been pulling m eyelashes for 10 years now. Usually its only when I have mascara on...i kind of enjoy pulling the ones that don't fall in line with the others. Is it weird to enjoy the tickling feeling when I pull one? I'm not a depressed person, I'm overfowing with joy and people always comment on my happiness. The pulling started after my first love break up. You all know that very first love right? My friends have noticed and have mentioned trich to me....I get defensive. i don't know that i suffer form that so much...maybe I'm obsessive compulsive. A messy house depresses me and I think everything has a place..maybe thats wwhy I pull lashes that are not aligned with others. i am an attractive girl but i do feel a bit insecure after pulling lashes. i get so angry with myself and put my hands underneath my back (since I tend to pull lying in bed at night) but before I know it...1 or 2 hours go by and I'm tugging again. I've noticced it keeps me up at night too. I hope and pray we are all able to stop doing things that harm us in anyway..maybe this is some sort of addiction? I refuse to be a victim or play that card..I just need to rise above this once and for all. Best wishes to all of you...glad I'm not alone.

Nikki: I think that talking to your daughter and letting her know that this changed NOTHING about how much you love her will help. Once she sees you as a safe haven, she'll realize you'll help fight half the battle. I know this is a late response, but I only just now found the site. My mom has loved me unconditionally always, but once she let me know it, I was able to move forward. It might not seem like a big step, but I used to pull my hair, eyelashes, arm hair, and eyebrows. I told people that I just pulled my hair too tightly in a pony tail. Now, though, I am able to dye my eyebrows, and I'm just lacking my top eyelashes. This might gross you out, but maybe you can let her play with your arm hair? Or let her play with her arm hair without saying a word. My boyfriend lets me play with his arm hair at night when we're just watching t.v. or doing something where I might do it without realizing it. Best of luck with your daughter!

Beth and alyse Kobilarcsik i wrote the last comment im unknown but your stories touched me the most but EVERY SINGLE ONE touched me in some way so please write back !!!!i want help and i have noone to talk to and i just might end it all by taking my own life....please HELP ME i just want to talk i will pray all night...god bless you if you talk to me and good luck to everyone!trust me i understand

I have been picking my eyelashes and eyebrows since I was 16, I am now 22. I cant seem to stop, I think about it all the time! I bite my nail to the point that they are bleeding! My family smacks my hands when they see me do it, but they dont understand that I just cant stop! I have been on every med out there and nothing seems to help!

When I was in the 7th grade, my parents went through a messy divorce. My father was an emotionally abusive man and during the process, I feared for my life. That's when the anxiety issues started, and that's when the eye lash pulling began.

It was just an occasional thing; pulling out a lash here or there because my eye felt irritated. Then it got worse over the years. I'm 21 now. I pulled out my top lids completely and then moved to the bottom. Recently I've been pulling out my eyebrow hairs as well, which takes much longer to grow back completely. In very stressful times, which college is full of, the pulling gets worse.

I've done a lot of research on trich. I've come to the conclusion that it is a depressive related anxiety disorder with NO cure. The only way to help it is to keep it in control yourself. It's a struggle that you have to live with, but its a problem that can be overcome.

I've made it my new years resolution to REALLY stop. My top lids, which were completely bald, are showing sprouts of new eyelashes. My bottom lids have almost completely grown in. My eyebrows are improving. I'm looking forward to the day when I don't need to wear false eyelashes.

It's comforting to know that I'm not alone in this self civil war. It's even more comforting to realize that we all have the strength and ability to keep this under control. I'm going to be honest, my lids burn intensely right now; begging me to pull them, but I won't. Pulling doesn't make the burning dissapear, just the lashes.

Good luck, everyone!