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NoodleC , 10 Sep 2017

Please help.. I need a trich buddy??

So here I am hating myself, crying, my eyes hurt, I've spent hours applying endless eyeliner to cover what I've done.

I've not done it to this extent in a while, only minor pulling but all of a sudden it's got really bad, I feel stressed and uneasy and now self conscious.

I don't like admitting it out loud but I've read online that talking to someone who's going through this as well can help.

If anyone else wants someone to talk to, to tell them what's on your mind, how your feeling, listen to eachother a problems, to try and help eachother to stop I can do that and I really hope someone can do that for me to.

It'd be over email so we don't have to even know anything about eachother, just communicate over email when we're feeling weak to try and help eachother and distract away from the urge.

Please reply if you would consider helping me. Thanks.

4 Answers
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cavey
September 14, 2017
If you need an accountability person to log progress, that would help me too. I am on day four of taking biotin and resisting pulling and have been logging daily that I have abstained from pulling out fledgling hairs. It has been difficult as I have been feeling around my self-inflicted bald spots for small hairs to re-pull. My hair pulling issues have seemed life long, but it will disappeared for years, then come back especially when I have stress at school or work that seem to be insurmountable. This summer when I got overwhelmed with my IT job, I ending up spending long hours drinking coffee in front of the computer and kept on pulling. I woke up in the middle of the night this past AM and for two hours tried to white knuckle and tried to fight really hard not to pull my hair. I am trying desperately to visualize how much better I will look if I don't pull.

All the best!
Julia
November 01, 2017
Hi Cavey,
I was wondering if the biotin helped for you? I'm considering taking it as well, but I'm always a bit hesitant when it comes to taking pills, even though they're probably harmless. And also, I know this posts are from a while ago, but I'd love to share my experiences with some people as well. So, for NoodleC if you still need someone to talk to, I would like to give my email.
cavey
November 05, 2017
Hi Cavey,
I was wondering if the biotin helped for you? I'm considering taking it as well, but I'm always a bit hesitant when it comes to taking pills, even though they're probably harmless. And also, I know this posts are from a while ago, but I'd love to share my experiences with some people as well. So, for NoodleC if you still need someone to talk to, I would like to give my email.


Hi Julia, sorry for the delay in response as I've haven't been on this forum for over two weeks and have been trying to stay afloat at work.

I agree with Hot Rod.68, if you have concerns about taking supplements, consult a doctor.

For the most part, biotin is OTC and generally from natural sources, so it seems safe. I did read some people develop acne taking it, but that has not affected me. Personally, it has been working for me. Coincidentally, I have a peeling thumbnail and purple toenail from tennis injury and am trying to get both hair and nail to heal.

As many of us know, the urges to pull and scratch are very difficult, so biotin doesn't necessarily remove your urge to pull. That part will require much discipline and self talk. I am on on DAY 50 of not pulling hair, but I still repetitively touched my head wanting to pull and sometimes re-expose the damaged area. I keep on trying to remind myself not to undo the progress. Setting a goal seems to be key.

Also, every time I feel the urge, I have been applying itch cream (Benadryl generic equivalent) to the self-inflicted bald spot. Once you make a little progress, you need to keep at it and something has to remind you not to undo the progress. If you relapse, try to start over and get back at it. Everything will take work, patience, and persistence.

Good luck! Email if you like. I think most people with some level of success start by announcing they have an issue, make goals, and work at it. It's not going to be easy, but we can do it!
Hot rod.68
November 02, 2017
Im a man and I’ve done this since 11 years old I’m going on 50 now, I’ve tried everything from medication to shrinks etc, nothing works for me, mine was caused by a nervous breakdown at 11 years old this came and I’ve been stuck with it ever since. I’ve just about pulled hair from just about every where and even though it was bad in my school days for years I thought I was freak and over the years it’s got better it’s just a few places now, but still goes on and I think after having it most of my life I can see I’m going die with it.. the worst for me was I couldn’t speak to family my dad and mum knew but brothers etc no it was embarrassing to even think how I’m going to start to talk about this, they will not understand, no one will understand inc doctors because they don’t have it, only people like us have this and only us can talk about it. For years I thought I was alone suffering in silence as the decades passed I heard it one day on the radio about this condition about hair pulling, I did feel happy because I wasn’t on my own anymore they were others like me out there. Now some say they get relief but I never got that I felt ashamed and guilty and shameful because I knew I shouldn’t be doing it, but I couldn’t stop.

The thing is don’t cry or blame yourself like I did because it make you far worse than ever in my time there were no internet or places like here to talk, for nearly 40 years I’ve kept it to myself, It’s a long time to suffer.

If you have to take pills etc always see your doctor first don’t risk your life because you don’t really no what’s in these pills or creams etc

I’ll help anyone by email etc

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