I think I have that hair pulling disorder

I was reading about it just now and it sounds like what I do. I pull out my eyelashes, eyebrow hairs and sometime nose hairs. It's not so bad that I yank out every single hair but it's still weird. It's like a compulsion and I have to do it. Especially if the hair look out of place or something. I even try to pluck DH's eyebrow hairs. He hates it. Now you guys probably think I'm strange.

I had the same sort of issue for 13 years, I pulled out all my eyelashes compulsively and I still will do it if I get super stressed. I just blamed it on OCD

Yeah, sounds like OCD (my former husband had it). Prozac worked great with him...unless you like that plucked look - but please, no plucking the cats!!

Originally Posted by cat52

but please, no plucking the cats!!

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I pull gray hairs out of my head...but I don't think that counts.

It's okay; you're not strange. It's called trichotillomania. I have it, too, and I've had it since I was 11. It is a compulsion, and it is related to OCD, and can sometimes be controlled through medications used to treat OCD.

I pull from my scalp, which really sucks. I understand the panic and fear of the possibility of people noticing. If you would like to talk, feel free to PM me.

Tricia

My partner has OCD and we spent a lot of time on OCD-UK, I know it's a UK site but it has some good information and it's interesting too. This is the page on Trichotillomania.

Its strange that you bring this. I worry right now that my son my have developed this condition (and OCD runs in the family). About a week before school started he plucked 2 large patches of hair out of his scalp. He said he had a knot and instead of brushing it out he plucked that hair and surrounding hair out. Now some 10-12 later some of those spots have not grown back in and in fact now some other spots are thinning out. He says he is on longer pulling it out but right now I am not sure if its that or something else like aloipecia(sp).

We just got him insurance (just gotta pay the premium) and get him into the doctor and see whats up.

Originally Posted by Green Bunny

It's okay; you're not strange. It's called trichotillomania. I have it, too, and I've had it since I was 11. It is a compulsion, and it is related to OCD, and can sometimes be controlled through medications used to treat OCD.

I pull from my scalp, which really sucks. I understand the panic and fear of the possibility of people noticing.

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I pull from behind my ears

wow, I never knew there was a technical name for it I've managed to stop for the most part, but like I said, when I'm stressed I start to do it again...like now but I'm amazed that they still grow back at all after all this time