Help - Just need someone to talk to

get loads of fidget toys or anything else for your hands to play with

hey nutmegz. been there! firstly, am glad you found this forum. i hope you realize now that you are not alone! & while other people may not understand, i hope you will find support here. there are also private FB groups as well.

keeping your hands busy is great, but the best is trying to get to the underlying urge / reason for the trigger.

when you catch yourself pulling, ask yourself why? also try to understand what you are feeling in that moment. is it stress? tiredness? boredom?
pulling is a coping mechanism for these emotions. sort of a release of that energy. but if you can get to the underlying trigger & release the energy in a more positive way, the pulling can be replaced. this takes time & practice. for ex:
if it is stress: as soon as you realize you are pulling, pause & take 3 deep breaths
if it is tiredness: go to sleep! (if you are at work, then trying taking some full body stretches / drink a glass of water / splash water on your face to wake up)
boredom: grab that fidget toy, or go for a quick walk around the office - maybe chat with a coworker for a few minutes

i hope these ideas help!

Hey Nutmegz, I just joined this forum as well. I identify with your problem. I pull my hair during "downtime" usually, so when I'm watching tv and stuff. However lately I've noticed that my desk at work is full of hair. I work in a very creative industry, where I need to think a lot and deal with the stress of trying to be creative. Apparently the way I deal with that is by pulling more hair. It's becoming a huge problem, as I don't want to talk to coworkers or others because they will notice that I've been doing this. I'm convinced I'm balding. It's making me anxious, which in turn makes me pull more hair.
I don't know what to recommend. I panicked and got in touch with a psychiatrist specialised in impulsive behaviour, I live in a country where this is all affordable for which I'm grateful for. There is a long wait though, and it's just getting worse now. I'm too afraid to speak to anyone. I can't wear my hair up anymore because I've got areas that just stick out because I've been breaking off the ends.
I know this isn't what you were asking for, but you're not alone, and reading about your problem made me feel less alone as well. I don't think there is a magic cure for this, it's something that a cognitive behavioural therapist has to help us with, but maybe those fidget spinners etc are a good start. I used to fiddle with jewellery, but realised I'd broken all of those...
All the best to you!

Hi Nutmegz


I am sorry that you are suffering. I don't myself suffer from pulling the hair on my head, I pull out my eyelashes. But have currently been pull free for 2 weeks now.

I have tried soooo many things, perhaps they may work for you:
-Cut nails super short so that you cant get a grip
-Wear plasters on your pulling fingers/thumb
-Keep a journal
- Keep a small note pad in your bag and keep a tally every time you have an urge to pull
- Wear gloves
- Read books specialising in trich
- Meditate
- Use a 'fidget spinner' or a 'fidget cube'
- Play with a squidgy toy when your in situations your most likely to pull
- CBT activity books

A few weeks ago I was at a wits end, it got bad and I felt I was only going to get worse and never end.. I was going to end up with BALD eyes!!!! I exhausted google and came across a thing called a KEEN by Habitaware and this has been my saviour for the past 2 weeks...I honestly haven't pulled once.
https://www.habitaware.com/

There is light at the end of the tunnel

K

If you need someone to talk to.. I do to, would you be willing to chat over email? Just need help from anyone :(