Comments on: Trichotillomania Recovery: what does it look like? http://blog.trich.org/2010/02/21/trichotillomania-recovery-what-does-it-look-like/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Sat, 04 Sep 2010 01:34:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: KT http://blog.trich.org/2010/02/21/trichotillomania-recovery-what-does-it-look-like/#comment-435 KT Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:43:17 +0000 http://blog.trich.org/?p=157#comment-435 I've been plucking my eyebrows and eyelashes since I was 12. Today I am 16 and right now I almost have no eyelashes or eyebrows. It's been the worse this year, my junior year, because of all the work teachers give me. I really want to stop. But, I think I'm getting better at not plucking. I noticed that I usually only pluck when I'm doing homework. Most of the time, I'm not even stressed out. I think I get way more stressed about not having eyebrows than school. It's horrible because trichotillomania is an ongoing cycle. My mom has been really mad at me. I feel horrible waking up in the morning to see myself in the mirror with no eyebrows. It just doesn't look like me. I'm supposed to have thick black brows, but hopefully they'll grow back like they always have. My big black eyes just look awkward. I know it'll take many many months though, but I'm using castor oil for quicker growth. I hate the feeling of not being confident when I'm with my friends at a party or when a picture is being taken. I used to pluck for 2-3 minutes every couple of days, but now I pluck less and less. I truly believe I'll stop soon :) Have hope and patience especially! I’ve been plucking my eyebrows and eyelashes since I was 12. Today I am 16 and right now I almost have no eyelashes or eyebrows. It’s been the worse this year, my junior year, because of all the work teachers give me. I really want to stop. But, I think I’m getting better at not plucking. I noticed that I usually only pluck when I’m doing homework. Most of the time, I’m not even stressed out. I think I get way more stressed about not having eyebrows than school. It’s horrible because trichotillomania is an ongoing cycle. My mom has been really mad at me. I feel horrible waking up in the morning to see myself in the mirror with no eyebrows. It just doesn’t look like me. I’m supposed to have thick black brows, but hopefully they’ll grow back like they always have. My big black eyes just look awkward. I know it’ll take many many months though, but I’m using castor oil for quicker growth. I hate the feeling of not being confident when I’m with my friends at a party or when a picture is being taken. I used to pluck for 2-3 minutes every couple of days, but now I pluck less and less. I truly believe I’ll stop soon :) Have hope and patience especially!

]]> By: Julija http://blog.trich.org/2010/02/21/trichotillomania-recovery-what-does-it-look-like/#comment-434 Julija Sun, 04 Apr 2010 21:30:12 +0000 http://blog.trich.org/?p=157#comment-434 Dear Christina, I read your blog on a monthly basis and it has helped me in ways you'll never know. I live in a very small country where nobody's even heard of TLC. It is such a relief to know that I share this with others and to know that you've conquered it. Reading your words, I cry, everytime, because what you're saying is so real to me. I've been pulling my hair from the age of 11. I'm 22 now, I can't believe it's been a whole decade! I've learned to control my tendecies to a degree, if I may say so, but still, I feel I'm often missing out on my best years because of my fears and low self-esteem due to my condition. A few days ago I broke up with my boyfriend of three years and, of course, went on a pulling frenzy. I was so sad because I had ruined all of my hard work and had to start all over again. Now I am proud, because I know exactly what triggered it and I haven't pulled since the break up, which is amazing, I think. My biggest problem are mirrors and old photos. I look at my curly hair and think about how beautiful it could have been. Time is also a big factor. I'm extremely unpatient when it comes to waiting for my hair to grow out. I've had short hair for some years now, but I really wish I could leave it alone and let it grow. As if it wasn't worth the effort being short and weak, just so undeserving. I'd love to hear what you have to say on these two topics. Once again, thank you for all your work and understanding. I am truly grateful, you are the best! Best wishes, Juje Dear Christina,
I read your blog on a monthly basis and it has helped me in ways you’ll never know. I live in a very small country where nobody’s even heard of TLC. It is such a relief to know that I share this with others and to know that you’ve conquered it. Reading your words, I cry, everytime, because what you’re saying is so real to me.
I’ve been pulling my hair from the age of 11. I’m 22 now, I can’t believe it’s been a whole decade!
I’ve learned to control my tendecies to a degree, if I may say so, but still, I feel I’m often missing out on my best years because of my fears and low self-esteem due to my condition.
A few days ago I broke up with my boyfriend of three years and, of course, went on a pulling frenzy. I was so sad because I had ruined all of my hard work and had to start all over again. Now I am proud, because I know exactly what triggered it and I haven’t pulled since the break up, which is amazing, I think.
My biggest problem are mirrors and old photos. I look at my curly hair and think about how beautiful it could have been. Time is also a big factor. I’m extremely unpatient when it comes to waiting for my hair to grow out. I’ve had short hair for some years now, but I really wish I could leave it alone and let it grow. As if it wasn’t worth the effort being short and weak, just so undeserving. I’d love to hear what you have to say on these two topics.
Once again, thank you for all your work and understanding. I am truly grateful, you are the best!
Best wishes,
Juje

]]> By: LM http://blog.trich.org/2010/02/21/trichotillomania-recovery-what-does-it-look-like/#comment-419 LM Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:09:10 +0000 http://blog.trich.org/?p=157#comment-419 I am an eyelash and eyebrow puller. I have never had a desire to pull the hair on my head. It's always made me wonder why pull from one area of the body and not the other. For me, I find I have a much better success rate at not pulling if I don't touch my eyebrows or eyelashes AT ALL. The moment I do (not with the intention to pull, but to check-up on any new growth to feel as though I am making progress), it seems as though that is when the irritation starts (itching, burning, etc) to the point the ONLY relief is to pull from the offending areas. It almost feels as though it's an allergic reaction. No doubt there is compulsive behavior at play here, but it seems that my eyelashes and eyebrows become such irritants (I would even say they hurt) to the point of having to pull simply to get relief. The more I touch/feel them, the worst it gets. Question being: Does anyone know if there are certain oils on the skin that perhaps causes this reaction? Or has anyone else noticed this pattern? I am an eyelash and eyebrow puller. I have never had a desire to pull the hair on my head. It’s always made me wonder why pull from one area of the body and not the other. For me, I find I have a much better success rate at not pulling if I don’t touch my eyebrows or eyelashes AT ALL. The moment I do (not with the intention to pull, but to check-up on any new growth to feel as though I am making progress), it seems as though that is when the irritation starts (itching, burning, etc) to the point the ONLY relief is to pull from the offending areas. It almost feels as though it’s an allergic reaction. No doubt there is compulsive behavior at play here, but it seems that my eyelashes and eyebrows become such irritants (I would even say they hurt) to the point of having to pull simply to get relief. The more I touch/feel them, the worst it gets.

Question being: Does anyone know if there are certain oils on the skin that perhaps causes this reaction? Or has anyone else noticed this pattern?

]]> By: notpowerlessbutamazing http://blog.trich.org/2010/02/21/trichotillomania-recovery-what-does-it-look-like/#comment-404 notpowerlessbutamazing Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:54:25 +0000 http://blog.trich.org/?p=157#comment-404 Christina, I've had a pretty big day. Reading your blog and seeing what you do to help others inspired me to start my own blog. As a professional educator, I've found the best way for me to learn something is to teach it. So I created a space to formally declare my commitment to begin working toward the battle against my trichotillomania, document my progress (and setbacks), explore my own reasons for the behavior, and hopefully help other people as I begin to help myself re-learn how to live. I was going to email you this note but couldn't find an address, so I'll just leave a comment inviting you to take a look if you get a chance (I'm sure you have tons of things to attend to, taking on a job as big and important as you have). At the very least, let me thank you for giving me hope that I can take back the temple. It has really made all the difference in my outlook on life and the struggle before me. My biggest goal now is to become another one of the success stories on this site. Wish me luck. Delilah Jones http://notpowerlessbutamazing.wordpress.com/ Christina,

I’ve had a pretty big day. Reading your blog and seeing what you do to help others inspired me to start my own blog. As a professional educator, I’ve found the best way for me to learn something is to teach it. So I created a space to formally declare my commitment to begin working toward the battle against my trichotillomania, document my progress (and setbacks), explore my own reasons for the behavior, and hopefully help other people as I begin to help myself re-learn how to live. I was going to email you this note but couldn’t find an address, so I’ll just leave a comment inviting you to take a look if you get a chance (I’m sure you have tons of things to attend to, taking on a job as big and important as you have). At the very least, let me thank you for giving me hope that I can take back the temple. It has really made all the difference in my outlook on life and the struggle before me. My biggest goal now is to become another one of the success stories on this site. Wish me luck.

Delilah Jones
http://notpowerlessbutamazing.wordpress.com/

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