Hi, I'm new...do I have trich?

Hi! My name is Jamie and I'm 20 years old. I'm not sure if I have trich, but it's the closest thing I've heard of that matches my actions. I first heard about it when I was a freshman in high school (age 14) and it just CLICKED. Finally, a name to the odd habit that I did! When I was about 12, my hair started growing in more wavy and curly than it was when I was younger-it used to be stick straight. I started...not PULLING out the hairs, but like...feeling them. Does this make sense? I have done this the whole time in the past 8 years. I rarely pull OUT the hairs, they only come out if I accidentally pull too hard or if the hair was ready to come out. Other than that, I just "feel" the rough and thick hairs. They are so interesting to me. They feel so...neat! Since I rarely pull out the hairs completely, I have no bald patches. Another interesting thing I have noticed is that I usually only pull with my left hand, about 90% of the time. However, I am right handed.

I am just so embarassed by this habit...I do it unconsciously. My mom noticed it right away after I started doing it, like within the first few months. My friends have noticed it sometimes, too. I try to stop, but it just brings this sense of relief to me. Thanks for the great forum, it's great to FINALLY know I'm not alone!!!

Hey Jamie,

It sounds like you have Trich., but I think you'll find a lot more useful info if you look up OCD. Trich is a type of OCD I believe. The obsession is obviously that you touch/pull/stroke your hair. I havea diagnosis of OCD, you see, but I recall from my youth constantly pulling at my hair too.

Kevin