just found out what this disorder is called

My personal story is a lot like what you all have described here. It started when I was about 10-12, where I would pull from the middle of my scalp where it wasn't visible even in a ponytail. I had a huge bald spot, but I remember telling myself to just STOP, and focus on something else and I did. I ended up recovering just fine after that, throwing myself into 3 sports, being very busy throughout school etc. and completely forgetting about this disorder I had.

Here I am, after 3 years of college. I don't have much to do other than play video games and hold a part time job and I have a lot of free time. I read a lot, books, online and this is mainly when I mess with my eyelashes. For the past year and a half, I've had a nagging urge to play with/ pull out my eyelashes. Other hair doesn't interest me. The thing is.. it started from the feeling that my insanely long eyelashes have always given me, like the ends poked me in the eyes constantly. Here is a picture taken about 2-3 years ago with eyelashes fully intact. They are ridiculously long naturally.

Now they are nothing like that, holes here and there and ragged misshapen hairs instead of long uniform ones. Now that I've started to research this disorder it seems more serious than I thought before.

I know this is a disorder but I constantly feel that feeling now, that my eyelashes are poking me in the eye and i need to remove them. Am I crazy/ need meds? I've been trying to stop this behavior since I started it. I can't seem to find that inner strength that I found as a child to be able to focus on something else. I'm thinking of maybe trying to stop reading and start exercising to keep my hands busy... I want my lashes back, and my peace of mind [/img]

Hey Veganx

Welcome to the trich forum.

I understand what you're going though, and it's not impossible to get better. I only recently foind out that this has a name, and have been slowly diminishing my hair pulling, and it feels great!

For me, the hair pulling is associated to feeling anxious and a need for perfectionism. Could this be why you do it too? It sounds like you lack a drive/passion in life right now, and that's when I started pulling most. You have beautiful lashes, let them grow!

Each time you feel the need, do something else like clean your nails, or pain your nails, or anything to occupy your hand otherwise. It might help.


Good luck

I'm kind of nervous to admit it...but I have the same kinds of urges. I basically will pull all of my hair, but eyebrows and eyelashes satisfy me the most. Anyway, I found that it's sometimes helpful to keep your nails short (so it's harder to grip) and also to try using mascara, which is uncomfortable, but you won't want it all over your fingers. Good luck and I hope this helps

i mainly pull out the hair on my head, but in teh past few months i've started on my eyelashes, and im terrified. i jstu recently discovered that this was a disorder myself, and it really frightnes me. I've been having so much stress within my family and such in regards to my hair, and i dont want to add anymore by admitting that i may be developing a problem with my eyelashes. it started when my mascara would be clumpy and i'd start to pull the chunks off my lashes, occasionally a lash would fall out. it's still mainly that, but occasionally i'll jsut pull out an eyelash when im not even wearing mascara..i really dont want this to develop into a real issue like my hair on top of my head.