I shaved my head

I have much the same issue as many here with pulling my hair.

It started about a year ago and started slowly pulling this one spot behind my ear and in about 6 months i had a clearly noticable bald spot on the back of my head behind my ear. It was really embarasing and I did feel ashamed of myself because i have such nice hair. I was really worried it wouldn't grow back. Fast forward to 6 months from now, it's starting to grow back a little but not as much as it should and stupid me, I've still been pulling although not nearly as much.

So tonight I bought an electric shaver and shaved my head military style. I needed to stop the pulling and see if my hair would grow back. I can feel little stubs on the back and and I can see the folicles where it hasn't grow back, ti's not shiney and bald yet except for one very small spot.

When I shaving my head, I saw my own hair in my hand and how shiney and soft it was, and the color, I've never seen it look that nice and I felt so bad that I was ruining my hair. I don't mean make anyone feel bad, but I think I hope if we can learn to love our hair we will be more motivated to break these habits and protect it. I did what I had to do to protect it and I hope you will too.

I'll post an update in a month or so when it grows back to see if my bald spot is still there as it was before.

Good luck to everyone, I hope the best for you all. We can beat this.

Hey,

You never really mentioned if this has made you happier or not? I imagine that it felt very strange, but are you happier now?

Chucky wrote:Hey,

You never really mentioned if this has made you happier or not? I imagine that it felt very strange, but are you happier now?

Happy no, but relieved yes.

I haven't pulled since I did it yet because I cannot pull. It was emotional because I didn't want to do it, but I know I had to. Some things in life you just have to do, I don't want a bald spot on my head for the rest of my life. I never knew how wonderful my hair was until I held it in my hand when I shaved it.

Now however, I can monitor hair regrowth and no pull. I can also hide the bald part because now it's hard to see for others.

In the long run, I'll be happy.

I was just going to say that too - Do you think that the longer you remain 'bald', the more likely your urge to pull your hair will fade away? Then, when your hair grows back, maybe you won't pull it anymore? If that's the case, then this could actually be a treatment for Trichotillomania (albeit a last resort kind of thing).

Kevin

Chucky wrote:I was just going to say that too - Do you think that the longer you remain 'bald', the more likely your urge to pull your hair will fade away? Then, when your hair grows back, maybe you won't pull it anymore? If that's the case, then this could actually be a treatment for Trichotillomania (albeit a last resort kind of thing).

Kevin

That's the idea, and moreso to even out my hair given the pulled ones that have grown back have grown back slowly and I want to see where the damage is.

I also hope it prevents my from pulling and breaking the habit.

I hope it works for you. I have been diagnosed for about 16 years. My dad used to buzz cut my hair every few weeks so that I owuldn't pull. Now that I am older, I let my hair grow for about 6 weeks and then have to cut it. When my hair is long enough, I have large episodes, sometimes pulling 1/3 of my scalp hair in a night. I go as long as I can without pulling. I usually start at night, while reading or watching tv. The next day, I shave my head. Each time I feel like I make it just another few days without pulling. I do the same thing with my beard, which I can grow fully before pulling severely over a day or so. In fact, I am going to shave my beard tomorrow because I have pulled quite a bit out tonight. I have a severe case. When i pull, I pull A LOT. I am always hoping for a fesh start and each time I shave my head, it's a new opportunity to quit. I have not given up. You inspire me because you are trying, you are making your own decisions and not letting the issue get the best of you. Keep fighting!

Do not let yourself get discouraged because things can turn around for you!

I commend you for getting a fresh start and I wish you the best.
Dan

Update, it's growing back real well, MUCH better than I had thought. It looked bad a first but I'm shocked, it's really unoticable now.

I have started tugging but not pulling out completely a few hairs, but only rarely. I think I'm going to be able to make it and not pull anyone.

Anyone guy who wants to stop (for a girl this would be hard), SHAVE YOUR HEAD and it should grow back well, most of the time. Although it does take time for the hair to grow back in full force.

Thank you very much for getting back to us Michael08. I will certainly remember this new approach to dealing with Trich. in the future.

Take care my friend,
Kevin

i also shaved my head 3 days ago. i have a razor now. nearly bald, maybe if i keep it this short for about a year i can cope with having hair again i really want dreads, but with this problem i have it is very diffricult to get my hair past 3 inches without pulling a bald spot, i atleast pull 200 hairs a day if im sitting at home.

im also afraid my hair being shaved will make me feel worse, but also i feel like it is relieving like you said. i just dont want to be sitting out and pulling my hair all day.

Funny that you mention this. I actually cut my hair much shorter to stop the temptation.

I am glad it is working for you!