Trichotillomaniacs or not?

Me, my mom, and my grandfather (rest his soul), all had this strange idiosyncracy of taking strand after strand of hair and pulling on it idley- we take it in between thumb and forefinger and run along the length of it from root to tip then repeat. We never actually pulled the hair out, so I don't know wether to call it Trich. A mild form of Trich maybe?

I didn't even realize that I was doing it until someone pointed it out. I also have a habit of pulling off the split ends of hair. I get so embarassed when someone notices me do it because I don't even realize when I do it! I sit in class and do it totally unaware.

Then one day I saw my mom doing it so I asked her about it. She told me that her dad even did it. Looks like it runs in the family?

For the longest time I had trichotillomania with pubic hair. I know.. its gross. Now that I shave its not a problem.

Anyways.. am I a trichotillomaniac? Or just obsessive compulsive?

I'm thinking your hands are bored. Just try to keep them busy with something else...sculpture perhaps

You could shave your head, though that is only appealing on people with big heads, so maybe dont do that.

i have a few things i do to resist pulling

but doing some in class is impossible Teachers

i used to play with a "kneadable eraser" it is kind of like a mix of silly putty and playdoh (though i don't suggest mixing them)

You can find it at about any crafts store in the pencil area it is fairly cheap too

skilotar signing out

This is interesting you mention this, not so long ago I noticed that my mom when she is sitting watching tv or whatever will take a hair and idly put one end in her mouth and then pull it out; it's really kind of strange and when I asked her about it she said she had no idea why she did it but I was right, she did it alot. I started pulling hair (legs and underarms) when I was about 12, and never really realized it was a form of OCD until I was in my 20s. My urges are by no means out of control but I think part of whatever makes something hereditary may be part of this. My mother and I also get really horrible shooting pains through our heads which it another neurological hereditary trait I seem to have picked up from her. I def think this is possible.