Trichotillomania
literally how do I stop picking my hair. I am so worried about getting a bald spot and I'm only just now entering high school. the best way I usually deal with it is by using fidgets (my favorite is an infinity cube) but it can be really bad when i'm not able to use a fidget or if I don't have one nearby. I really want to stop but the sensory aspect is just something that I can't really get from other things. I do it I think bc I have mixed hair and I pull the textured hairs bc I like how they feel. but at the top of my head you can see little tiny hairs that have grown back slightly just sticking out and I can try to gel them down but they keep popping up and it's kinda embarrassing. it's also embarrassing when I do it in public, even tho idek if ppl actually see or care at all. i do it in class sometimes if I'm bored or stressed, and idk if people can see it on the floor or smth and that makes me nervous. i've never opened up abt this. i'm diagnosed with OCD btw so I know that I have that but i'm not formally diagnosed with trich but lowk I fit all the criteria so idec. it hurts so bad when I get sores on my scalp. if I brush my hands through my hair sometimes I can feel tiny little bumps from sores in places where i've picked a lot. I really want to stop but I literally have no idea how and it makes me so upset.
Hey @SpagHotline7724, I'm really glad you reached out today 💜 I can hear how upsetting and stressful this has become for you, especially with starting high school and worrying about how it looks or whether people notice. None of that makes you weird or wrong, it just shows how much this is affecting you and how much you want things to change.
The way you described the sensory part really stood out. For a lot of people with trich, it isn’t just a habit, it’s a feeling, a texture, a moment of relief or focus. So when you say you pull certain hairs because of how they feel, that makes complete sense. It can feel like your brain has learned to latch onto that sensation. And when you don’t have a fidget nearby, it’s like your hands automatically go to your hair because it’s the closest thing that gives that same feeling.
I hear that you’re embarrassed, especially when you notice the regrowth or worry about people seeing you pick in class. That kind of self‑consciousness can make the whole thing feel even heavier. You’re not alone in that, lots of people with trich talk about the same fears.
The sores and bumps sounds really painful, both physically and emotionally. It’s hard when something you don’t want to be doing ends up hurting you, and you still feel pulled toward it anyway.
You’re welcome to keep talking here if it helps you get some of this out. And if you ever want someone to listen privately, you can reach out to a 1:1 listener, no pressure at all 💜
Emma
@emsworld
thank you for the support, I really appreciate it <3
