Trichotillomania - Lets discuss

Okay @fruitisgood i know literally nothing about this so I am full of questions! I am sorry if any of these questions are a bit forward - feel free to tell me it’s not okay to ask something.

What first triggered it?

What triggers it now, and is there some sort of relief that you gain from it in some way?

Does it hurt?

Do you feel like you’d prefer not to have the compulsion, or is the relief you feel so much more worthwhile than having to deal with the condition?

I have more, but they might be a bit weird or personal so I’ll hold off

All questions in good faith are welcome 🙂

Q- What first triggered it?

A- Im interpreting this question as when did it first begin (correct me if im wrong). The answer is Im not sure. I have had a fixation with my hair for as long as I can remember, however I pulled out my first strand in my early teens and it was due to immense stress completing an assignment for school I didnt want to do at 2am

Q- What triggers it now, and is there some sort of relief that you gain from it in some way

A- At the moment, stress (bordem included) and anxiety seem to set it off. Since I have cptsd you can imagine I live in a state of pretty perpetual stress. Caffeine exacerbates it so I stay away for the most part. It also doesnt necessarily require a trigger though as I often do it habitually and mindlessly.

There is a sense of relief, but it is short lived, so the cycle repeats without any sense of completion. Usually what stops me is hand exhaustion, hunger, headaches, and/or another task requiring my attention

Q- Does it hurt?

A- From the regular spots, nope. Occasionally if I pull from a newer or less explored area I can get a particularly sensitive spot and that can sting.

Q- Do you feel like you’d prefer not to have the compulsion, or is the relief you feel so much more worthwhile than having to deal with the condition?

A- Considering the relief is so short lived, I absolutely would prefer not to have the compulsion.

@fruitisgood

Thank you for being such a good sport and helping to educate me - I appreciate it!

No problem!

@SleeplessRaven

Hi @fruitisgood

What do the doctors and psychologists suggest would remedy this compulsion?

You mentioned cPTSD, is there any correlation to when you make progress with this trouble and a diminishment of trichotillomania?

You mentioned that hunger, exhaustion and other impending tasks reduce the compulsion. Do you have any other activities or states of feeling that you have tried, which have failed, or you are just in the ponding phase?

Regards

J.