r/Trichsters May 11 '23

Discussion [MOD POST] Please flair all pictures of pulling damage!

17 Upvotes

Hi everyone - I'm one of the mods at r/Trichsters. We are a small mod team and some issues/requests have fallen through in the past, our apologies for that. Turns out the version of Reddit on my phone doesn't show alerts for mod mail šŸ˜… We'll try to be more on top of things in the future.

Anyway, on to business: we've seen an increase in posts with a picture of post-pulling damage. While the act of sharing can be cathartic, it can also be triggering for those who are visually stimulated into pulling/picking. For this reason, please put the 'Trigger Warning' flair on all images of pulling damage. This way, people can filter out/not click on images with this content if they are sensitive. If a post doesn't have a flair, it may be assigned a flair and/or removed by the mods at their individual discretion. Repeat offenses from one account may result in a warning or temp/permanent ban, depending on severity and mod discretion. Please send us a report or mod mail if you see a post without a flair that you think deserves one, we will review it as we are able.

Thank you folks for all your support over the years. This is a small subreddit but it's a first-time visit for a lot of people newly diagnosed or curious about trich, and we're happy to provide that resource. Please let us know if you have other requests or suggestions for the subreddit!


r/Trichsters 1d ago

An important question with important information in its answer

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2 Upvotes

r/Trichsters 8d ago

Try Bubble Wrap

7 Upvotes

Itā€™s a bit too soon to be sure, but bubble wrap is good enough to distract me from pulling my eye lashes. Itā€™s been a month, letā€™s see what happens. Everything else didnā€™t work but this gave me hope. Try it šŸ€


r/Trichsters 9d ago

Therapeutic Routines to Prevent Pulling

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5 Upvotes

r/Trichsters 9d ago

Meditation is the best tool to dissolve my urges

0 Upvotes

r/Trichsters 17d ago

To anyone reading this who struggles with trichotillomania,

15 Upvotes

I want you to know: You are not alone. I see you. I know what it feels like to experience that overwhelming urge to pull, the sense of relief and shame that follows, and the loneliness that comes with trying to hide it. Itā€™s a battle that others may not fully understand, but that doesnā€™t make your experience any less valid.

Healing from trichotillomania is not a quick fix. Itā€™s not about stopping cold turkey or erasing the habit overnight. Itā€™s a process ā€” a deeply personal and sometimes painful process ā€” and itā€™s okay if it takes time. You donā€™t have to be perfect. You just have to be patient and compassionate with yourself.

For so long, I saw my pulling as a flaw, as something I was doing wrong, and I felt like I was failing every time I couldn't stop. But what Iā€™ve come to understand is that trichotillomania isnā€™t a reflection of who I am, nor does it define me. Itā€™s a coping mechanism, a way that my mind and body deal with stress, anxiety, or even boredom. Understanding this has been one of the most freeing things in my healing journey.

The shame that often accompanies trichotillomania can make us feel like we have to hide it, to pretend it isnā€™t happening. But Iā€™ve learned that hiding my struggles only increases the shame. Itā€™s okay to ask for help. Itā€™s okay to talk about it. Itā€™s okay to let others see the real you, not the ā€œperfectā€ version you feel pressured to be.

Iā€™ve found that healing involves more than just trying to stop the behavior ā€” itā€™s about learning to manage the emotions underneath it. Self-compassion has been my biggest ally. When I catch myself pulling, instead of berating myself or feeling guilty, I try to pause and ask, "What am I feeling right now?" Am I anxious? Sad? Lonely? Identifying the feelings that trigger the urge to pull has been key in finding healthier ways to cope with them.

Iā€™ve also realized that recovery isnā€™t linear. Some days, I take huge steps forward, and other days, I stumble. And that's okay. Every day, every moment I donā€™t give up, Iā€™m making progress. The journey is messy, and thatā€™s part of the process. Thereā€™s no "one way" to heal, and thatā€™s important to remember. You have the right to move at your own pace.

If you feel stuck, reach out for support. Whether it's a therapist, a trusted friend, or even a self therapeutic tool like this training workbook, you deserve the space to talk, to heal, and to be understood. Itā€™s okay to not have it all figured out ā€” what matters is that youā€™re showing up for yourself, day by day.

Remember, you are not defined by your struggle. You are worthy of kindness, both from others and from yourself. Healing doesnā€™t happen in a straight line, but every small step is part of your journey. And you are so, so strong for walking it.. šŸ’–


r/Trichsters 19d ago

Working on your thoughts is the key !

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3 Upvotes

r/Trichsters 20d ago

Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder) Research

83 Upvotes

Hi! I am currently working on a research paper to advance our understanding of trichotillomania. Your participation helps medical professionals and scientists develop better forms of treatment for the estimated 200,000 Americans with TTM. The questionnaire is a Google form (approx. 5 min long) that is open to everyone who has/had trichotillomania. The more people who participate, the stronger our research will be, so please feel free to share. Thank you for your time, you are making a difference :) Ā https://forms.gle/iB958cgTDpPbx5pZ8


r/Trichsters 29d ago

hurts to pull aka silver lining

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11 Upvotes

Due to winter, lack of hydration, working outside, and washing my hands a lot, the corners of my thumbs split open, and using them or bumping them hurts SO BAD. On the plus side, I can't possibly put enough pressure on them to pull, so my follicles are getting a break!


r/Trichsters Nov 20 '24

Any experience with hair implants

2 Upvotes

Hi all, been struggling with trich for about 12 years now, have gone through periods of pulling more and less. While I do have my spots I am grateful I have stopped pulling the most noticeable places like my eyebrows. I generally pull on my scalp, back and sides of head. I am getting to the point where Iā€™m worrying if all my hair will grow back. I have thought about getting implants on and off, just because my pulling is deterred by having longer hairs. I an curious if anyone has had experience getting implants and how it impacted their trich.


r/Trichsters Nov 20 '24

Will they grow back normally?

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I apologize if this question isnā€™t allowed, as I have never posted on this page before. I am 21 and started to pull at around 15 years old. Within the recent few months, I have pulled quite a lot, and I have noticed that a lot of my lashes are suddenly growing in downwards or sideways. Does this normally mean the follicle is damaged and they will permanently grow these ways? Iā€™m not too educated on the subject and am very worried that they may no longer grow back long and upwards like they used to. Iā€™ve never had this many growing down/sideways before so Iā€™m pretty nervous. Any insight would be helpful!


r/Trichsters Nov 17 '24

I wrote the book I wish I'd had as a kid with trich! šŸ“–

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13 Upvotes

I've pulled my hair out for over 20 years, starting when I was 13 years old. As a child, I never read a book which made me feel seen. Most of them spoke about trich as something weird or gross. And that's NOT okay. So I decided to write the book I wish I'd had.

This is that book! It came out yesterday šŸ„³ It's for kids with BFRBs (body-focused repetitive behaviors) such as compulsive nail-biting, hair-pulling, or skin-picking, made by someone with BFRBs. There is no negative language and there are no triggering images. I wanted the book to be gently factual in a comforting way. No one should feel alone in their disorder, especially little ones. šŸ¤

šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡² US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1763736008

šŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1763736008

šŸ‡¦šŸ‡ŗ AU - https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/1763736008


r/Trichsters Nov 16 '24

highly recommend

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1 Upvotes

r/Trichsters Nov 04 '24

day 1! tw for image and some things i will say Spoiler

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1 Upvotes

tw for image and some things i will say

iā€™ve been going at this spot for years now. i canā€™t stop until today, itā€™s embarrassing with my barber making comments, and me having to keep my hair long so it doesnā€™t show. it hurts but it hurts good. it feels different from if i try pulling other parts of my hair out.


r/Trichsters Nov 01 '24

The main character in the recently-released horror movie, Smile 2, suffers from stress-induced trichtollomania.

13 Upvotes

Though not a major part of the film (so not really a spoiler, don't worry), the main character consistently pulls out her hair in stressful situations, and there are flashbacks to previous times in which she has nervous breakdowns and had ruined her hair.

I just thought it was nice to see the main character in a semi-large movie be a trichster.


r/Trichsters Nov 01 '24

Clinical trial for trichotillomania at the University of Chicago

8 Upvotes

We are recruiting for an experimental drug and behavioral therapy study aimed to treat trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder) or dermatillomania (skin picking disorder).

Eligible participants will:

-Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Complete study visits once a week, with 1 in-person visit and 16 virtual visits

-Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Complete questionnaires and cognitive testing

-Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Take an experimental drug for 8 weeks

-Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Participate in one-on-one therapy sessions with a licensed psychologist for 8 weeks

-Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Be compensated up to $255

If you are interested, you can fill out our prescreening survey atĀ https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BPTM56KĀ or call usĀ at 773-702-5523.


r/Trichsters Oct 19 '24

Hair growth actives/product recommandations

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1 Upvotes

r/Trichsters Oct 17 '24

Trichoteiromania - hair cutting trich - in media, or close to it. Mention of cutting hair as "emotional response to an unruly cowlick" in the original Fraiser show (S9E10)

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5 Upvotes

r/Trichsters Oct 16 '24

Dissertation Study Recruitment Request

3 Upvotes

Hello All,

Thank you so much for reading this! My name is Alanna Barnes, and I am currently enrolled in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program (Psy.D.) at Chaminade University. I am seeking participants for my dissertation research study. My study aims to create a novel measure of psychological safety. This measure would be used in the psychotherapeutic setting to assess if a client/patient perceives their therapist to have created a psychologically safe environment. To participate, I am asking for individuals to complete an anonymous ten-minute survey. There will also be a raffle for one of three $50 Visa gift cards for any participant who would be comfortable sharing their email address. The email address will be kept confidential and only used for the raffle. Upon the completion of the raffle, all email addresses will be deleted.

To qualify as a participant, here are my inclusion criteria:

  • Must be over the age of 18
  • Must be located within the United States
  • Must be English-speaking
  • Must be currently receiving psychotherapy from a licensed mental health professional OR it has been less than a year from your most recent session with a licensed mental health professionalĀ 
  • At the time of the study, one must have completed at least two sessions with a licensed mental health professional

If you know someone or a group that would be interested in taking this survey, please forward. Lastly, if you qualify to participate and want to participate, please use this link.

This study was approved by the Chaminade IRB on September 30th, 2024 with Protocol Number: CUH 449 2024.


r/Trichsters Oct 06 '24

Regrowth products

3 Upvotes

Hi all, I'm a 40 year old female, have had trich since I was about 10, and while I've managed to control my pulling on my head for the most part, I'm losing more hair each day than I'm comfortable with šŸ˜” I've been taking viviscal for a few years though not regularly. I've definitely got some areas where I've damaged the follicles to the point that the hair that does grow is thin and comes out easily. I do think that Viviscal has helped some though.

It seems like there are so many products out there now for hair loss- I keep seeing ads for products like act + acre, musely, nutrafol, spoiled child, hers, etc, as well as red light therapy products. Has anyone with years of damage like me had tried any of these? I worry that the damage I've caused is very specific. Though part of it could be hormonal based on my age and the fact that I had a hysterectomy several years ago.

Thanks for any input!


r/Trichsters Oct 03 '24

Iā€™ve lost the beard I always wanted

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3 Upvotes

I wrote a more in-depth article if youā€™re interested and Iā€™ve put a timeline of photos in there too if youā€™d like to see. This post is just a quick summary, but Iā€™d love some advice.

Iā€™ve always wanted a beard, even if it wasnā€™t great. After years of waiting, it finally filled in when I was 23.

Iā€™m 27 now and for nearly two years, Iā€™ve been dealing with truck. I have absolutely no idea why it started.

I mostly pluck from my moustache, leaving noticeable patches but recently Iā€™ve managed to completely remove my moustache.

It often happens when Iā€™m bored or zoning out. Despite trying various strategies like wearing gloves, using fidget toys, and asking my partner to call me out, I havenā€™t been able to stop yet.

The frustration is real, especially since it took so long to grow a beard. Now I feel self-conscious and anxious about my appearance. With my brotherā€™s wedding coming up, I want to feel confident in the photos.

Has anyone any tips or experiences to share? I feel at a bit of a loss.


r/Trichsters Oct 02 '24

Real-time alerts for hair pulling and progress tracking - useful?

6 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

Iā€™m currently in the process of developing a desktop app to help with habit awareness training, specifically for trichotillomania and other body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). The app runs in the background and uses your webcam to send real-time alerts if it notices you engaging in these behaviors, and it tracks your progress over time. Think of it like the HabitAware Keen2 bracelet, but as a software solution instead of something you wear.

I would love to know if this is something people would find useful, and if there are any suggestions or concerns you'd want me to consider?

Thanks for the feedback!


r/Trichsters Oct 01 '24

Is there any way at all to stop trich for good or am I cursed with it for the rest of my life

7 Upvotes

My hair is getting ever greasier and messier

I can't even tuck my bangs behind my ear anymore

I used to wash my hair once every 3 days. It then turned into once every 2 days and now I can't even go 8 hours without it being greasy as shit

My parents and grandparents keep telling me to stop but I can't. I wish it was that easy but I don't even know how to go two weeks without pulling my hair let alone stop for good

Will I seriously have to live with this forever? What am I supposed to do


r/Trichsters Sep 22 '24

Keen2 Review

5 Upvotes

This post is not sponsored. I am 30 years old male. I have been struggling with a form a trich since my early teen years. I donā€™t pull my hair, but I go into complete fits of twisting my hair. Hours a day of twisting and knotting my hair. Once I start I canā€™t stop. I may not struggle as tough as some of you, but everyone around me knows I have this issue as I am constantly twisting my hair. I have never seen a doctor about the issue but have tried stopping multiple times on my own. I have ordered multiple fidget tools and cut my hair short but it never seemed to help.

I am on week 2 of having a Keen2 bracelet and I have not twisted my hair one time in that time. It was like an instant fix and my urges are as low as they have ever been. I guess I just needed a constant reminder not to do it. It is alittle pricey but I canā€™t believe the difference it has made so quickly. Highly recommend.

Let me know if you have any questions.


r/Trichsters Sep 22 '24

Seeking Insights on Possible Trichotillomania

4 Upvotes

Iā€™ve been dealing with certain behaviors for several years, but I never considered they might be related to trichotillomania until recently.

It all started with my eyebrows. I have a tendency to pull them because I enjoy the sensation of pain that comes with it. After that, I moved on to my nailsā€”I havenā€™t cut them in about two years because I pull them off myself as they grow.

More recently, I started pulling hair from my mustache. This made me realize that this could be a serious issue. During a stressful period, I pulled many hairs from my mustache, and now they havenā€™t grown back for about 4-5 weeks. My mustache has been part of my identity for quite some time and thinking that that spot could never grow back frightens me. I also have noticeable gaps in my eyebrows that I try to cover, but theyā€™ve been there for a long time.

I recently got my first tattoo, and I felt pleasure from the pain of the needle piercing my skin. The sensation I experienced was very similar to the feeling I get when I pull out hair. This connection is something Iā€™ve been thinking about.

Do you think this could be trichotillomania?


r/Trichsters Sep 20 '24

Help with trich? thanks

1 Upvotes

So Iā€™ve been struggling quite a lot recently. I pull my eyebrows and eyelashes. Right now Iā€™m not trying to stop with my eyelashes because itā€™s not too obsessive and but if I try stop I will go bored and end up pulling my eyebrows. The problem with my eyebrows is I canā€™t stop plucking them. I donā€™t struggle with pulling with my fingers. Maybe 6 months ago I started plucking my eyebrows and I started getting addicted. My parents noticed because my eyebrows looked horrible but I couldnā€™t explain that I had trich. For ages I didnt even know I had it, I was confused why I tried to stop but I couldnā€™t. Then my parents hid all the tweezers in the house. For maybe a few weeks i was alright, although I was gutted about it. I could understand why they did it but it was like they couldnā€™t trust me. This is the part I donā€™t like saying because I think Iā€™m weird for it. I have started using nail clippers to pluck my eyebrows. I have found a way so when they start growing I can clip them and slowly pluck them out. I love the feeling. The problem is I havenā€™t even went a single week without pulling or plucking my eyebrows. I need some help I have tried some fidget type things but they donā€™t work for me. Also Iā€™m not going to tell anyone I know about my problem right now. Thank you if you have advice please share.