Any advice?

[Splat]

Just before I start, I'd like to say that I'm almost 100% sure I don't have depression or anything so if this is in the wrong place, any mods feel free to move it. Or if you think otherwise, please say.

So when I was in primary school I was badly bullied by other girls because of my height and hair (I was 155cm at 10 and I have long blonde hair). Of course, I know now that they were jealous but at the time I didn't and I didn't tell my parents until the last half year of primary. Anyway, because of this, I was stressed and so the habit of eyelash and eyebrow pulling began.

I used to end up with big gaps and so of course I'd get bullied more. My mum found out about it (I mean, it was obvious) and she told me to stop. She told the school about the bullying and when I left to go to senior school it was a big weight off of my shoulders.

I'm now 16 and it's been 7 years since I was first bullied. Yet, I cannot stop the habit. Sometimes, I have great months and most of the hair will have grown back (although, due to the amount of pulling, the hairs are now black instead of blonde :( ). However, there are still sometimes big length differences.

However, due to me having exams in June and a lot of school work, I become stressed and I start pulling (mainly my eyelashes now.) It's embarrassing to wear mascara because the gaps show up a lot and the fact I'm pulling stresses me even more.

Does anyone know what to do? Anything I can put on my eyelashes to help them grow properly again?

Splat x

[Leprous]

Splat Well, it seems it's a way to cope with the stress. I think the best thing to do is to find something that can distract when you get stressed. Try to relax when you can, go outside when you've been studying for a long time. We all have our own way of dealing with stress, and yeah, sometimes they may not be ideal. As I said before, try finding another way to cope with the stress. I know you lay get stressed by pulling them out, but try not to worry too much, it's hard to just 'stop worrying', but yeah.

For the eyelashes themselves, I'm afraid I don't have advice for that.

[Shiny Moon]

Don't do that, you've to find another way to deal with it. I don't know what you like to do, but judging by your avatar looks like you like sports, so you can try boxing with a punching bag. Yoga and meditation are good too. These options not only will help to relieve stress, but will also have benefits for your mind and body ^_^

[Salad_Baby]

I'm definitely not an expert, but how about 'treating' yourself whenever you go through a period of not pulling out your eyelashes? For example, as you said you're going through GCSEs right now, so how about if you go through a few hours, or maybe a whole day, of not pulling out your eyelashes you get to spend an extra hour of relaxing before studying? That should hopefully make you 'not want to' pull them out, due to the incentive.

[Splat]

Splat Well, it seems it's a way to cope with the stress. I think the best thing to do is to find something that can distract when you get stressed. Try to relax when you can, go outside when you've been studying for a long time. We all have our own way of dealing with stress, and yeah, sometimes they may not be ideal. As I said before, try finding another way to cope with the stress. I know you lay get stressed by pulling them out, but try not to worry too much, it's hard to just 'stop worrying', but yeah.

For the eyelashes themselves, I'm afraid I don't have advice for that.

Don't do that, you've to find another way to deal with it. I don't know what you like to do, but judging by your avatar looks like you like sports, so you can try boxing with a punching bag. Yoga and meditation are good too. These options not only will help to relieve stress, but will also have benefits for your mind and body ^_^

I'm definitely not an expert, but how about 'treating' yourself whenever you go through a period of not pulling out your eyelashes? For example, as you said you're going through GCSEs right now, so how about if you go through a few hours, or maybe a whole day, of not pulling out your eyelashes you get to spend an extra hour of relaxing before studying? That should hopefully make you 'not want to' pull them out, due to the incentive.


All of you, thank you for your support.
I had started to get smaller gaps a couple of weeks ago but since the end of the holidays and the beginning of school I suddenly had a major pulling phase :(
I realized what was going on and luckily the gaps are many but small. Seeing as this has gone on for half of my life, I know this will be difficult but I'm trying my best to stop.


In case anyone else is in my situation, I have googled this problem (which seems to be called trichotillomania) and many websites are there supporting people with this problem.
I used to worry I would never get them back again but although it will take a long time, they will come back eventually. Although, if done too much there is the risk of permanent damage.

Links for anyone interested:

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Trichotillomania_Hair_Pulling/forum/15954826-my-eyebrows-and-eyelashes

http://trichotillomaniastop.com/stop-eyelash-pulling-2/