Hair plucking

[Quahog]

One of my best friends plucks her hair. She said she doesn't do it because she's depressed. She says she just gets stressed out, and rather her hitting something/someone, she just plucks a strand of hair from her head.

I just want to know whether or not this is normal or if you knew other people that did it.

I just recently found out she does this, and I want to help her.

[Syvelocin]

Trichotillomania is the technical term for it. It is actually relatively common, I used to have this as a kid when I'd constantly pull out my eyelashes.

I'd imagine it's just very habitual, like a nervous habit, though she does it when she gets stressed. It's compulsive. So either resisting the urge until it's lessened, or using something to help it. There are medications and therapy to help it.

Really, just be there for her as a support system if she's trying to get over it. There's not much else you can do, but even that is extremely helpful.

[Ambrosia]

My cousin began doing this at a very young age. Her mother was a terror and so as a stress relief she would pluck her hair. She had to wear wigs until she graduated highschool.

This IS a form of selfharm.

[Nevermore]

I still pull hair. I've been pulling hair out since I was little. I've pulled it from my arms,and my legs, and parts of my face, and rarely on my head. Be there for her, talk to her. Support her.

[Fiction]

I have two friends that did this. They where both pretty young when they started and now they are my age they've stopped doing it. So I suppose it's something you can grow out of :)