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trichotillomania
I have a type of OCD called trichotillomania. It is very rare but I am absolutely positive I have it. My parents know that there was something wrong with me but didn't know it was an actual mental illness. It makes me pull out my eyelashes when I get stressed. And I go to a very competitive, highly stressful boarding school, which means I'm stressed ALL the time.
My trichotillomania (TTM) started in middle school and there was a point when I didn't have any eyelashes at all. Then, without any medical help, I trained myself to stop the urges to pull out my eyelashes. And they grew back.
But at the end of last year it came back! I have full eyelashes on my right eye, but half of my left eye has none! I cover it up with eyeliner and not many people notice because I have pretty heavy side bangs, but it still drives me crazy. I would be so much more confident if I was just normal.
The only person I've talked to who has TTM is away at college now and I barely talk to her.
What can I do to stop myself from picking? Its mainly when I'm doing my homework at night.
Any suggestions??? Something to do with my hands? Some way to get me to stop?? I'm desperate. I've tried sooo hard. Its a mental illness so I can't just tell myself to stop. And I can't seek medical help, I go to a boarding school.
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PLEASE go to [Link](Mouse over link to see full location). The responder already posted this link. The website belongs to Trichotillomania Learning Center. The TLC is the authority on trich- information on coping, recovering, educating, and connecting you to other people going through what you are going through now. Please learn as much as you can from experts- specialized doctors, etc., etc.- you will be much better off once you learn legitimate information from people who actually know what they're talking about.
Ps. Trichotillomania is not rare- between 1-3% of Americans (up to 15 millions Americans) have trich. Also, it is not a type of OCD. The two are different disorders entirely.
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Hey, I hear you. I know exactly how you feel. I do have TTM, I was diagnosed with it. My left eye isn't too bad, but my right eyelashes are almost gone. Its sad and hard to deal with. I feel stressed all the time which causes me to go crazy and pull my eyelashes out. It so embarassing and hard to talk about. There was a period when they completely grew back and I was fine, for 2 months anyway. Then the cycle started again. I have been trying to fix it for a while.
I found out something recently, if you become busy and do stuff w/ your hands, you don't have time to pull your eyelashes out. And thats a huge help.
I pop bubblewrap to help me. It kind of works actually.
I wear eyeliner too and mascara anything to cover it up.
Good Luck! I hope it works for you.
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i also have OCD. and you can stop it on your own. when you're stresed, get up and do something else for a couple of minutes. something i woud do would be like, get up and do five jumping jacks. sounds dumb, i know, but its helped a lot !
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Talk to a councelor at your boarding school or a trust adult. Tell them the problem you are having and maybe they can take further action. You really need to get some professional help with this, you wont be able to stop it on your own. Like you said, it's a mental illness and you can't just tell yourself to stop. That means you need to tell someone you trust, and I don't mean one of your friends.
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