| Pulling eyelashes...
Posted: 9/18/2009 10:01:51 PM | It's horribly embarrassing but I've had a hard time finding any information on the internet other than hearing about other people suffering from the same condition. It's called trichotillomania.
Normally this bad habit consists of pulling out your hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. It is sometimes just an OCD habit, but usually caused by stress and usually once you have it, it's there for life from what I understand. Comes and goes.
I only pull my eyelashes and although my case isn't extreme, I'm TIRED of having huge noticeable gaps where my eyelashes are supposed to be. Eventually they won't grow back at all and I need to kick this habit before they stop! Apparently the only known cure (or help) is anti depressants and I'm not going that route. It's just a terrible habit that you don't even have to think about to do it, often happens when you're sleeping.
Anybody else know of this or have any ideas to try that could to help me? Thanks. | |
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| Pulling eyelashes...
Posted: 9/18/2009 10:06:00 PM |
It's just a terrible habit that you don't even have to think about to do it, often happens when you're sleeping.
Wear pirate patches over your eyes while you're sleeping? | |
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| Pulling eyelashes...
Posted: 9/18/2009 10:09:03 PM | http://hubpages.com/hub/Trichotillomania-Things-That-Help
Do some research: I just took a quick look for you. Some interesting stuff, and the meds are not the way to go. You need some behavior mod..or as the above poster stated...Pirate patches? lol...Keep your humor! One of my kids is a lip puller/nibbler...it makes her crazy at times...lol.
Read up...looks like you have some good choices, and some great blogs to read.
T. | |
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| Pulling eyelashes...
Posted: 9/18/2009 10:09:06 PM | | i pull mine out too but it's not really intentional. that's how i remove my mascara, have been doing it for years. of course some of the lashes come out when i pull the mascara off. i also use a makeup remover. guess it's also a bad habit. | |
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| Pulling eyelashes...
Posted: 9/18/2009 10:12:48 PM | hmm, don't know of any tips to stop, but i've heard of that condition a lot on tv shows like dr. phil and news shows. I think aside from the same anti-depressant/anxiety meds like you heard.
I'd think it could be stopped with behavioral techniques. but it's easy to suggest that when i haven't been there.
How long have you been doing that? | |
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| Pulling eyelashes...
Posted: 9/18/2009 10:17:35 PM | Start taking vitamin b complex. It will help with the stress. 500 mg with breakfast.
I know this sounds silly, but wear oven mitts to bed for three weeks.
You will break yourself of the habit.
Also applying vitamin E to your eyelashes will help them to grow back.
Good luck hon!!! | |
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| Pulling eyelashes...
Posted: 9/18/2009 10:22:33 PM | Thanks for the link! I'm reading up but this is mostly things I've read before... it's just the motivation to FORCE yourself into these habits. I think now that Fall is coming I'm going to try wearing gloves all the time... that may actually work, or at least help.
I've been doing this for about 4 or 5 years now. I would really love this to be my last year doing it... wish me luck. | |
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| Pulling eyelashes...
Posted: 9/18/2009 11:06:11 PM | Good luck...try looking into the tapping. I have heard good results of the type of behavior mod with other issues. Why don't you blog about your journey...that may be way cool and helpful to many.
Best,
T. | |
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| Pulling eyelashes...
Posted: 9/19/2009 12:32:21 PM | I chronically "pick" (pull) at my eye brows. It was so bad when I was 13-15 that I had almost no eye brows at all and I've been doing it since as far back as I can remember. I've had wounds on them and I'd still pick at them, pulling the hairs out or just rubbing them with the knuckle of my thumb, my thumbnail, or my pinky finger. For what it's worth, I used to do the same thing to my hair when I was a toddler; I'd fall asleep rubbing the ends of my hair, poking the hair up beneath my nail and whatnot.
It's a tic, I think. I notice I do it most when I'm bored or when I'm stressed. Embarrassing as it is to admit it, I also just enjoy the feeling of pulling out a piece of hair from my eyebrows once in a while, or feeling one poke into the crease of my knuckle. It's the oddest habit, I'll give you that much.
The point of all this is, I *was* on antidepressants (I have chronic depression issues, currently untreated) and it didn't help the issue. I've tried behavior modification techniques too, but I must have low will power as it hasn't helped.
Try to pinpoint exactly when you do most of your pulling and see if there is any correlation between when you do it and what you're feeling/going through. I find that knowing I do most of my "picking" (pulling) when I'm bored helps me realize I need to go do something to take my mind off the boredom  | |
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| Pulling eyelashes...
Posted: 9/19/2009 12:57:45 PM | I am aware of the situation, it is a form of stress induced OCD. Wear gloves if it's just a mild case and if you cannot help it there are medications out there to help you deal with the stress.
The best therapy for this in my opinion is vigorous exercise. It relieves the tension and your body will produce seratonin and calm you down. Good luck. I have a cousin that nearly picked herself bald. | |
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| Pulling eyelashes... / Good News !
Posted: 10/16/2009 7:10:37 AM | Briefly,
I have dealt with this my whole life. I ran into an eye doctor who explained to me that some people have eyelash follicles that produce a lot of discharge. Not sure why, but you are more prone to pulling them due to it feels better, less itch who knows.
The cure is simple wash your eyeleahes with a warm wash cloth morning and night, use a Q tip with a small amount of dish soap. This will clean this sticky secretion .
Multi-vitamins, Vitamin E, and B-complex seem to help also .
I suspect you also scratch your scalp and have dandruff. Hope this helps ! | |
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| Pulling eyelashes... / Good News !
Posted: 10/16/2009 1:44:33 PM | Thanks, I do clean them twice a day now at least and it seems to help the itch a little... it comes and goes but I'm more aware of the itch before I start rubbing it. I don't have dandruff or any other skin problems, it's just this, so luckily I can concentrate on it.
I'm actually on my 3rd week of being pull free... just discipline and I'm using an eye lash conditioner that mentally makes me more aware not to touch what I've just done... kind of like not biting your nails because you have polish on. It's worked well so far... I hope I can keep it up. | |
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| Pulling eyelashes... / Good News !
Posted: 10/16/2009 4:33:20 PM | | Re-structure your behavior. Have a siginificant other/friend/whatever tell you STOP when they see it happening, and when you even catch yourself thinking it, tell yourself STOP, or snap a rubber-band on your wrist that you wear for that purpose. You can re-train the subconscious in this manner possibly. | |
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