Bad habit
Hello everyone! :))
For the past month, I have been struggling with a bad habit of plucking out my hair, and it has resulted in me having a bald spot on the top of my head. Before, it was just a result of stress due to a big friendship fallout, but now I've had the urge to do it so often that it's become a bad habit. To be honest, I feel extremely embarrassed and anxious to be sharing this, but I've also been wondering if anyone can share some advice or have had a similar experience.
@WhimsicalHeart999
hi, welcome to Cups! firstly i appreciate you being vulnerable in sharing this! i don't know if it's a compulsive thing but you may have luck posting in the OCD & Related Behaviors community:
https://www.7cups.com/forum/ocd/
@WhimsicalHeart999 Hi, I'm sorry to hear you're going through this! My sister dealt with this (trichotillomania) during childhood. For her, it was all of her eyebrows and eyelashes. She overcame it after a few years. I am a severe nail biter, and I have been since I was three or four. Usually people comment or make terrible noises if they see my hands. I know it's not the same, but I understand the compulsive element when you're stressed, and I understand the shame. You are not at ALL alone. I have heard that something called a "picky pad" is a good sensory toy to help with this. Perhaps worth looking into? Much love and support, friend. It is not easy to overcome habits!
(I'm currently wearing a nail polish that makes me gag when I taste it. Taking it day by day.)
@WhimsicalHeart999
hey, I understand I’ve been through the same thing but now I’ve got it under control so I don’t have any bald spots, although still pull out my hair sometimes. it’s hard to stop like all bad habits, but take it one day at a time and I know you can do this ❤️ it can be helpful to have a chart where if you don’t pull for a certain amount of time, you get a small reward, and the reward increases the longer you go without :) I hope this helps, good luck! you’ve got this, it’s gonna be okay
