Lora's story

I am from the UK and I have been pulling my own hair out of and on since I was 2 years old.I am now 20.
It was really bad back then I used to pull out one hair at night put it in my hand and wonder if that same hair would still be in my hand when I woke up so I wouldnt have to pull out another one in the moring. I also used to use a hair like a guitar string and "twang" it This is when my mum noticed. My mum has
pictures of me from back then with a shaven head but one really bad bald spot on the top left hand side of my head. But then some how without realizing it I stopped.

Then when I went to high school I started again, My hair was always in a half ponytail so most of my hair was down, a friend of mine said "you can see loads of your scalp in that parting" then I always had a full ponytail in, I hated the fact that someone other than my mum knew about it. 

Since then I have been a "Wiggly" hair scout and as soon as I find a thick one its pulled and I play with it in my fingers just really running my thumb and forefinger down it. If I fail to find a "wiggly" hair I pull a thick one and use my nails to curl it (like curling a ribbon for a present) so it feels the same, it seems to be the feel of them that does it for me I don't generally eat the hair I usually just play with the root. I don't have a huge bald patch anymore but my hair does lie funny at the same spot I used to pull as a kid.

I have no explanation for me doing this, I am not unhappy, I like my job I don't hate myself so I cant explain this self mutilation as I see it, 

Your website helped me though. I now understand that there are other people in the world who do this, and they also seem not to know why we do it. I don't know of anybody else nearby who has this problem and not one of my friends do it. 

My Fiance knows about it and so does my hair dresser (obviously) and my best friend. My mum still asks "how's your hair" and has noticed that it seems to be getting thicker, Which I am happy about, I was thinking of going to see a hypnotist, I am pricing them up at the moment, I will let you know how
this goes so I can hopefully help someone else out with this.

Thanky ou for taking time out to read this. I just wanted to share my story with some one and feel free to use me as an example of Trich around the world as I noticed you don't have any UK stories on your website. Yes there are people all over the world who share the same problem....although I couldn't imagine pulling out my eyelashes or eyebrows I am glad we all have a place we can get it off our chests and people who can share what you are
going though.

Lora UK