Trichotillomania and Dermatillomania - Ways to Stop

[sparrowfly09]

I didnt know there was a mental condition about picking at your skin... I thought I was the only one. I pick at my lips ive been doing it since as far as I can remember, before starting school and everything it even gets to the point where my lips will bleed but I cant stand feeling a scab or chapped lips so I pick, I even pick my husband if he has a scab somewhere.. it sounds so gross but I thought I was the only one b.c no one else I know does it

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@sparrowfly09 It's definitely not talked about a lot.

[wavellx]

Thank you for keeping it real, I needed this video

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@wavellx No problem :)

[hotoven]

thank you so much for the video. Really helps to hear from a fellow trich :)

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@hotoven I'm glad you found it helpful :)

[Mitsuki424]

i haven't been diagnosed with trichotillomania, but I know I have it. I've done it on and off for a couple years now, and now it's extremely severe. I'm starting to get bald spots and i feel really bad..i also might have a bit of dermatillomania and it's really hard..my parents don't understand and every day is a challenge..

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@Mitsuki424 It is a challenge. I get so embarrassed at the hair I find all over my room. I vacuum it up and say that'll be it and then it's not.

[HeavensWanderer]

ive struggled with trichotillomania for about 8 years now, my mom use to do it when she was younger too, it makes me feel shit, im worried about going bald, i wear my hair up every day and it really doesnt help i just go for the bottom of my hair its so frustrating:( my mom and boyfriend moan at me for it but i seriously cant stop:( but its nice to know im not alone with this makes me feel alot better xx

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@HeavensWanderer It's so difficult to stop. Try putting your hair in a bun so you can't pull at the bottom of it.

[ineedtorelaxmore]

nice video :) I have started to use hair net today and i find it more comfy than a hat/cap. So i think i will use it more and longer. My first impression is that this works really good, a hair or two is sticking out from the hair net, but it still very effective against the unaware pulling. I also planning to use double hair net in difficult moments, or trying out another type of hair net. Good advice about the gloves, i think it works, latly i try to have something on my tum.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@ineedtorelaxmore I'm glad it helped you.

[buriedvoid]

I suffered from Trichotillomania (eyebrows) for years, it was the hardest time of my life as well as the worst days of my life. Started in 7th grade all the way till my freshman year in college. I didn't even know this was a real disorder until after I had stopped. I wish I had learned earlier, the bullying was intense and I didn't have any friends growing up. Oddly enough, Magic Mushrooms cured me. I don't reccomend this too anybody but it worked for me. Best of luck to everyone..

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@buriedvoid It really sucks.

[makeitshinemichelle1]

i pick to i bleed too. people can can tell me too stop but i need help. its difficult to stop

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@makeitshinemichelle1 It's extremely difficult.

[gwhpfan23537]

Thanks for the video, I suffer from dermatillomania but have been trying to make myself stop. It can be awkward because other people like my friends will see me do it and it can be embarrassing, and my parents esp my mom want me to stop, and then they look at my scalp cuz that's where I do it, and I hate it so much that they look at me like that and treat me like that. but I have stopped before and the hope Is that I can stop again.

[CMurray1124]

Just wondering if the zoloft has helped you? I'm struggling with csp and don't really want to go on drugs. It's great to see someone talking about it. Mental illness should never be shunned or left untreated. You go, girl!!

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@CMurray1124 I got off Zoloft a long time ago. I've been on so many meds since I'm honestly not sure what helps.

[ohemmi]

You seem like someone I'd be friends with..or maybe the relatability. Here I am with my split ends and occasional dermatillomania for my scalp..I bet this is more common than people realized..I will be best friends with my hair tie, especially while I'm at college, for now..I see by your more recent videos, you're doing well. Random story, in high school instead of doing a portion of a final exam, I'd pick at my triceps....that's when arm picking was at it's peak.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@ohemmi Thank you :)

[jamaicanmehappy7]

Thank you for posting this. It's made me more aware of the continuing battle that is self-mutilation. My mom watched your video too and thought you're very bright and strong for talking about trich.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@jamaicanmehappy7 To me, trichotillomania and dermotillomania are different than self harm. There are similarities but also differences.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@Oxford1Angel That's why in this video I talk about getting down to the root of the problem.

[ninner98]

Thanks for posting this. I have the same affliction and it's nice to see someone speaking openly on this topic since those who suffer from this tend to experience a lot of shame and embarrassment. People need to be educated on this so they know we can't "just stop".

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@ninner98 True

[RhythmChaserr]

...I try to make sure I wear long sleeve shirts and shirts that cover up to my neck all the time. because this isn't an ongoing thing that has been happening for years for me, I find that just not looking at my body stops the need to pick at it. This is a self image thing problem in my opinion, so simply covering yourself up as much as you can seems to help. My arms have finally started to heal but my back and chest are still bad. I hope my suggestion helps even a bit. Ty for opening up :)

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@RhythmChaserr I always pick things on my back or chest and it isn't as bad when I'm in public but it's still pretty bad even with a shirt on.

[RhythmChaserr]

I dont know if i technically have"Dermatillomania" just cuz I have not been clinically told that I have it but I think I do. I started picking/plucking at my chest, arms and my back this year and I think its a result of my depression because I never really did it before. I find that the number 1 time i end up picking at my skin is when my shirt is off in the bathroom when im going to shower. So I found the best way to stop it is to just get out of the shower, dry up, and get a shirt on ASAP &...

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@RhythmChaserr I always pick more when I'm going to the shower as well.

[avidhunter1000]

I swear I'm the only male in the world with this painfully enjoyable addiction. I'm so ashamed but I can't stop. I've had episodes where I will literally pick my scalp until it gushes blood. I wish there was some way to fix this

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@avidhunter1000 I know it probably feels like you're the only guy who struggles with it but I know you're not.

[Inoryuki]

If you pull out your hair/eyebrows/eyelashes gloves are ok but girls get fake nails, they work so much better and its impossible to get around them i went like 3 months without pulling on my eyelashes, but sadly i couldnt play violin with them and so i started pulling almost as soon as i took them off

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@Inoryuki Fake nails are a good idea. I had some on for a while and I found that I couldn't pick at my hair as much.

[Piggiesunshine]

Cut your finger nails off and keep them trimmed.....

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@Piggiesunshine Yea.

[RhythmChaserr]

@Piggiesunshine Yea you figured it out genius...

[mizzzgiz]

[part3] ...a routine as brushing my teeth. do you have any tips?? i know i'm ruining my skin. i know how mad at myself i'll be after i do it. but i still do. it's like a drug addiction. [though i've never done drugs. i'm just assuming.]

and also... i'm sry this was a 3 parter question lol. youtube wouldn't let me do it all as 1.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@mizzzgiz It is a horrible addiction. Unfortunately the only way to make it work is by forcing yourself to do things like keeping the gloves on. Sometimes when I find that it's really bad I'll even just sit on my hands or keep them behind my back and then watch TV or do something else to distract me.

[mizzzgiz]

[part2] ...my dreams. i find blackheads and stab them out with a safety pin because i think it will somehow make my skin clearer.... yet deep down i KNOW it won't. makeup is starting to not cover well anymore.

my question is, if i try the gloves or something i know it won't work because i'll just take them off. my problem is not that i do it without noticing [though i do that sometimes] but the problem is that i actually am fully aware. i will go to the bathroom and do it as if it were...

[mizzzgiz]

[part1] i have dermatillomania and its driving me insane. it is mostly my face when i see "imperfections". but its also my cuticles, lips, any bumps on my legs, the skin under my toe nails i dig at, my scalp, my ears.... anything else that tempts me. i've done it for years. i'm now 22 but i started my scalp when i was 9 but never knew it was an official problem. i thought it was just some little habit every few days. lately i have gotten really bad to the point here i'm literally doing it in...

[w1ckedgame]

first, let me say you are so beautiful and so brave. I've always felt so alone in all this. I can't tell you the relief I feel knowing that I'm not alone. But i have a question for you fellow dermatillomaniacs and trichtillomaniacs out there: how do you deal with the soul-crushing shame, embarassment, and self-dissappointment? I always feel so ashamed and disappointed in myself after i've done it. the same feeling after i fail an exam, like i didn't try hard enough.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@w1ckedgame That is a difficult thing to deal with. The best way to deal with those feelings is to replace those negative thoughts with positive ones. And realize that it's a legitimate problem and it's ok to struggle with it.

[w1ckedgame]

@CrystalRainDrop789 It's so tough sometimes, especially when it makes me feel so ugly :/ It's nice to have a bit of support from someone who understands, though.

[Allets2000]

I had the problem for 13 years, and finally had my first successful week, and no urge, after doing daily visualization/'the secret' stuff for several months....it worked miracles! My skin is healed and so smooth...strange to touch it and feel the smooth:)

[MsConsumerProtection]

You are so beautiful and express yourself so well. Thank you for this video )

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@MsConsumerProtection Thank you!

[Tombkingretr0]

I was offered 100£, 200£ and now 1000£ to stop from my dad. It doesn't work and he gets angry at me every time he sees it (I Pick my fingers). I don't know but I get a weird sense of accomplishment when I do it...

However, I went to Vietnam in the summer and because of all the diseases I stopped for 2 months. The moment I got home: gnash gnash gnash :'(

[bloominwild7]

Thank you so much for the glove idea!! That's a great idea in a different way then you mentioned. If I wear gloves then I won't even be able to know or feel that there is a little bump that I want to pick at.

Love,

Sarah

[jessicaftelles]

Hi, Iam 25 and I am from Brazil. I've just watched your video and I am feeling very relieved right now for findind someone I can relate to. Well, I started hurting my mouth since about I was 4 or 5, and I started picking my skin when I was 11, and it has gotten worse throughout the years. I didn't know I was mutilating myself until a dermatologist told me this year, and I also didn't know I had dermatillomania until today.

[hazging]

thanks for this ive had trichotillomania for a couple of yrs thanks for the help! i need to just come to the fact i need to stop it and think what i can do and relax need to see a GP that might help some people they can give you medication.

[fusisnotapunkrocker]

I have both, damn I hate my life!

[LeafyBugChickey]

thank you for this video. I'm a 13 year old girl who has dermatillomania since i was in kindergarten and its been really hard because my grandparents don't know how hard it is to stop. but now i don't feel so alone so thank youuu.

[artbyajanderson]

I'm starting to realize I may be in the minority of skin pickers because I am always very aware of when I'm picking. I am currently doing a study using NAC for skin picking at the University of Minnesota. I hope I'm taking the placebo because I've had zero reduction in symptoms, I'll find out in a few weeks. I will be seeking treatment there after the study is done. It's a 2 hour drive but at this point I don't care. Almost 30 years of this is more than enough, and I'm only 33.

[LilSoul118]

OH SHIT ! i have both =\

[HanBroman]

@LilSoul118 Do you actually have these diseases or do you just strip your split ends when youre bored and pick at some loose skin?

Because there's an enormous difference. These are diseases that almost always cause obvious abnormalities to ones body. Sufferers spend hours sitting in shame, destroying their hair, unable to stop.

[welcome159ify]

I fucking hate trichotillomania. I've had it for 5 months. I don't know what the hell caused it, I remember that the very first day I started it, I was watching tv. When my mom found out I had it, all she did was fucking scream at me and told me to stop. She thinks i'm doing this crap for attention, i'm not. I know this is going to sound kinda stupid but is I could have one superpower, it would be the ability to change them. I could cure myself and other people with any disease. Its hard to stop

[iamyany]

@welcome159ify i totally understand iv had trich and derm for a year now and my mom said i was doing it for attention and all she would do is scream at me to stop when obviously i couldnt no matter how hard i tried. but once i lost all my hair eyebrows and eyelashes and went to a in stay hospital for help she then tried to understand.

[welcome159ify]

@iamyany Yeah I honestly don't know why I do this. Its wierd because when I go to school I don't have the urge to pull it and I don't think about doing it but when I go home I start pulling. Home is hell for me now.

[LilSoul118]

@welcome159ify bless ur heart my parents thought i waas doin this shit fot attention too but they're not even worth it =\ =\

[welcome159ify]

@LilSoul118 Yeah she said that if I had problems I could always go talk to her but when I go and try to talk to her all she does is put me down and say i'm gonna get bald. So basically she just depresses me more and more. :( I'm not sure if i'm gonna have to get medication to reduce the urges though. Bless your heart too. <3

[HeroFlame]

@dirtypantylover Not even money can heal your ignorance. You may never be happy with the world around you, maybe because of your lack in decent friends due to your mindset, but I still wish you the best with what an unflattering lack of compassion and personality you were born with.

[HeroFlame]

@dirtypantylover How sad.. such an ignorant human you are.... I feel bad for you, the sad life you must have carrying that burden of an attitude around. I'll send you my prayers.

[anklepantsmagazine]

Things that I've found that help: Wash up in the morning, at night, and after you get sweaty. Use low light (night light or a candle) in the bathroom (harder to see your spots in the mirror this way). Wear clothes that covers your spots. Play with a chunk of clay (little blocks of Sculpey work) or use a balloon filled with a bit of sand (keeps hands busy). Cover spots with bandaids when alone. File your nails short and hide all 'picking tools' (tweezers, needles, etc.). Good sleep also helps.

[TFWC88]

I may not have trich but I totally understand obsessing about the split ends. I cut them religiously without losing too much length. I feel a sense of control when looking for them and cutting them with diamond sharpened scissors. Is it the feeling of finding something that bothers you? For me it's comedones on my skin. I HATE them, so I guess I kind of understand. Anyways I use a conditioner by Nature's Gate (it's called daily herbal).

[TFWC88]

@TFWC88 people stop me on the street and ask me what do I do to make my hair so beautiful. I put virgin coconut oil on my hair and it gets very fat and silky. I also learned that Silica, a mineral, helps make hair actually thicker. It is found naturally in horsetail (tea). Maybe if you like your hair more then you won't stop it? The same probably goes for me--if I make my skin better I won't want to pick it? I see I have a problem with skin picking and I'm trying to reach out and share my mind.

[waffocopter]

I'd really like to stop my dermatillomania. I bought one of those Tangle toys for my hands because I pick a lot with one hand when the other's doing something like holding a book or mouse. I remember thinking about the gloves but I guess I just like the feel of normal things and don't want to miss out on that, even if it's just at home. I think I might have to follow your advice and get some kind of bracelet that jingles, though.

[noprettycool]

i have both and i need help ,anyone contact me PLZ

[Vanessaforyou]

You should cut your hair short! It would remove all split ends and voila! you're cured!

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@Vanessaforyou It took me so long to grow out I'd rather not cut it. But good idea!

[penguincuddles]

I have no eyebrows and eyelashes and I also examine my hair for split ends and pull them out or cut them off. Also im always playing with my hair. Great video :)

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@penguincuddles Thank you!

[LilSoul118]

@penguincuddles i put adhesive bandage on my eyebrows and it helps me alot =\

[moonfire27]

Thanks for sharing! You're good at expressing yourself, direct and clear, very effective - keep up that lucid thinking. Peace<3

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@moonfire27 Thanks!

[mizzalk]

Thank you for sharing. Didn't realize that anyone else did this.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@mizzalk Thanks so much for watching.

[ThePi987654321]

I have Dermatillomania and I hate how my parents just tell me to stop, and it doesn't work it just makes me more tense.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@ThePi987654321 It definitely isn't that simple.

[PaigeleeNic]

@ThePi987654321 I know how you feel, it's the same situation with me and my parents. It's just really unfair, because they don't understand at all. But I'm sorry and I hope one day your parents understand that you can't just tell someone to stop. Good luck :)

[777FLARE]

for my dermatillomania i keep my finger nails realy short its harder to pick and its a reminder too alos, ill sit on my hands to help with the urges, toys to keep your hands busy are excellent! I got silly putty its a miracle cure! when im on the bus or at home playing with that is much more entertaining lol plus its realy small so i can take it everywere =] thanks for the tips!

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@777FLARE Good ideas! :D

[777FLARE]

for my dermatillomania i keep my finger nails realy short its harder to pick and its a reminder too alos, ill sit on my hands to help with the urges, toys to keep your hands busy are excellent! I got silly putty its a miracle cure! when im on the bus or at home playing with that is much more entertaining lol plus its realy small so i can take it everywere =] thanks for the tips!

[gamgeegirl87]

I pull eyelashes and eye brows. I like to get little toys, tangles, stress balls or anything I can fiddle with and keep them on hand constantly. I have to rotate or I get bored with them. They keep my hands busy. Wearing gloves can help. Also, I find certain places/activities make me want to pull so I try and switch up where I do things. During school finals I moved my computer onto a different table and I didn't pull for the whole week. Switch it up. I've never used meds.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@gamgeegirl87 That's a good idea. It does help keeping your hands busy. I started crocheting and it's worked pretty well.

[mariah128]

...You sound just like me. It's kind of crazy. But amazing at the same time of course. I think the social anxiety is my primary condition however.

I'm just getting really worn out with all of this recently. And I've never gotten any type of formal help. My grandfather also picks at his face.

There's so much I could say...

but, at least for dermatillomania, I've read where some people have found that fake nails or specifically gel nails help. You know, that way your nails aren't so sharp.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@mariah128 That's a good idea. Plus I wouldn't want the nails to fall off so I'd be more careful.

[perriwinkleprincess]

I really love the jingly bracelet idea! i will try that!!! thanks (:

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@perriwinkleprincess I hope it helps :D

[RoseForTheDoctor]

your video has helped with some ideas for me to stop! :') thanks!

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@RoseForTheDoctor I'm so so glad it has given you ideas to help stop. Good luck and I know you can do it!

[RoseForTheDoctor]

cont.)

my grad party is coming up and it's getting to me.

i'm officially going to have to stop RIGHT now. because i need a haircut so my hair doesn't look weird.

i've also picked all my eyelashes (top ones) and they aren't really growing back anymore, so i basically fucked myself on that one. :\

but yeah.. it sure IS hard to stop!!! i wear a hat most of the time when i feel the urge to pull!! it works. and i keep my hands busy. but when i'm in bed i think i may pull without knowing.

but your

[Cute4Life94]

@RoseForTheDoctor the eyelashes grow back eventually.. Ive done that too, but they grow crooked so if your a girl you shuold learn to use an eyelash curler... :( it sucks, i know

[RoseForTheDoctor]

:\

I got Trichotillomania about.. 2 years ago. I have NO idea what caused me to start this... but it's awful.

I picked a spot on my head until it was bald, and i cried and stuff, so I tried my best to stop. Finally it started growing back... but then i had a really bad relationship and the hair pulling started again. on the back of the head this time.

This was about.. last year.

So now.. I'm at the point where a pull a few, and notice, and I stop.. but it got worse again because my grad party is

[xchriistiinaaaax]

Thanks For video!!! ur ideas really help me!! i come home from work and school and wash of my make up and put my hair up and put on a head band. Instead of picking my scars i try to stop my boredom with silly putty!! lol it works.. each day is a battle even when I catch myself ....I try to stop. Its a hard thing to stop but your vid gives me inspiration!

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@xchriistiinaaaax I'm so glad to hear that!

[noahforgottheunicorn]

I only recently found out about Dermatillomania and realize I've done it for over ten years... my mom and friends are pressing me into stopping.... however I really just do not want to.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@noahforgottheunicorn That's how I was with self injury. I still don't entirely want to stop. Everyone is different. Sometimes we don't want to stop a behavior even if it's damaging or unhealthy.

[HeartBreaker0996]

when i was 11 i kept pulling out my hair so i then had a big scabby bald patch after doing it until i was 12 i finally stopped and the hair on the top of my head is still growing back

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@HeartBreaker0996 I'm glad the hair is growing back.

[shiviem10]

I pick at my scalp a lot but I did not even know this was a disorder I was just doing it out of sheer habit:( Ive been do this for years. Thank very much for the video I can now start to leave this habit behind me:)

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@shiviem10 Good luck!  It's very difficult.

[RocketeerAndRoll]

I have most of the ocd spectrum. I'm 32 and most of my social anxiety has curbed so please have hope that the behavior will lessen over time. Right now I am skin picking for the first time since high school and my eyebrows...it's hard to lapse back, so just keep giving yourself credit. Also I find meditation is very helpful because for those of us with OCD meditation is actually very hard! Relax with soft music and read about positions, chakras...it's all connected, the mind and body.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@RocketeerAndRoll I think now that I'm on prozac and a lower dosage of zoloft the OCD behaviors have gotten better. It feels good to finally have extra time not spent on the OCD things.

[dragondancer2004]

i want to say thank u i am 21 and have been picking since elementry school i just learned there was a name for it and thats how i found u video i was looking for advice on how to stop i do recommend physical objects i remember my school consoler gave me thees foam apples and my teacher thank goodness was understanding and let me have them in class with a small desktop trash can and i would tear them to shreds but it helped after i graduated it became worse i didnt have any support tnx 4 ur h3lp

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@dragondancer2004 I'm so glad this helped you!

[naimoomoo]

Thank you, its really brave of you to have done this video, i also have both tric and derma, its horrible when your stressing out, for me its eyelashes but the charm bracelet works for that too, also cutting your nails really short helps because your grip isn't as good! cheers again

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@naimoomoo Thank you for watching and commenting!

[lullabybyrd]

Also, I just wanted to mention that I plan on trying your glove technique while at home. :)

Oh and, you're very pretty--classic sort of beauty.

[N3onpink]

Never even knew there was a name to it until now. Thanks for making this video. :) xX

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@N3onpink You're welcome!

[smashasriot]

This video helped me a lot. I have trich, but I pull my from my eyebrows. I'm going to try to bracelet one, for my case! Thank you so much for this! <3

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@smashasriot I'm really glad this helped you. It might take several different methods but don't give up!

[ashleee1023]

it is so freaking hard to explain why i had to drop a class to the few really great people i just met. i feel so ugly to my husband. most of my day revolves around me trying to cover up my skin. (OSP). my issue is mostly stress related and im praying to find the right combo of meds to help with my disorder. I honestly thought i was a nut. thank you for youre words of encouragement. people have always told me that i was a beautiful woman, and i try so hard to only let them in on the good days

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@ashleee1023 It's so frustrating when your skin ends up looking all gross from the picking. I've made my acne so much worse from all of the messing with my skin. It's really hard to stop so I hope you can get there someday. Don't give up! You can do it.

[Hypsophobia]

I just want to say THANK YOU. Thank You for this movie. Though I've been picking my scalp all the time while watching it, I found it very helpful, just, You know, to understand that I'm not alone with this... thing. I'd really like to stop doing it. I can't even go to a hairdresser, because my head looks like one big scab. It's really great that You had a courage to say it loud. :) Pozdrawiam!

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@Hypsophobia I'm glad it helped you! It does feel better when you know that other people have the same problem. I get embarrassed going to the hairdresser, too. I always wonder if she can feel the scabs when she washes my hair. I bet she sees weird things a lot, though.

[nettie0930]

I have had Trichotillomania for 20 years. I am 25 almost now I have it in my eyes and eyebrows They are completely bald I wish I could find a cure, but the sourced of it is stress and addiction. I wish l could go into a comma for like a year and treat my body with good meds but I have no health insurance so I know it won't happen Huh maybe if I cut off my thumbs, now there's a cure. Doctors are so damb greedy I hope to find a solution to bad allergic to common store bought eyelash glue it sucks.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@nettie0930 Unfortunately, no cure exists. It takes hard work and determination. With therapy and medication you can overcome it. You have to find a therapist that is effective and put lots of effort into working on the anxiety that causes you to pluck. Going into a comma, while sounding quite tempting, would only make things worse because you wouldn't be dealing with any of the causes. You'd wake up worse than before. Definitely find a psychologist rather than an MD.

[MsHappyworld]

Thanks for sharing your tips. I'm glad i'm not alone.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@MsHappyworld It does feel better when you know you're not the only one. :D

[sauskelove]

part 2) it made my scalp itch so im going to try the glove trick that sounds helpful im going just going to cut the thumb off an old pair bcuz i also still suck my thumb i tryd to tell my grandma and she sayd i wasnt scrubing my scalp hard enough when i shower but i am and my mom about the skin picking thing before i knew what this was they told me they could take me to the doc and the doc would make me see a therapist and put me on meds n stuff but she didnt and she isnt taking me seriously

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@sauskelove I do the same thing when I pick my scalp. Another option instead of a hat could be a scarf. You could tie a light scarf around your hair. I'm sorry they aren't taking you seriously. Could you try bringing it up again and explaining how serious it is?

[sauskelove]

@CrystalRainDrop789 well thanks i decided to cut my nails down short as when i used to bite them and although its not the prettiest i cant scratch or pick my nails are too short for it to work and its going well i havent gotten out any combs or tweezers or anything else to pick with yet...i guess i do it more without thinking than anything else and i guess if i think about it its alot harder to not notice getting something to use another thing is i read that acrylics b/c they arent sharp enough

[sauskelove]

part 1) thanks so much since i was little i bit my nails down till they bled then one day in cosmetology a girl did my nails really pretty and thats when i decided to stop nail biting and it worked just by telling myself how pretty they will be when they grow out well they did and then i started picking my skin on scalp mostly i pick the raised bumps and flakes and they bleed and i pick the scab and then it beeds again i cant stop i tryd the hat but ended up taking it off and doing it anyway b/c

[Kristiniskool]

Great video, I also deal with Dermatillomania and I've noticed that mine has started to clear up since I've been out of school for winter break, so I must do it because of stress (school work)..... I'll try the glove tip if mine starts to flare up again when school starts back.... Thanks for all the advice. :)

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@Kristiniskool I'm so glad you found it helpful!

[Kristiniskool]

@CrystalRainDrop789 Yep, it was! :) It's good to see more people talking about this condition, because it doesn't seem to get talked about very much.... I just can't find very many vidoes on it..... I would love to see you upload more videos on this topic! Your videos are very helpful! :)

[Chordiegurl]

It's not about being uncomfortable in your own skin and there does not necessarily need to be a trigger. Trichotillomania doesn't exactly have the same characteristics as other addictions. For me the impulse is much stronger than the feeling of wanting to go out for a cigarette. Compulsion is a better word - there needs to be a lot more research on this vastly misunderstood condition.

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@Chordiegurl Right. I never said it was about being uncomfortable in your own skin. Often times when an illness is hereditary there is a triggering event that brings out the symptoms. For example, depression and anxiety run in my family and the stress of college worsened my symptoms and brought out the depression. It is on the OCD spectrum so it can go along with other types of compulsions.

[xwhatever33x]

I think you misunderstand me, I just mean it seems as though there would be a trigger event. A past traumatic incident that, would make you uncomfortable in your own skin.Could be wrong.

Love and Light

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@xwhatever33x You're right. A lot is genetic and usually there is a triggering event. I think all my problems started after being bullied in grade school and then moving.

[xwhatever33x]

I feel as though we are just scratching the surface here.

Love and Light

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@xwhatever33x Do you mean I didn't go into enough detail?

[xwhatever33x]

@CrystalRainDrop789 No it was a play on words, the condition is scratching your skins surface + I feel as though this is a symptom of a deeper issue, therefore only scratching the surface, of the problem.

Th\e underlying issue needs to be dealt with.

Love and Light

Merry Christmas

[CrystalRainDrop789]

@xwhatever33x I talked about checking in and seeing how you are feeling while you are doing it and how I always feel anxious when I have the compulsion.