Hair pulling

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Thread Topic: Hair pulling

marie Joined: Aug 31, '09 Status: New User	2009-08-31 07:51:06
	I havent read that hair pulling is a sympton of BPD but I do that a lot, especially when Im in deep thought or upset about something. I have the empty feeling also and feel like I will explode unless I feel that emptiness. Lately I've been wearing rubberbands around my wrist and when I feel anxious I stretch and pull them and tie them tight around my fingers until i discover some relief. Some times I cant sleep unless the rubberbands are tight arond my fingers. Anyone else have these issues?
fantasy Joined: Jul 28, '09 Status: New User	2009-08-31 12:55:37
	I think those are alternative ways of hurting urself
cogito ergo sum Joined: Sep 1, '09 Status: New User	2009-09-01 02:14:45
	I know there is a disorder called Trichotillomania which gives you the impluse to pull out your hair, I don't know how much you do it, but you might want to look it up? And when I'm anxious a rythem like tapping, or pulling rubber band or hair ties kind of helps to calm me down slightly. You're not alone (:
aussie Joined: Oct 17, '09 Status: New User	2009-10-18 00:29:54
	I've just found this website and realised that BPD is the story of my life. In regards to hair pulling - I have always pulled my hair from everywhere to relieve stress. I really mean everywhere. From the age of 16 (now 24), I would spend hours each day plucking my legs, and making myseslf bleed. Now I dont grow leg hair. I even started giving myself xxx brazilians - by hand!! I also remember pulling my hair out of my head when I was a child, and have always bitten my fingernails. My latest obsession is pulling the skin off around my fingernails with tweezers until they bleed. I do this everyday. It's so bad that If I'm out and don't have tweezers, I'll have to buy a pair from a chemist so that I can relieve anxiety. I realised a few years ago that this obsession is called Trichotillomania (as cogito points out). I do it because it feels like i'm in some meditative state when plucking. I often over-analyse things or think too much, and feel a constant state of anxiety; so anything that gets me in such a relaxed state works for me. I figure that it is better than drinking everyday or taking sedatives! I always have spots/scabs on my legs and my fingers look terrible. On the upside - I don't have to pay anyone to do a brazilian or ever have to wear those horrible paper g-strings again! I'm really glad you posted your query Marie, as I was starting to wonder if hair pulling was common in BPD or not. There seems to be so many cutters! Can anyone else shed some light on this??
samus Joined: Oct 21, '09 Status: New User	2009-10-24 19:44:49
	i don't pull OUT my hair but when i get reallyyy upset/botherd i'll pull on a chunk of hair as if im gonna pull it out. but don't..
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