I've had terrible brows since 5th grade when I started pulling. Finally bit the bullet and got them tattooed on! Can't wait until they soften a bit so the hair strikes aren't so obvious but for day 1 of getting them done I love them!

Hi, I’m Ashley Jeffries, a Psy.D. student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I’m conducting a study exploring how online platforms like websites and apps support individuals with TTM.

What to Expect

• This study investigates how online communities, forums, support groups, and mobile apps affect people with Trichotillomania access to treatment.
• Participants in this research will be asked to complete a survey/questionnaire that assesses their knowledge and attitudes regarding trichotillomania.
• The survey will take approximately 50-55 minutes to complete.
• The platform that the survey will be done on SurveyMonkey.

Purpose
To understand how digital tools impact awareness, management, and well-being in TTM communities.

Risks

• Questions may evoke emotional discomfort, but you can pause or withdraw at any time.
• Support resources will be provided if needed.

Benefits
By participating, you play a vital role in advancing our understanding of Trichotillomania and multimodal treatment approaches.

Requirements

• This study seeks men and women aged (18 +).
• English-speaking individuals.
• If you experience hair-pulling urges/TTM.
• Have access to the internet.
• You are willing to participate in a 50-55 minute survey.
• You have utilized online platforms, apps, and or devices to manage treatment.

Ready to Help?
Complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9SXH6YP

Thank you for contributing to this important study!

Best regards,
Ashley Jeffries

Doctoral Candidate
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

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Trchotillomania Recovery Equation = 1 _ Working on your thoughts to suppress the pull triggers inside the mind + 2_ Using fidget toys to suppress them behaviorally + 3_ Patience

1 = The Trichotillomania Workbook By Dario Jeyco
2= High Quality Fidget Toys
3= Lots of meditation exercises and grounding techniques and hair regrowth supplements.
Good Luck

It’s a bit too soon to be sure, but bubble wrap is good enough to distract me from pulling my eye lashes. It’s been a month, let’s see what happens. Everything else didn’t work but this gave me hope. Try it 🍀

I want you to know: You are not alone. I see you. I know what it feels like to experience that overwhelming urge to pull, the sense of relief and shame that follows, and the loneliness that comes with trying to hide it. It’s a battle that others may not fully understand, but that doesn’t make your experience any less valid.

Healing from trichotillomania is not a quick fix. It’s not about stopping cold turkey or erasing the habit overnight. It’s a process — a deeply personal and sometimes painful process — and it’s okay if it takes time. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be patient and compassionate with yourself.

For so long, I saw my pulling as a flaw, as something I was doing wrong, and I felt like I was failing every time I couldn't stop. But what I’ve come to understand is that trichotillomania isn’t a reflection of who I am, nor does it define me. It’s a coping mechanism, a way that my mind and body deal with stress, anxiety, or even boredom. Understanding this has been one of the most freeing things in my healing journey.

The shame that often accompanies trichotillomania can make us feel like we have to hide it, to pretend it isn’t happening. But I’ve learned that hiding my struggles only increases the shame. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to talk about it. It’s okay to let others see the real you, not the “perfect” version you feel pressured to be.

I’ve found that healing involves more than just trying to stop the behavior — it’s about learning to manage the emotions underneath it. Self-compassion has been my biggest ally. When I catch myself pulling, instead of berating myself or feeling guilty, I try to pause and ask, "What am I feeling right now?" Am I anxious? Sad? Lonely? Identifying the feelings that trigger the urge to pull has been key in finding healthier ways to cope with them.

I’ve also realized that recovery isn’t linear. Some days, I take huge steps forward, and other days, I stumble. And that's okay. Every day, every moment I don’t give up, I’m making progress. The journey is messy, and that’s part of the process. There’s no "one way" to heal, and that’s important to remember. You have the right to move at your own pace.

If you feel stuck, reach out for support. Whether it's a therapist, a trusted friend, or even a self therapeutic tool like this training workbook, you deserve the space to talk, to heal, and to be understood. It’s okay to not have it all figured out — what matters is that you’re showing up for yourself, day by day.

Remember, you are not defined by your struggle. You are worthy of kindness, both from others and from yourself. Healing doesn’t happen in a straight line, but every small step is part of your journey. And you are so, so strong for walking it.. 💖

Hi! I am currently working on a research paper to advance our understanding of trichotillomania. Your participation helps medical professionals and scientists develop better forms of treatment for the estimated 200,000 Americans with TTM. The questionnaire is a Google form (approx. 5 min long) that is open to everyone who has/had trichotillomania. The more people who participate, the stronger our research will be, so please feel free to share. Thank you for your time, you are making a difference :)  https://forms.gle/iB958cgTDpPbx5pZ8

Due to winter, lack of hydration, working outside, and washing my hands a lot, the corners of my thumbs split open, and using them or bumping them hurts SO BAD. On the plus side, I can't possibly put enough pressure on them to pull, so my follicles are getting a break!

Hi all, been struggling with trich for about 12 years now, have gone through periods of pulling more and less. While I do have my spots I am grateful I have stopped pulling the most noticeable places like my eyebrows. I generally pull on my scalp, back and sides of head. I am getting to the point where I’m worrying if all my hair will grow back. I have thought about getting implants on and off, just because my pulling is deterred by having longer hairs. I an curious if anyone has had experience getting implants and how it impacted their trich.

Hi everyone, I apologize if this question isn’t allowed, as I have never posted on this page before. I am 21 and started to pull at around 15 years old. Within the recent few months, I have pulled quite a lot, and I have noticed that a lot of my lashes are suddenly growing in downwards or sideways. Does this normally mean the follicle is damaged and they will permanently grow these ways? I’m not too educated on the subject and am very worried that they may no longer grow back long and upwards like they used to. I’ve never had this many growing down/sideways before so I’m pretty nervous. Any insight would be helpful!

tw for image and some things i will say

i’ve been going at this spot for years now. i can’t stop until today, it’s embarrassing with my barber making comments, and me having to keep my hair long so it doesn’t show. it hurts but it hurts good. it feels different from if i try pulling other parts of my hair out.

Though not a major part of the film (so not really a spoiler, don't worry), the main character consistently pulls out her hair in stressful situations, and there are flashbacks to previous times in which she has nervous breakdowns and had ruined her hair.

I just thought it was nice to see the main character in a semi-large movie be a trichster.

We are recruiting for an experimental drug and behavioral therapy study aimed to treat trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder) or dermatillomania (skin picking disorder).

Eligible participants will:

-          Complete study visits once a week, with 1 in-person visit and 16 virtual visits

-          Complete questionnaires and cognitive testing

-          Take an experimental drug for 8 weeks

-          Participate in one-on-one therapy sessions with a licensed psychologist for 8 weeks

-          Be compensated up to $255

If you are interested, you can fill out our prescreening survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BPTM56K or call us at 773-702-5523.

Hello All,

Thank you so much for reading this! My name is Alanna Barnes, and I am currently enrolled in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program (Psy.D.) at Chaminade University. I am seeking participants for my dissertation research study. My study aims to create a novel measure of psychological safety. This measure would be used in the psychotherapeutic setting to assess if a client/patient perceives their therapist to have created a psychologically safe environment. To participate, I am asking for individuals to complete an anonymous ten-minute survey. There will also be a raffle for one of three $50 Visa gift cards for any participant who would be comfortable sharing their email address. The email address will be kept confidential and only used for the raffle. Upon the completion of the raffle, all email addresses will be deleted.

To qualify as a participant, here are my inclusion criteria:

• Must be over the age of 18
• Must be located within the United States
• Must be English-speaking
• Must be currently receiving psychotherapy from a licensed mental health professional OR it has been less than a year from your most recent session with a licensed mental health professional 
• At the time of the study, one must have completed at least two sessions with a licensed mental health professional

If you know someone or a group that would be interested in taking this survey, please forward. Lastly, if you qualify to participate and want to participate, please use this link.

This study was approved by the Chaminade IRB on September 30th, 2024 with Protocol Number: CUH 449 2024.

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Hi all, I'm a 40 year old female, have had trich since I was about 10, and while I've managed to control my pulling on my head for the most part, I'm losing more hair each day than I'm comfortable with 😔 I've been taking viviscal for a few years though not regularly. I've definitely got some areas where I've damaged the follicles to the point that the hair that does grow is thin and comes out easily. I do think that Viviscal has helped some though.

It seems like there are so many products out there now for hair loss- I keep seeing ads for products like act + acre, musely, nutrafol, spoiled child, hers, etc, as well as red light therapy products. Has anyone with years of damage like me had tried any of these? I worry that the damage I've caused is very specific. Though part of it could be hormonal based on my age and the fact that I had a hysterectomy several years ago.

Thanks for any input!

Hi everyone!

I’m currently in the process of developing a desktop app to help with habit awareness training, specifically for trichotillomania and other body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). The app runs in the background and uses your webcam to send real-time alerts if it notices you engaging in these behaviors, and it tracks your progress over time. Think of it like the HabitAware Keen2 bracelet, but as a software solution instead of something you wear.

I would love to know if this is something people would find useful, and if there are any suggestions or concerns you'd want me to consider?

Thanks for the feedback!

My hair is getting ever greasier and messier

I can't even tuck my bangs behind my ear anymore

I used to wash my hair once every 3 days. It then turned into once every 2 days and now I can't even go 8 hours without it being greasy as shit

My parents and grandparents keep telling me to stop but I can't. I wish it was that easy but I don't even know how to go two weeks without pulling my hair let alone stop for good

Will I seriously have to live with this forever? What am I supposed to do

This post is not sponsored. I am 30 years old male. I have been struggling with a form a trich since my early teen years. I don’t pull my hair, but I go into complete fits of twisting my hair. Hours a day of twisting and knotting my hair. Once I start I can’t stop. I may not struggle as tough as some of you, but everyone around me knows I have this issue as I am constantly twisting my hair. I have never seen a doctor about the issue but have tried stopping multiple times on my own. I have ordered multiple fidget tools and cut my hair short but it never seemed to help.

I am on week 2 of having a Keen2 bracelet and I have not twisted my hair one time in that time. It was like an instant fix and my urges are as low as they have ever been. I guess I just needed a constant reminder not to do it. It is alittle pricey but I can’t believe the difference it has made so quickly. Highly recommend.

Let me know if you have any questions.