This community space has only just launched, and we want to start by saying: welcome. We’re so glad you’ve found your way here.

Hi, I’m Meryl Da Costa-Rohland, the Community Manager here at TrichStop, and I’m so glad you’re here.

I work in this space every day, and I’m also a parent with personal experience of body-focused repetitive behaviours- like hair pulling. I’ve seen firsthand how overwhelming, isolating, and confusing hair pulling can feel — both for individuals and for families. If you’re here, it’s likely that you or someone you love is living with trichotillomania, and I want you to know this right away: you are not alone.

Shame has a way of convincing us that we’re the only ones struggling, but that simply isn’t true. The hair-pulling community (and those affected by related BFRBs, like skin picking) is one of the most compassionate, understanding, and supportive groups I’ve ever encountered — and I’m so grateful we can bring that sense of connection directly to you here.

This is your space.

A place to share openly, ask questions, learn from others, and feel understood.
No judgement. Just empathy, encouragement, and community.

We’re really glad you’ve joined us, and I truly look forward to getting to know you.

Hi! I am new here. I am 31 and been struggling with this since I was 13. It's been very frustrating and I've always felt helpless and alone about this. this is my first real attempt with therapy, but i tried to quit many times before. I am excited to start with the programme and I just bought a set of 50 fidget toys on Amazon! If you guys are interested I can report back on if they worked for me.

HI. I'm new here I've only just started but it's already making a huge (ish) difference. I just wish this thing has emojis. =(

Hi all! This is my first day joining. I have been experiencing hair pulling for sometime now specifically my eyelashes and eyebrows. I have not figured out my triggers. Most of the time I barely know I am doing it. Every so often it will get bad and I am left with patches in these areas and I feel so ashamed. I won't pull until they grow back or look like they filled in and promise myself I won't do it again and it's just a endlessly repeat cycle.

Hey ya'll! I am new to the community and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about things I can do instead of hairpulling. I've recently started targeting the hair on my head and find that the sensation of the roots and whatnot is very intoxicating and satisfying to my trich. In the past I have tried fidget toys (pick apart erasers, plastic rubber band bracelets, bubblewrap, etc) to satisfy that sensation need instead, but they haven't really worked. Is there anything that ya'll recommend that may make my trich happy/develop a different, less destructive sensory habit that doesn't involve hair pulling? Anything to keep my hands busy and the pressure/need for satisfaction eased when it comes about and my brain is tired? Thanks so much!

I just had my first ever support group and I'm beyond happy that I joined!! I wasn't sure about it at first but I overcame the anxiety and just did it. I can't really describe it but I think it healed something in me. Just seeing and hearing people talk about the same struggles really gave me the feeling that I'm not alone in this. I can only encourage everyone to join the groups!

Do your hair pullling urges seem stronger at certain times of the month?

You're not imagining it. Hormonal changes can influence urges, emotions, and behaviour.

In this webinar, we'll explore the connection between pulling and the menstrual cycle, and how understanding your patterns can help you respond with more self-compassion and less self-blame.

Register: www.trichstop.com/webinar

Hey guys!! This is my first day here, I have been struggling since I was 14 yrs old and I'm now 23. I pull my eyelashes and eyebrows and have recently started pulling the back of my head because I've almost ran out of hair on my face. I have never been close to having zero hair or pulled from my head, but now is 100% different. Recently I had two deaths in the family of close relatives and I started going into an emotional spiral due to the nature of their deaths and how close I was to them. Now I have no eyelashes and 1.5 eyebrows. I've focused on hair growth my whole experience but never the pulling aspect. I hope this will help as I've tried meds and therapy but never anything focused solely on trich. I'm very excited to become my best self.

I'm 56 and have been pulling since I was 9. My 4th grade teacher had us pull hair out during science class and look at the roots and I've been hooked ever since. I wonder what my hair would look like if I had never pulled.

A big Dr once told me that a lot of people with trich were abused, specificallly sexual abuse. That is true for me. Are there many people out there besides me??

I'm feeling so ashamed and frustrated. My hair pulling has gotten so much worse. I can't seem to stop.i need more help than the doctor and therapist can give me.

Okay, part 2 was hella depressing. I pulled a lot and did a lot of damage on the top of my scalp. But on to part 3 now, with hope and resilience! I had my first ever salon haircut (in over 7 years!) and styling today with a lady that does private sessions for people with hair loss. She was amazing. My hair has never felt this long, straight, and soft before. I cried multiple times with her but it was an amazing experience to have. I am so thankful to my fiancé for covering the full cost of this and for talking with me yesterday about my problem and asking how he can be of more help and support. I feel seen, I don't feel alone anymore, and I feel ready to keep giving this "no pulling" journey another try. So here's to day 1 of no pulling. Let's start the streak again! (I'm attaching a fully curated photo of my haircut, yes it looks nice and long and full, but the scalp is very thin with three huge bald spots that I am not showing so I don't trigger anyone. Remember, we are all in different journeys at different stages, please, don't give up and don't compare yourself. We got this, okay?)

I relapsed badly after 37 days of no pulling. Luckily, my relapse only lasted one day but I probably pulled about 100 hairs. Today (May 11th) I'm on day 3 of no pulling and my focus is to just keep going. I knew relapsing could happen so I gave myself the day to let myself go with the idea that the following day would start my clean slate. Unfortunately my biggest trigger is traveling and having to pack for a trip. Even for just a short weekend trip I stressed myself out for not packing until the day of. I have another trip coming up this next weekend so I have to take better proactive steps to help my future pre-traveling self so I don't pull my hair out again. I hope I can continue my streak of no pulling past this upcoming weekend, we'll see. Just gotta keep having hope and not giving up.

I doubled my dose and now I just dont feel like pulling. Basically I am not interested in my hair - day 3 - whhhhaaattt? could it be? Has anyone else Had experiance with NAC? UPDATE: it has been 6 days with not a pull ECEPT for the "test"hair I pulled and found little interest in it.....Still wondering about others experiances...It has been well over a week with no desire to pull. I would relish the oppurtunity to comunicate with someone that has looked into this supplement. I am elated that I have STOPPED PULLING 100%. Not a scam. I learned about the supplement here. No side effects except NO PULLING and I have pulled for over 50 years- anybody???

Hi everyone! How is everyone's pulling journey going?
I personally learnt through trichstop that my pulling issues are actually only superficial, and that there are deeper issues under the surface that remained unaddressed. It never occurred to me that these triggered my pulling, and in general I've really learnt so much more about myself.
For example, I never noticed that my personal voice in my head is quite demanding and I constantly have this "should" voice which makes me always thinkg I should be doing something. I always feel like I'm behind and need to catch up on all the things I haven't been doing right accoridng to my books. This leaves me in a constant state of anxiety or productivity-debt, and addressing this has helped me reduce the pulling quite significantly.

What are some inner troubles that trigger your pulling? Or what are some new things you learnt about yourself through your journey? I'd be happy to hear some of your experiences :)

Hi everyone. I wanted to create a post to keep myself accountable and come on this app every day if possible. The past week or 2 (I've honestly lost track of time) have brought me the worst pulling relapses yet, but this new week is a fresh new start for me. Especially today. And I'd like to keep that momentum going, at least reminding myself that I have this tool and shouldn't ignore it nor forget about it.

Please feel free to use this thread as your own accountability tracker if you'd like. Hey, now that I think about it, this app would benefit from a streak count (only available to those who turn it on, since I know it could be triggering for some). For me, that would motivate me a lot to keep opening the app and doing the lessons or responding to my therapist each and every day, just so my brain is aware that I am actively trying to get better and stop pulling. Just an idea for any TrichStop developers who see this :)

Join us for a free online Q&A this Friday. Ask your questions during the live session, or send through your questions here (in the comments) or send us an email to support@trichstop.com and Laura will answer them during the session.

Date: Friday, 27th March
Time: 12pm EST
Join: www.trichstop.com/webinar

Can't make it? Don't worry, we will be recording the event- register for the event and we'll send you a copy of the recording.

I have been trying to stop pulling my hair out for years now. I had an episode I just went in. I pulled the most I have done in weeks. I am really trying to identify and understand my triggers. It was going well for a little bit. This weekend I really crashed out. I feel so ashamed and disappointed in myself. I was in a tr trance. I pulling big chunks of hair. I am ashamed that I like the feeling so much. I am embarrassed talking about it . I don't know what to do.

Living with trich can sometimes feel very isolating. Many of us have spent years thinking we were the only one going through it.

For some of us, this community may be the first place we’ve ever spoken about our pulling. Others may have only shared it with one or two trusted people.

Opening up, even in small ways, can help soften the shame and secrecy that often surrounds this experience.

If you feel comfortable, you’re welcome to share something here in the thread. It could be:

• something that has been difficult lately
• a small win you’ve had
• a strategy that helps you
• or simply how you’re doing today

And if you’d rather just read for now, that’s completely okay too.

We’re really glad you’re here.

🗓 March 10 | 11AM EST
What Are Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours?
Understanding Hair Pulling & Skin Picking
Hosted by Meryl Da Costa Rohland, Counsellor and Chief Community Officer for TrichStop

🗓 March 27 | 12PM EST
Understanding Trichotillomania: Hair Pulling Q&A
Hosted by Laura Santner, Clinical Social Worker and Therapist at TrichStop

Want to learn more, or register, visit www.trichstop.com/webinar

We’d love to see you there 🤍