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 everyone. I'm 36 years old and have had some form of BFRB since being a teenager. It started with me pulling at the skin under my chin (when I was self-conscious about weight); over the years it sort of morphed into rubbing my beard (when I had one), sideburns, and eyebrows. I'm currently in a sort of inbetween state where I am constantly rubbing individual eyebrow hairs; I'm not pulling them per se, but they are starting to fall out just because I'm messing with them so much. I've heard somewhere this is called trichoteiromania but that's just from an online search. Wonder if anyone else has a similar experience? Either way looking forward to being in contact.

Does anyone have any reliable solutions to the appearance of eyelashes after having bad pulling? I have tried a variety of semi permanent fake lashes, but I've found that they don't work the best or are very obvious when I don't have any eyelashes for them to attach to. I wanted to see if anyone had any good brands or recommendations that look natural and last a least a few days. Thank you! Any advice would be very helpful.

I am 29 yo and I started plucking my hair when I was 16 yo, so it's been 13 years. Today I got scared because I saw my scalp really bad and I decided I had to do smt about it. I am scared it won't work but I will try my best. I haven't told anyone, only my parents and my sister knew long time ago. By reading other people with the same issue is helping a lot. Let's see where this journey goes!

Hello-
I am new to the program but am very encouraged to not feel so alone. Happy to meet you all!

Tengo 35 años, desde los 9 años empecé a arrancarme el cabello y a rascarme la piel cabelluda, en ocasiones hasta sacar sangre. No suena bien, pero he aprendido a respetar mis enfermedades, porque eso son, enfermedades. He aprendido a tenerme compasión y también he soltado un poco la preocupación de tener zonas calvas. Afortunadamente me sigue creciendo el cabello. Siempre he querido raparme, pero nunca me he atrevido a hacerlo, pienso que es lo único que me hace falta, pero a la vez, creo que tampoco va a resultar, he visto chicas rapadas que han tenido éxito en seguirse arrancando jajaja. No quiero espantar a nadie, sobre todo si apenas llevas un par de años con la enfermedad. Nadie se avergüenza por tener diabetes o hipertensión y tampoco nadie logra controlar su diabetes o hipertensión con fuerza de voluntad. La fuerza de voluntad si es necesaria en esta enfermedad como en otras, pero no es todo, igual que otras enfermedades requerimos medicamentos y tratamiento no farmacológico.

Hello! I found a few games that are made to mimic both skin picking and hair pulling sensation. It's worked well for me so far so I thought I'd share. Hope this helps some other people!

Hello, i just wanted to hear people's personal tips on replacement behaviours for body hair pullers. I pick my bikini area, legs and armpits using tweezers. It is something I've struggled with for years and really need to find a new habit to replace it, I see tons of suggestions for people who pull at their head hair but not body as much. If you found a habit that gives a similar sensation to plucking body hair please let me know! Thanks everyone

There’s no timeline you need to keep up with.

Someone else’s progress doesn’t set the pace for yours. You don’t have to be further along, have it all figured out, or get everything right.

Your journey is your own. Give yourself the space to learn, grow and move forward at a pace that works for you.

I didn't expect so many people to pull out their hair like me. I'm very scared. Will I keep pulling my hair out until I'm an adult? I don't want to stay like this forever. Is there really a cure for this condition?

We explored why BFRB conferences matter, what happens when science and lived experience come together, and reflected on past and upcoming events, including the BFRB UK & Ireland Conference in Oxford.

The recording is now available to watch!

▶️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/P_AJsbU_ssg

Hi everyone, new to this but been a fellow Trichy for going on 8 years now.
For me I focus is mostly on my scalp and it's to the point of having to wear a wig everyday so over the years I would pull and then put my wig back on most of the time straight away unless I was at home alone and didn't have any plans for the day otherwise full wig on worn wig cap and glue I think doing this has caused some of my hair that's regrowing to not be able to come through properly and they become trapped under the skin and can sometimes cause very painfully red bumps to which then triggers me to remove that ingrown then the cycle repeats. Has anyone else experienced something like this? I just don't know how I'm going to get my hair to regrow if 70% are damaged hairs that have become ingrown and trapped under skin which I then have to cause some sort of damage to get them out from under to be skin, Ive tried other methods aswell like scrubs and ingrown solutions but nothing seems to get them all out even hot towel compress has helped slightly but again there's just so many I can't keep up.

What happens when BFRB research and lived experience come together?

Join Meryl Da Costa and Prof. Clare Mackay as they explore why BFRB conferences matter, from sharing research and challenging stigma to building community and bringing professionals and lived experience into the same conversation.

Because these spaces are about more than learning. They’re about connection, understanding, and helping shape what comes next.

Register your spot here: www.trichstop.com/webinar

Hey everyone! I'm seeking out recommendations for hair growth products that actually work for scalp regrowth

Hi! Im new and I have been reading some people stories on here and I really felt like I wasn't alone. So I want to share my story as well. In 4th grade, I pulled out all of my eyelashes. Everyone at school noticed and they started asking questions. I didn't know what to even tell them so I said I was born this way and they never asked again. I have never felt so alone. I was able to stop when my parents found out why I had no eyelashes but then a few years later when I was going into 7th grade, I started picking my eyebrows. This all started because I tried shaving my legs for the first time but missed a good chunk of hair. My mom handed me tweezers and told me to get rid of the hair that way. So I did. But it lead me to start picking my eyebrows and I pretty much pulled out 90% of both eyebrows. I wasn't proud of it but I couldn't stop. Since then, it has only gotten worse. I still pick at my legs and my eyebrows. But I also started pulling hair from my scalp. I used to have so much hair that it was impossible to brush all of it and now I probably have about half of what I used to have. Last year I thought no one knew how to help me stop or fix this disorder. How do you stop your urge or distract yourself?

Crying at 2am because I just lost 90% of one of my eyebrows. I feel so alone. I don't want to go outside, I don't want my family to see me, I feel so ashamed and so done with this disorder that I've literally had since I was born. I don't know what to do anymore. I don't want to work tomorrow, or for the next few weeks because I just don't want people to notice. It's so hard.
I tried nac for a few years and it really helped, but then the company stopped making that certain nac gummy and I haven't been back on it since. Tried once for a few days and it made my stomach hurt so bad I couldn't sleep, which obviously isn't tolerable as much as I want the nac to work. What has worked for you?

So last night I ended up pulling nearly every lash out on my right eye. I've been doing really well since joining the trich community in January, with the occasional relapse episodes and still daily reminders to put my hand down and not touch my face. I was SOOO close to having full (ish) eyebrows and eyelashes. Then last night happened. It was after a friend's birthday party so we had been drinking and I definitely notice a huge uptick when I drink if I do drink. I just get so frustrated at the thought that I was the closest I've ever been to Full (ish) lashes and eyebrows at the same time that I can remember.

Ghost lashes are trending, I just saw! I immediately thought of my fellow trichsters! Sending you all a big hug!

What happens when a therapist also lives with trichotillomania... and another is also the parent of two children with BFRBs (hair pulling and skin picking)?

You get a conversation that's honest, relatable, and unlike most discussions about hair pulling and skin picking.

Join Meryl Da Costa and Laura Santner as they talk about the realities of living with, treating, and supporting people affected by BFRBs.

Register free here: www.trichstop.com/webinar

Hi There, I have been pulling my hair from my sculpt since i was 8 years old. Sometimes i feel like it would have been nice if someone could put lockes on my thumb, index finger and middle finger to prevent me from pulling my hair because i personally can not stop. My beautiful hair is getting thinner and thinner and i absolutely hate it. this have become my coping mechanism for all sorts of stress and boredom. glad to have a community where hopefully we all will benefit from this therapy.