Teen Forums - Teen Chat, Teen Help, Teen Advice & Support

I'm a former cutter (I cut for about 3 years), but now that I've stopped, I've
started to self-harm again in the form of pulling out my hair. Whenever I find myself
in a stressful situation, I'd yank out pieces and chunks of my hair and then I'm left
with a bald patch. I looked up what this odd behavior was, and I hear that it's
called Trichotillomania. Does anyone else suffer from this, or know of anyone that does?
Does anyone know how to make myself stop?

I watch a documentry about it do I have heard of it, and I do similar things just no as extreme. As far as I know the isn't a way to stop except for self control

Every thing is just a new sensation, accept it and move on.
No need to focus on it and label it bad or good.

^Agreed. You need to identify what is causing you so much stress in your life, is it academics? Social life?

Self control is the key, it isn't easy, but there are things you can do to beat stress:

Time management is imperative, if you find yourself having to do a million things then plan out your day and don't stray from your plan. If you have 30 minutes to do homework before you have to go then sit down and do it. No distractions. It takes practice and self control, but you can do it.

Another important thing is support. Keep positive, and if you have even 1 or 2 other people there for you it is enough. Get encouragement, and keep yourself encouraged. If you think in your head that you don't have enough time and can't possibly do it, then you'll be nervous and unprepared. Keep your head high, and your brain focused. I know its that generic "think it and do it" crap, but it honestly does work. As someone who is tackling an Honors and AP courseload, A rigorous band schedule, and a 6 day a week lacrosse team.

Life isn't easy, and the hard workers leave the behind, which one are you?

I think it's important to identify the source of your stress. That's the key to at least reducing it to a manageable amount. Once you know what's causing your stress, you can take steps to try and reduce it if it is possible. If you get back to us on what causes you to stress out most of the time we can help you out more by giving you suggestions and such.

However, there are a few things that you can do. One is that if you feel stressed out over any amount of time and you realize it, just do something relaxing for a minute or two. If that's listening to music, counting to ten, closing your eyes taking a walk, or taking your mind of things, you can use that to reduce stressful situations. Life will wait for you. Just take a few brief moments to tell yourself that you are alright and that everything is okay and that might help as well. I would also suggest that you find something else that's less destructive to do when you get stressed. You can chew on a pencil, or squeeze a stress ball or something like that. Do something to replace ripping your hair out. Anything will work as long as you aren't hurting yourself or others.