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age
30-35,
anonymous
writes: dear cupid,soo, this isn't a relationship question, buuut it's something that i REALLY need help with. i guess, really, it's more of a health question. anyways...hopefully, there's somebody on here who can help me out.ever since i was around five years old, i've had this really horrible habit of pulling out my eyelashes. i don't remember exactly when or how or why i started doing that, but i did. i thought when i grew up a little bit and started wearing mascara that it would kind of fizzle out, but really, i think it got worse after i started wearing mascara. i've never done it soo much that there's none left, but i have done it enough for there to be some gaps left behind. they've always grown back, but really, as soon as they do, i find myself just pulling them out all over again.i'm 19 now, and i would really LOVE to break this habit, because i know it's not normal. nobody's ever really said anything to me about it that much--either they don't notice, or they're just too polite to comment--but it doesn't really do my self-esteem very good when i'm in front of the mirror trying to make short, stubby little lashes with gaps look at least halfway decent with mascara. i've always loved my eyes (i hope that didn't sound conceited...hahaa), and i keep telling myself how much prettier they look with lashes around them, but even that hasn't worked. what can i do??? Reply to this Question
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female
reader, xanthic  +, writes (16 November 2010):
 It's a compulsive disorder. If will power isn't enough to make you stop, you'll need to seek therapy.
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reader, anonymous, writes (15 November 2010): It sounds like you have Trichotillomania. It's quite common, there is a lot of info on the net. If you want to stop it i would go to your doctor and they can refere you for some kind of therapy.
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reader, anonymous, writes (15 November 2010): I have the same problem. I've been doing this since 6th grade. For me, it's the feeling that I enjoy so much. Weird... believe me, I know. It started because I was bored and I think I had an eyelash floating in my eye somewhere that I was trying to get out. It turned into this daily habit of plucking them out. I tried everything to stop, wearing eyeliner in the spaces (the entire top lid almost, except for the sides... I never did the bottom lid) and mascara. I tried plucking eyebrows to counter the eyelashes, at least eyebrows sometimes NEED a good pluck. It didn't help, although I've got the perfect arch in the brow area now.
I went online searching a few years ago and found this link:
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-28096.html
A lot of people go through the same thing, so it's nice to not feel so alone in it. It's a compulsive disorder that develops into habit.
The thing is, it's mind over matter. You're not going to stop unless you take control and say to yourself that you're absolutely GOING to stop. It may be psychological, but you're not going to stop unless you force yourself to. When you get busy, sometimes, the desire to pull out the hair fades. Focus on things not related to anything stressful or any nervous situation if you can. Do things that you enjoy and let that take the place of the plucking. It'll take a while, but it can be done! I hope everything turns out alright :)
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female
reader, PurityChild +, writes (15 November 2010):
 You have a compulsive disorder that may require medication...I think you should get this checked out by a doctor =) hope this helps
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