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Discussion Topic
smileygirl's pull free-a-thon
Posted on 05/29/08, 09:29 pm
Hi! I am new to this and have spent two days reading all the posts and advice!! It has really helped and I am gonna do my best to beat this. I am DONE with it!!!! It has been two days and counting since I have pulled. I know I can beat it this time!! Thanks for all the help! What a great site!
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Reply #1 06/01/08 9:18am
Hello all!! Thx for the motivation! I have done really well and am so excited about it! Today is my 5th day of not pulling. I have caught myself kinda petting my lashes, but then when I realize I am doing it, I just think of this group and my pull free-a-thon and that is all I have needed. I have only ever tried on my own before with no one to answer to, so I find that this helps so much. It holds me more accountable. I have also set a couple of goals. We are camping with some friends this summer and I don't want to be the girl at the campsite with fake lashes! I am also going for a girls weekend to a friend's cabin and they don't know about my pulling, so I hope my eyelashes are grown in by then. Thanks again! You guys rock!! =) -
Reply #2 06/01/08 1:27pm
WTG on 5 days.
Oh I remember going "roughing it" and needing to hide in the tent with a mirror propped somewhere trying to get the makeup just right and hoping no one poked their head in to see if I was alright or if I was coming out. Just praying I wouldn't be caught.
Keep up the good work -
Reply #3 06/02/08 12:42pm
Glad to see another fellow trichster stepping up to the plate!
You are doing well!
That story about hiding in the tent frantically putting on the eye makeup tells it all (crzy). Thanks for sharing that. It really helps to illustrate what we go through and how utterly absurd and painful it can be.
I feel confident that you will find the support and love that you need on Daily Strength to reach your goals. It helps me soooooo much! -
Reply #4 06/02/08 2:46pm
Thanks everyone!! For the first time ever, I really feel like I can do this!! It is a great feeling! I still need to be very aware tho. I guess I didn't realize how often I am petting my eyelashes!! Now, I try to not even do that because I don't want it to lead to pulling!! I am so impressed that you have all your eyelashes, crzychick! What an inspiration! I am so excited to wear mascara on my own lashes and not have to do falsies, but it does scare me that I will be more apt to pick at the makeup. I guess I will have to be more careful about taking my makeup off at the end of the day! I am at 6 days...almost a week!!!! YIPPEE!! Life is good!!!!! =) -
Reply #5 06/02/08 4:01pm
I didn't realize how often I petted or searched either until I became AWARE of my hands. I guess I had just gotten so used to my hands being around my face for so many years (like propping your chin in your palm or leaning the side of your face in your palm) I didn't know that my fingers would stray over to the lashes or brows. Now I've learned I can't even do the propping or leaning. I have to keep my hands below my shoulders.
I'm still leary of the mascara and only wear it on rare occasions. That day was a test if I would leave the house without eyeliner on. I couldn't go without anything on my eyes so I opted for the mascara. I never did the false ones since I didn't have enough of my own to hold them up and they drooped down and looked so weird. But yes taking the makeup off as soon as you can and doing it with something gentle (mineral oil on a Q-tip, plus that makes the lashes slippery and harder to pull - will need to wash it off in the morning to re apply your makeup) that removes it all will keep you from picking. You will know that it's all gone so you won't go searching with your fingers to make sure.
Life IS good!!! 6 DAYS!!! WOOOO HOOOO -
Reply #6 06/03/08 3:48pm
Hello! Today is my 7th day...still happy, but wishing that they would grow back in sooner. I know it's only been a week, but I wish the results of non-pulling would appear sooner!! =) I just feel like I have made such a drastic change, that the results should mirror that!!
I mostly pull from the middle of my lashes, so I guess that's why I am able to wear false lashes, but there were times that they have looked weird for sure because there wasn't much to hold them up. I am just too much of a make-up girl to go without lashes!
I do really worry about wearing mascara again! I have always either worn mascara or false lashes, so going without would make me feel naked. I just know that when I wore many layers of mascara is when I started pulling. I was working as a manager for a cosmetic company at the time so I would wear the white thickener and then several layers of mascara and I'd also curl them. Anyway, I may have to just start out with a little and see how that goes. Picking at the make-up is a huge trigger for me!!
7 days and counting!!! =) (Grow little things, GROW!!!!!) -
Reply #7 06/04/08 2:30pm
Well, I need to start over on my days and I am so bummed!! I went to my kickboxing class last night and was sitting on the couch in front of the TV feeling exhausted and instead of going right up and showering and washing off my makeup, I took my fake lashes off and started to pick at the residual glue and make-up knowing that that is a trigger for me. Anyway, I accidently pulled out one lash on one eye and then went to the next eye and continued picking at the makeup and two more came out. I could have maybe gotten away with the first one, but I knew that picking at the make-up could result in some lashes being puled out too and still didn't stop. I haven't purposely pulled them like I used to, but I was still mad at myself because I know better. I noticed three huge triggers working against me...I was tired, I was picking at the makeup and I'm PMSing. I am aware that those are all triggers for me. I have to admit tho that I was happy I stopped there. In the past, that would have caused me to purposely pull several. So, I am back to zero, but still feel like I have been doing SO much better than I used to, so I don't feel too terribly discouraged. I will be so much more aware the next time so I don't get tricked!!! -
Reply #8 06/04/08 2:59pm
The mascara is what started my pulling. The picking it off so I avoid it. I'm afraid that I will fall into the same trap.
It's good that you recognize your triggers now and that you were able to STOP yourself. That in itself is a major accomplishment. You will have to be sure the FIRST thing you do no matter what is go remove the makeup!!!!
I like that you aren't letting this upset you. Remember you are only restarting #'s. Not what you have learned about yourself. ((HUGS)) -
Reply #9 06/05/08 12:19am
Hey Smileygirl, I'm in this with you now!! I'm really proud of you for picking up where you left off and realizing you're not starting over completely, because you're learning each step of the way. It's hard that growth isn't just a clean progression. I wish we didn't have to be human and have setbacks, but it keeps us humble, right? : ) -
Reply #10 06/05/08 7:26am
Hello!! I honestly feel pretty good about this. I think it was a lesson I needed to learn. I will be more aware the next time! I had a crazy exhausting day yesterday and went to sit on the couch at night and chill and I decided that wouldn't be a good idea, so I immediatley went upstairs to wash the makeup off. So, I am really looking at this set-back as a positive! Thanks so much for the encouragement! You guys really are my strength right now!!
1 day...and counting!!!! =) Hooray!
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You mean that there is a name for IT? Im not weird? Oh what a relief. This board is for people that are serious about learning all they can about Trichotillomania. Yep that big old long word that is the bane of our world. Trich is tricky. But with knowledge and support of others we CAN break free and live without this disorder interfering with our lives. So lets keep this uplifting and supportive and give each other the encouragement the other needs to make it to that next day.
