Obsessed with my hair.........

IM NEW HERE.....MY OCD IS MY HAIR.....I WAS DIAGNOSED AOUT 2 YEARS AGO BUT I GO ON AND OFF THE MEDS.......I CUT MY BANGS ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF...I THEN GOT HAIR EXTENSIONS AND MOVED THEM ALL AROUND(THEY WERE GLUED IN) WHICH IN TURN LEFT ME WITH BALD SPOTS....IM NOW WEARING CLIP IN PIECES OF HAIR.....I CANT STOP LOOKING AT MY BANGS...IM OFF THE MEDS AGAIN......BUT I NEVER FELT LIKE THEY EVEN HELPED AT ALL.....IM JUST SO TIRED OF THIS.......I FEEL SO ALONE....I DONT TALK TO MY HUSBAND OR FRIENDS ANYMORE ABOUT IT BECAUSE I KNOW THEY DONT UNDERSTAND......IM HAVING A HARD TIME WORKING AND FEEL ANXIETY WHEN IM IN PUBLIC....THE WORST IS THE CONSTANT CHECKING IN THE MIRRORS........ANYWAY I KNOW IVE GOT TO GET ON THE MEDS AGAIN........IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO GET THAT OUT....ITS LIKE A BIG GUILTY SECRET...THANKS DEBI

hello debi and please please please don't write in all caps, please, it's hard to read. i've done the hair thing more then once, mostly cuz i just get this URGE that makes me half crazy and cutting my hair is the fastest and safest way to get rid of it.

ever tried wearing a hat or a bandana all the time? it'll keep you from noticing the bald spots and it keeps other ppl from noticing too

hey debi!! i hope u r well!! *positive vibes* and welcome to the board!! i hope u find it of some use, im sure u hav lots to offer too, i think there are some links to bdd help forums in the BDD info section =)

i'm sorry uve been having a rough time! *hugs* hmm ive never been diagnosed with BDD, ive had obsessions, esp with my teeth, and wouldnt leave the house, and with my body, but i think that was a mixture of OCD/self esteem and eating issues...plz remember tht u r NOT alonge, and u have nothing to feel guilty about!!

it is probably extremely difficult for ur fam/friends to understand as they don't like to see u in pain and not be able to help, imo (in my opinion( if they react in a way that'#s negative its priobably more about their own issues rather than being directed at u. r u seeing a doc/therapist? how about self help books or CBT? i hope u r able to access the help u need and deserve!!

pc xXx

[crazeemomma]

Debi do yo have relatives in Oregon? I just talked with a lady who has a sis who does this and lady lives in oregon by me. I have this hair problem too. Just checking.

[crazeemomma]

hello i also have this hair problem.

[Jess25]

hey debi, I experience very similiar symptoms. I'm obsessed with my hair being perfectly symmetrical and I am obsessed with my appearance. I can never seem to get away from the mirror and I feel a lot of anxiety in public all the time. It is always a struggle for me to get to work and school on time. I also have manyy other OCD issues! haha. Best of luck!

Jessica

[Jess25]

Hey Jessica, I'd love to talk sometime. My SN is runnergrrl25. Unfortunatley, I'm rarely on AIM lately but I can also be reached at jessicatufo225@hotmail.com. Feel free to get in touch with me if you like

~Jess

[noalternative_ocd47]

I had a problem with my hair for a few years. I could not stop touching it and fixing it, and eventually I had a style where I had to use so much hairspray and gel to make it stick up at the back. I couldn't wear a helmet, I couldn't walk in wind, I couldn't go swimming, I couldn't drive with the windows down, I couldn't wear a hat or hood even in winter, I couldn't wear sunglasses, I couldn't even sleep comfortably because I couldn't stand one PIECE being out of place. I eventually got fed up and made a decision to shave my head. Now that hair problem doesn't apply to me anymore. One less thing to obsess about I guess. And now I can do those things a bit more comfortably. It didn't overall help my OCD, anixety, or depression, however.

[tweety82]

Ok let's see my theory is my hair obsession started when I was a child. All the girls in my class till I was 12 had long luxiourious hair and my grandmother who raised me had my hair always dorothy hamill short to my ear. I always felt like a tomboy because of it.

At the age of 14 my aunt took me to get my first set of highlights , through cap my hair was growing long and I was thrilled but that is when it all started.

I have had every hair color, every cut under the sun. My hair rules my life as if its not nice I do not feel pretty that particular day. If I have higlights and any are a lil brassy or ashy, I go balistic and have to tone it. I get very bored of my hair and have been trying to let it grow long but wind up cutting it because it gets damaged. The best thing I did for my hair was when I was unemployed I could not touch my hair and I had caramel higlights and medium brown hair I just let my natural color come in and it did not look half bad but when I got a job it was downhill from there.


I dyed my hair chocolate brown, then got highlights, two me they were to brassy so he toned it down. Then I bought some go blonder shampoo and it was brassier. So then I died it medium brown and my hair turned fried so then I cut my own hair and it looked un even so then i went to a stylist and its alot shorter and a shaggy look I hate. The brown hair has the highlights showing through and that makes me mad. I either wish I wouldnt have touched my hair at all again or if i let the first set of highlights alone.

I have often wished i can turn back time from all my hair do's and donts. I do not know what to do if my hair is not to my liking I am down and depressed. I constantly look at the mirror at different times of the day to see if it looks different in the sun, dark whatever. I just want to be happy with my hair and want it to grow natural and healthy and do not know what to do.

Also I have ADD I do not know if that has anything to do with it

[Zorro]

Hi Tweety bird. I'm not a big fan of labels, but it sounds like "Body dysmorphic disorder" (BDD) to me.

" Most people are dissatisfied with some aspect of their appearance. However, some individuals are so distressed about the way they look that it interferes with their daily life. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a severe and impairing disorder characterized by a preoccupation with an imagined or slight flaw in appearance. Any area of the body can be the focus of concern, but concerns involving the face or head (e.g., skin, hair, or nose) are most common"

http://208.88.128.41/EO_BDD.aspx

BTW, I'm a male with a shaved head, so don't go asking me for any hair advice