Member
Group: Newbie
Posts: 29
Joined: May 2004
Posted: June 28 2004,09:24   
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Hello,
Im pretty new to this area but I thought Id share my compulsion. Im on a hair cutting spree.I go through this every couple months.I cut my own hair( im a hairstylist by trade so I think I know what Im doing! ) Ok ,so I think its time for a trim.I cut it.Then I analyze...Nope ,not good enough.cut some more.next day .analyze."Oh I can make this better! Cut some more and on and on.Im on about day 4 of this.I now have a short blond spike!I looked in the mirror just now and found something new to cut.I stopped and came here instead.I told my Pdoc about this and he says its not OCD thats it anxiety.He thinks I do this when Im stressed out.Like an outlet.I really think its more. It so weird because in comes in cycles.Maybe its a form of that hair disorder(dont know how to spell it)Well  I told my pdoc how it makes me feel when Im cutting my hair.excitment and relief.and then when the phase is over embarrassment and shame.How could I do this to myself again!!??2 weeks ago he asked me to write down my feelings before I start cutting. I tried.but I didnt have the words for what I was feeling.I have an appt today. So I wonder what he will say when he sees me?!Sorry If Im rambling.But just sitting here telling you guys feels good!   And Im going to  keep busy and Im not going cut anymore today!                             
                                            Cat  



lizzy
Moderator
Group: Admin Team - Moderator
Posts: 2768
Joined: June 2003
Posted: June 28 2004,10:40   
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Hi Cat - welcome.  It's when habit becomes a necessity that we begin to go down the OCD route - join the Club!
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lizzy



inner_chaos
Member
Group: Senior Member
Posts: 2066
Joined: June 2004
Posted: June 28 2004,14:37   
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hey cat,
distraction is a good technique if you can find ways to avoid cutting your hair andd do some thing instead.
i dont have anything else to say really.
we all have our little things that we do in times of stress.
can you cut other people's hair instead?
or does it have to be your own?
IC~

Member
Group: Member
Posts: 305
Joined: April 2004
Posted: June 30 2004,01:24   
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My friend had this compulsion of hair- dyeing. It must've been compulsive, 'cus she'd change her hair colour every couple of days and sometimes even more often. She spent lot of money for colour and she'd hide it under the bed. When she went blond, she stayed blond for awhile but still dyed her hair almost every day. She just couldn't stand having same hair for a long time.
She was going throgh pretty unstabile period in her life at the time and I believe that was just her way of getting through it.
She doesn't do it anymore, though, at least not so often.
She said dyeing her hair made her feel better inside for awhile and then she'd feel bad again.
Anyway, I thought I'd share that with you. Take care!


inner_chaos
Member
Group: Senior Member
Posts: 2066
Joined: June 2004
Posted: July 06 2004,14:52   
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you can give me a haircut any time you want---just dont get too carried away...i need my fur...if you shaved me i would look horrid!!!!   Could you imagine a grouch without fur?? EEEK!!!
Seriously though, how goes the compulsive hair cutting battle?  better worse, managing?
i love razor combs.  they are great for spiking my hair.  so cool.  i dont cut my own hair.  the hair dressor does it...but those razor comes work wonders and they are great for bangs too.
just checking in with ya,
take care,
IC~   a.k.a  Oscar the Grouch
--------------
~Inner Chaos~
I ask for peace
it is not granted.
A storm is brewing,
I rage within.
Let lightening
strike me down,
For then perhaps
I may find peace.~IC

cat
Member
Group: Newbie
Posts: 34
Joined: May 2004
Posted: July 08 2004,15:13   
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Hi inner chaos,(oscar the grouch)
LOL!!  I feel like my hair is  starting to grow out already! Iv recieved lots of compliments on this cut so maybe Ill try to leave it alone for a week or two.  Sure id love to cut your hair! Dont worry I only scalp myself .I do like hair on other people! Really though,I wish I could control the urge .I just dont know what it is.
                                                            Thanks for
                                                              checking in!  
                                                                   Take care,
                                                                           Cat



inner_chaos
Member
Group: Senior Member
Posts: 2108
Joined: June 2004
Posted: July 08 2004,17:23   
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i dont think you fully get the joke,
up until yesterday my avatar was oscar the grouch, but then the server that i was hosting the pic from crashed or something and pic disappeared and there went my avatar of oscar the grouch, so now no more oscar and i now have this wierd though kind of cool purple thing.
so unless you saw oscar you now know exactly what i was referring to when i wrote that post!

--------------
~Inner Chaos~
I ask for peace
it is not granted.
A storm is brewing,
I rage within.
Let lightening
strike me down,
For then perhaps
I may find peace.~IC
 

shoot I did it again!!!Started cutting my hair last night.I dont know what triggered it!ooohhh, Its pretty short this time, and I am going on a trip this weekend  to see some old friends.I fell asleep with it wet got up for my walk this morning and stuck a baseball cap on my head so my walking buddy wouldnt see. She said as soon as she saw me "Did you cut your hair again?"I dont want to take off this hat! afraid to look!Im going to be so mad at myself! Whats strange is that I dont know why I even started cutting my hair,I was folding laundry then just stopped,walked into the bathroom and started cutting.There was no before thought like, oh I think Ill cut my hair .It just happend. Like I was out of my own mind or something.I cant really explain the feeling.Oh ,time to get in the shower and start the day.hopefully a little gel and hairspray will do the trick!!
                                                      cat :oh:

Whoops.  A little blip!   :oh: looks like the compulsion took over!  :( how does it really look - upbeat and modern?   :wave:

Hi lizzy,
It looks ok .just a little to short.Iv done alot worse!I colored it last night. I thought hair this short has to be bright blond!!
                                                                    Cat :)

Post a piccie  :idea3:  :oh:

LOL!

short and spunky and bright blond! sounds good to me! :cool:

Ill try to post a picture!:p
                                       cat:)

ohhhh... i am excited now! :D

i have a hair obsession. i used to have crazy spunky short hair and love short hair cuts! :p

i think it takes a lot of charecter for a person to be able to pull off a short and sassy blond hair cut!

seriously.  most people just have regular long hair or mid legnth hair or permed hair,  but sassy is growing trend these days i suppose.

but i still love it!

if it did not take so much work to "do it" every morning, i would cut mine again! but long hair is easier for me to maintain right now.

I do love short wild hair. Its fun,and easy.I just have to try to remember not to get carried away,And I always do!It just feels so good to cut it! If I had a cute little petite face I could pull off anything!But I dont.I miss being able to pull my hair up and wear it in different styles.I envy women with thier pretty long locks!:D But I guess thats  just not me.Im going to take a picture of myself and hang it on my bathroom mirror to remind my self how short NOT to cut it.Ill post it if its not to awful looking:p I had a new friend over the other day,She was looking at family photos on my wall(me with longer hair) and she said you look so much younger with short hair. Ok then ! thats what I needed to hear!!!:cool: :)
                                                                        cat:)

we all like to hear that we look younger, dont we! lol!

I like being able to pull my hair up too now that it is finally longer. i hated the grow it out phase because it was really short only a few inches before. it was spiky before i grew it out and blond so i had the colour and length to grow out. not fun. but now it is all natural and one length almost. i never cut my own hair so i never had that problem. i just attack my own bangs and they end up coming out crooked and looking like they have been though a war. i need to get a razor blade and cut them that way i think, on of those razor combs, but i am scared of what i might do to the rest of my head! . :p

i shaved all but 1cm of about 3 weeks ago. It's just starting to come back now

Inner choas,I can give you a quick lesson on cutting your bangs if you like. :D :) I have a great method.
                                                                  cat
                                           

guppy, why did you cut your hair? How long was it before you cut it?Do you like your hair really short??      Cat:)

ohhhhh!

really because right now they run on an angle because i cut them when i get out of the shower using scissors! not the best method! :(

I am all crooked! :p

I know why guppe shaves her head!  :;):

inner chaos,
Ok ,Bang cutting class in session>>using a guide line
Its best to have damp hair(not dripping wet)

Step 1   Take a small section(strip about an1/2 inch width) of bang from the middle of your forehead.
           Pull hair lightly down to desired length.(Usually right at top bridge of your nose to be safe.Because it will shrink abit after cutting.

step 2    Cut that small section then bring another small section from the side and match it to the strip you just cut.Do the same on the other side.repeat until all bang is cut.

Step 3  comb bangs straight down and just cut along any hairs you might of missed.

Step 4 Razor comb Optional.:D repeat steps 1 and 2 running razor(lightly) through the sections.never razor at or near scalp. start 1/2 way down the section. this give a slight layered effect and texture.If you have very fine hair,skip step 4.

Why does guppy shave her head???   
                                                             Cat :cool:                                                            
                                             

Cat,
I have the exact same compulsion, hair cutting.  I know there is a lot of joking about this here, but I can tell you it is serious.  If not controlled, it can become debilitating.  I have gone through sessions where it has lasted for hours, and I cannot stop, even though I know rationally that it is completely stupid.  That fact that you mentioned that you were compelled to give up laundry (ie. stop in the middle of something) to start cutting indicates that it is more than just a simple urge to change your hair style.  
I can tell you that in my experience something related to self-esteem usually triggers it, but it is not always clear what it is that is really in my sub-conscious.  I can also tell you that the only solution is to get away from the mirror, no matter what it takes.  You will never have that perfect haircut, trust me, and you will end up with very sore eyes to say the least from holding the mirror up to see the back of your head.  
It is an on-going struggle, I know.  And yes, it goes away, and then comes back.  I wish you the best, and understand that someone out there empathizes more than you know!

AndyinVa,
Thanks so much for your reply.It is so true that you never have a perfect hair cut. you keep cutting and cutting.Thinking that your going to make it even better!I have gone days cutting. I keep fixing and checking to see what I might of missed.Before I know it its all but gone.Id love to hear more about you and your experiences if your up to sharing.Your post made my day! :;):
                                                                       Take care,
                                                                                  cat

Cat,
my background:  Have had mild OCD since I was a child.  I of course never knew there was a name for what was going on, only knew that at times the obsessions and compulsions drove me nuts, and I would have done anything to get them to stop.  I recall a series of years where everything had to be in 4's.  I had to wash my hair exactly 4 times, I had to swallow exactly 4 times (very annoying when trying to get to sleep), etc.  This seemed to stop for no apparent reason, but I still find myself doing things in 4's occasionally.  I also had other rituals that I did that were less intrusive.  I also have suffered from the obsession side, not being able to stop thinking about things that I am focused on.  This can be anything, but is debilitating at times, particularly in relationships that are not going very well.  If only I could say the right thing, if only I say it this way, if only...you probably get the picture/can relate.  I also have difficulty shopping, I return things all the time.  In fact, I have returned 4 pillows this week, as they were not 'perfect'.  Clothes drive me nuts, they never are right.
As for medication,  I was on Prozac for 5 years.  It definately helped, but I couldn't handle the side effects anymore, including the weight gain that started in year 2 or 3.  A month after stopping cold turkey, I lost 26 pounds.  I also entered a period of severe depression due to a relationship problem.  I tried zoloft (was a zombie), paxil (bad headaches), and wellbutrin (worked great, but I was continuously and dangerously angry, not at all my normal demeaner).  I have since tried more holistic approaches.  This works more for anxiety, something that has developed and become severe at times over the past few years.  Acupunture worked well for the anxiety, as did prayer and self assessment.
All in all, it's a constant struggle, the hair cutting is just one manifestation of the overall problem.
I also have a very strong family history of OCD and anxiety issues, so I am completely convinced it's genetic.  
Thats my experience in a nutshell, just wanted to let you know your hair cutting is not that out of the ordinary, others have it also!
Take care,
Andy

Thanks Andy,
Oh and welcome. Hope we see more of you around here. :)
                                                                       cat

Thanks for the bang lesson. that sounds easy enough.

now where do i get me one of those razor comes so that i can do the layor thing like my hair dressor does?   :;):

Guppy should really tell you herself.

innerchaos,
any beauty supply store should have them.
                                                       

                                                   :) cat

thanks cat! :)

i shall check that out!

I just hope i don't become a compulsive bang cutter!

guppy,
where are you?
                               cat:) :p

I shall send out a call for guppe to put in an appearance...be patient......

be patient.

Thanks inner choas!


I cut my hair again. It doesnt look good this time.Just trying to improve alittle .the top of my hair is about a inch long.Im pretty mad at myself!  Gotta work tonight and wearing a baseball cap wouldnt really be professional.Why cant I just learn from past mistakes!!
                                                             cat

as per guppe's permission I shall have honor of posting why guppe shaves her head:  :;):

Guppe has shaved her head in the past to donate her hair to charity.

she shaves her head to prevent herself from pulling her hair out compulsively.

She also sports beanies!  (sorry guppe, I just had to to throw that in there too!)

(i dont know how to spell the full version of the word tricholmania  (sp?) )

so there you go.  after so long of a wait...the secret is out.......   :cool:

guppe's shaved head scored the top of the page!!!!!  :cool:

I should also mention that I still have eyebrows and eye lashes, they are just thin.

some people pull their eye brows and eye lashes out so badly that they actually have none.  sad but true.  :(

its called Trichotillomania.  hair pulling.

and coincidentally cinzbenz just started a thread on it here in the OCD room.  :;):

When i am really in bad shape i rock myself seated on the floor and pull out my hair. almost like being autistic...does not happen as much any more as it did...really awful feeling...very 'out there' if you know what i mean, get all numb emotionally...very autistic actually.

I thinks its cool that guppe donates her hair!

Guppe ,It feels kinda weird to be talking about you when your not here. It just cuz we're missing you.
Thanks, innerchoas for the info!
I have to shave everyday! If I cant get it with a razor Ill go at it with the tweezers. I hate the feeling of new grown hair!!I also cant stand the feeling of hair on my neck.If I could afford it ..I would have that hair lazor treatment done all over my body(except my head)Or better yet I want the home version.
                                                                  cat  

orion,
When you rock and pull your hair...Does it give you kind of a calming feeling?or like a stress reliever? Thats what I experience sometimes..Strange, huh??
                                                                             cat

Orion,

when i was at my worst point,  I used to sit and rock in a chair for hours wrapped up in blankets.  i dont think its weird or anything, or all that out there.  i think that people have ways of esacaping their emotions. We all find ways to let our selves out of those horrible places we find ourselves in.  I used to rock and now I dont.  Now i just lay in bed.  It seems i always have my method of escape. It just alters and changes over time.

BTW~

cinzbenz started a trich thread for any with this problem.  its here in the ocd room.  :)

Dear Cat,

i actually don't know what it does for me...it doesn't calm me...it is like a reaction to something...i have no control when i do it.  maybe there is release there and i just don't perceive it.

it is strange alright :O