Comments on: The Tweezers http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/ Listen to stories on anything from honeymoons to WWII, from award-winning journalists to first-time writers alike, from anywhere in the world. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:46:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Susie http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-67784 Sat, 03 Jul 2010 16:07:41 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-67784 My concern is how long I will be doing this to myself. Like many of you, I tweeze the same areas. I started with my eyebrows at the young age of 11. I had tweezed so frequently that the hairs never grew back. I must have appreciated all of the compliments on my perfectly groomed brows and felt a sense of accomplishment that I moved on to my underarms, pubic area, and legs. Now in my early 30s, my little form of emotional release has certainly become a problem. I am addicted to tweezing. I am ashamed of the way my legs look. They have become scarred and ugly. I am afraid that I am causing an infection under the surface of my skin. I have an area which feels like a bruise with no discoloration of the skin that has now been there for over a year. I do not know how to stop, but at the same time do not want to either. I think of other addictions I can have and would prefer this one to many. I have heard of the term trichotillomania, but didn't think it applied to me. Until reading this post, I never considered my habit a form of self-mutilation. I consider myself a stable person, successful in my relationships and having a positive view of myself and my world around me. I had a battle with depression in my pre-teen years. Of course since then I have encountered times in my life where my thoughts start to spiral out of control, but I have always managed to get them back in order before they became a really issue. I wish I could understand why I began in the first place. It may have been a coping machinism I developed during my depression. Like many OCDs, it can be about trying to control something in my life when I feel that there is so much that is uncertain. I was date raped in my late teens and it could have be a subconscious effort to return to my innocence. Or maybe, I am a sadist and just enjoy the little pain I feel when I pull a hair and know to that I am alive and exist in this world. I cannot tell you how often I tweeze. Many times I don't even think about it until I have time to sit. Right now I am thinking about it with my tweezers right next to me. I do not have the time right now since it is a busy for me today, but wish I could waste the day tweezing so I can attempt to perfect the smoothness of my legs or rid myself of any strays forever. No matter how hard I try, I really know that is impossible. The hair will grow back and the bumps and redness will be there tomorrow. Thank you Anonymous for writing this post and for giving me the courage to do the same. I hope it helps me to see my thoughts on paper and to acknowledge I have a problem. Best of luck to everyone else out there with the same feelings and remember you are not alone is dealing with your issues. My concern is how long I will be doing this to myself. Like many of you, I tweeze the same areas. I started with my eyebrows at the young age of 11. I had tweezed so frequently that the hairs never grew back. I must have appreciated all of the compliments on my perfectly groomed brows and felt a sense of accomplishment that I moved on to my underarms, pubic area, and legs. Now in my early 30s, my little form of emotional release has certainly become a problem. I am addicted to tweezing.

I am ashamed of the way my legs look. They have become scarred and ugly. I am afraid that I am causing an infection under the surface of my skin. I have an area which feels like a bruise with no discoloration of the skin that has now been there for over a year. I do not know how to stop, but at the same time do not want to either. I think of other addictions I can have and would prefer this one to many. I have heard of the term trichotillomania, but didn’t think it applied to me. Until reading this post, I never considered my habit a form of self-mutilation. I consider myself a stable person, successful in my relationships and having a positive view of myself and my world around me. I had a battle with depression in my pre-teen years. Of course since then I have encountered times in my life where my thoughts start to spiral out of control, but I have always managed to get them back in order before they became a really issue.

I wish I could understand why I began in the first place. It may have been a coping machinism I developed during my depression. Like many OCDs, it can be about trying to control something in my life when I feel that there is so much that is uncertain. I was date raped in my late teens and it could have be a subconscious effort to return to my innocence. Or maybe, I am a sadist and just enjoy the little pain I feel when I pull a hair and know to that I am alive and exist in this world.

I cannot tell you how often I tweeze. Many times I don’t even think about it until I have time to sit. Right now I am thinking about it with my tweezers right next to me. I do not have the time right now since it is a busy for me today, but wish I could waste the day tweezing so I can attempt to perfect the smoothness of my legs or rid myself of any strays forever. No matter how hard I try, I really know that is impossible. The hair will grow back and the bumps and redness will be there tomorrow.

Thank you Anonymous for writing this post and for giving me the courage to do the same. I hope it helps me to see my thoughts on paper and to acknowledge I have a problem. Best of luck to everyone else out there with the same feelings and remember you are not alone is dealing with your issues.

]]> by: Anon http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-67689 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:48:16 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-67689 Oh my god, this is so relieving. I thought I was the only one addicted to tweezing. It started with my eyebrows, and then to my armpits (sounds gross and impractical I know), and then to my pubic hair. And just like some other comments I've read, I'm really really embarrassed about my pubic area because it's red and basically disgusting, I don't know how I'll ever be intimate with a man. I also dig for ingrown hairs, but lately I've been forcing myself to only get the "above-skin" ones because it just ends up a bloody mess if I dig. I started when I was 15? or 14? And now I'm 17. I also use it as a reward or a stress-reliever. Oh my god, this is so relieving. I thought I was the only one addicted to tweezing. It started with my eyebrows, and then to my armpits (sounds gross and impractical I know), and then to my pubic hair. And just like some other comments I’ve read, I’m really really embarrassed about my pubic area because it’s red and basically disgusting, I don’t know how I’ll ever be intimate with a man. I also dig for ingrown hairs, but lately I’ve been forcing myself to only get the “above-skin” ones because it just ends up a bloody mess if I dig. I started when I was 15? or 14? And now I’m 17. I also use it as a reward or a stress-reliever.

]]> by: Sara http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-67565 Wed, 05 May 2010 01:39:44 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-67565 Here it is, 2010. I mutilate my bikini area and use all kinds of medicines to try and heal it. I have really dark thick hair and fair skin. I have two or three hairs coming out of every follicle. I dig to get the ingrown hairs. I end up a bloody mess. I also use tweezing as a reward. I have thrown away so many pairs of tweezers and dream of permanent hair removal. I need the tweezers for my eyebrows. I don't mutilate my brows, but look like Freida Khalo mixed with sasquatch if I don't tweeze the brows. I had no choice but to explain to my boyfriend what I was doing. He was amazingly understanding and asked to look openly. Very scary but also heartwarming that he just wanted to see me who I am. I still try to hide it from him. I imagine he has to notice but doesn't say anything. The scabs get really horrific. I don't like to change my pants in front of my girl friends. I've told a few, but not shown them. Here it is, 2010. I mutilate my bikini area and use all kinds of medicines to try and heal it. I have really dark thick hair and fair skin. I have two or three hairs coming out of every follicle. I dig to get the ingrown hairs. I end up a bloody mess. I also use tweezing as a reward. I have thrown away so many pairs of tweezers and dream of permanent hair removal. I need the tweezers for my eyebrows. I don’t mutilate my brows, but look like Freida Khalo mixed with sasquatch if I don’t tweeze the brows. I had no choice but to explain to my boyfriend what I was doing. He was amazingly understanding and asked to look openly. Very scary but also heartwarming that he just wanted to see me who I am. I still try to hide it from him. I imagine he has to notice but doesn’t say anything. The scabs get really horrific. I don’t like to change my pants in front of my girl friends. I’ve told a few, but not shown them.

]]> by: Joy http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-63871 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:41:42 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-63871 This is the first time I have ever written or said anything publicly about my problem. I too, as repetitious as it may sound, tweeze everything and have been since I was ten. About two years ago, I found the label for it (trichotillomania) which on one hand has made me feel not as alone, but on the other hand, since no one that I see has really fixed it, makes me feel like I'll never be able to stop. My pubic area is the worst part. I have managed to control my legs and I don't pull from my head, but I take it all out on my pubic hairs. I am glad that the people that I've read that do this say that they have boyfriends because it's stopping me from wanting to have sex at all because it looks terrible. I guess I just wanted to thank you for continuing getting trich out there because there are probably so many people who feel lonely about this and it needs to be known and talked about. This is the first time I have ever written or said anything publicly about my problem. I too, as repetitious as it may sound, tweeze everything and have been since I was ten. About two years ago, I found the label for it (trichotillomania) which on one hand has made me feel not as alone, but on the other hand, since no one that I see has really fixed it, makes me feel like I’ll never be able to stop. My pubic area is the worst part. I have managed to control my legs and I don’t pull from my head, but I take it all out on my pubic hairs. I am glad that the people that I’ve read that do this say that they have boyfriends because it’s stopping me from wanting to have sex at all because it looks terrible. I guess I just wanted to thank you for continuing getting trich out there because there are probably so many people who feel lonely about this and it needs to be known and talked about.

]]> by: Brina http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-63624 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:05:43 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-63624 I have many mental issues that I am aware of but never get treated for. I asked my friends if tweezing was mutilation and my boyfriend. They say until it hurts, but to me it never hurts. I feel happy or content accomplished. I only tweeze my happy trail but a couple months ago I made a goal to tweeze my entire vagina.. I had to stop because I felt so embarassed around my boyfried; I wound up shaving it all off. I try so hard to keep my issues inside but I am very prone to addictive behavior. For me to stop myself, I leave my bad tweezers around, you know the ones that can't grab anything and I purposely lose my good ones. I have OCD hoarders, ADHD and probably suffer from depression, but in my family it's wrong to have something wrong with you... ya know. I feel so, ashamed sometime. I have many mental issues that I am aware of but never get treated for. I asked my friends if tweezing was mutilation and my boyfriend. They say until it hurts, but to me it never hurts. I feel happy or content accomplished. I only tweeze my happy trail but a couple months ago I made a goal to tweeze my entire vagina.. I had to stop because I felt so embarassed around my boyfried; I wound up shaving it all off. I try so hard to keep my issues inside but I am very prone to addictive behavior. For me to stop myself, I leave my bad tweezers around, you know the ones that can’t grab anything and I purposely lose my good ones. I have OCD hoarders, ADHD and probably suffer from depression, but in my family it’s wrong to have something wrong with you… ya know. I feel so, ashamed sometime.

]]> by: Dana http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-59337 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:11:22 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-59337 I began tweezing when i was in 2nd grade... I'm 21 now and although it's not as bad as it used to be I still find so much release in it. I want to stop but it's difficult bc i associate tweezing with emotional release. And it's hard to stop when i have such thick hair and a dislike for body hair. I mostly pluck my bikini line to try to get rid of all the ingrown hairs, but I just end up making it worse. My bf notices and wants me to stop "slaughtering" myself, and even though he is right he doesn't know that this habit started out because of so much emotional pain i was going through as a child. Does anyone want to share ways that have helped them stop? I began tweezing when i was in 2nd grade… I’m 21 now and although it’s not as bad as it used to be I still find so much release in it. I want to stop but it’s difficult bc i associate tweezing with emotional release.
And it’s hard to stop when i have such thick hair and a dislike for body hair.
I mostly pluck my bikini line to try to get rid of all the ingrown hairs, but I just end up making it worse. My bf notices and wants me to stop “slaughtering” myself, and even though he is right he doesn’t know that this habit started out because of so much emotional pain i was going through as a child.
Does anyone want to share ways that have helped them stop?

]]> by: Linda http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-57596 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:41:07 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-57596 I tweeze my eyebrows every night for hours. And I did at them to where they bleed. I can't get the short hairs out so I dig at them with pointed tweezers. Then the next night I'll pick at the scab till it bleeds again. I can't stop. But now I don't feel so alone. I tweeze my eyebrows every night for hours. And I did at them to where they bleed. I can’t get the short hairs out so I dig at them with pointed tweezers. Then the next night I’ll pick at the scab till it bleeds again. I can’t stop. But now I don’t feel so alone.

]]> by: Holly http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-55475 Sat, 31 May 2008 16:19:30 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-55475 I'm 15 and I tweeze constantly. At first I just started with my eyebrows. They're thin but people constantly compliment me on how perfectly groomed they are. They have no idea that i can spend hours staring in the mirror searching for any tiny hair. Then I started tweezing my pubic area. I know I sound like a TOTAL loser but I actually use tweezing as a reward. Like if I mop the floor, I let myself tweeze for like 5 minutes. Sick, I know. Until I read this I thought that it was kinda a useful habit because I HATE body hair. Will it really cause scarring? I really don't know if I can stop or even if I WANT to stop. Like I said I HATE HATE HATE body hair I’m 15 and I tweeze constantly. At first I just started with my eyebrows. They’re thin but people constantly compliment me on how perfectly groomed they are. They have no idea that i can spend hours staring in the mirror searching for any tiny hair. Then I started tweezing my pubic area. I know I sound like a TOTAL loser but I actually use tweezing as a reward. Like if I mop the floor, I let myself tweeze for like 5 minutes. Sick, I know. Until I read this I thought that it was kinda a useful habit because I HATE body hair. Will it really cause scarring? I really don’t know if I can stop or even if I WANT to stop. Like I said I HATE HATE HATE body hair

]]> by: Alex http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-45072 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:19:33 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-45072 why do you all do these thing's to yourselves....its easy to stop a bad habit....and don't tell me its not because i have OCD...and i find it easy.......also...why be so upset about so many things....theres so many other good things to experience...if you linger on all the bad things in life, you miss out on all the good..... why do you all do these thing’s to yourselves….its easy to stop a bad habit….and don’t tell me its not because i have OCD…and i find it easy…….also…why be so upset about so many things….theres so many other good things to experience…if you linger on all the bad things in life, you miss out on all the good…..

]]> by: Isabel http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-22772 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 20:24:41 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/11/15/the-tweezers/#comment-22772 I think its great that there is this kind of information out there. It is only recently that I have begun to view my tweezing of my bikini area as self injury. I have always self injured in one way, from cutting and scratching as a teenager to picking at my skin. For the past year I have found such comfort in tweezing the short hairs of my bikini, I am ashamed to tell my boyfriend what all the rednedd down there is from, I know he notices. It is articles like this that reinforce my theory that, Like the cutting, this is something I will need to stop. I will do it in my own time like everything else, hopefully that will come soon. Thanks again I think its great that there is this kind of information out there. It is only recently that I have begun to view my tweezing of my bikini area as self injury. I have always self injured in one way, from cutting and scratching as a teenager to picking at my skin. For the past year I have found such comfort in tweezing the short hairs of my bikini, I am ashamed to tell my boyfriend what all the rednedd down there is from, I know he notices. It is articles like this that reinforce my theory that, Like the cutting, this is something I will need to stop. I will do it in my own time like everything else, hopefully that will come soon. Thanks again

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