My daughter is always picking on her eyelashes & removes them, HELP!?

Question

Hi there..

It's been a year, all of a sudden whenever I look at my daughter she has her hand on her eyelashes and picking on them. If you look at her half of them are gone! I tried talking to her, conforting her, but she tells me she's only bored when she does that, She's 9 years old.

She once also started picking on her eyesbrows & removed half of it. I took her to the family doctor yesterday & talked to the doctor about it, she told me you might want to see a child psychologist.

What is wrong with her? Any ideas why she's doing it? I've tried pretty much everything with her but she won't stop.

Please I need help, what can I do to help her stop.

Answer 1

I remember pulling my eyelashes out when I was a child.  I remember that it felt really cool.  Not painful, just a neat sensation.

Looking back, I had the habit during the same time my mother was in an abusive marriage.  It was probably related to stress, although I didnt realize it at the time.

Answer 2

My nephew used to do that right around the time my sister was battling with cancer. It is not normal and it does not respond to boredom, it's more of an anxiety thing. I do the same with my eyebrows whenever I am nervous. Sometimes we think our children have a good life, but there are things that we might not be aware of. Is she being bullied at school? Is there a mean teacher? Are you a working mother? Do you argue with your husband in front of her? It could be anything, and a psychologyst might be your best bet to find out what's going on.

The best of luck.

Answer 3

enroll her in a program or something, eyelashes are there to prevent stuff from entering the eye, so if she removes them all she will have a huge problem.

Answer 4

Maybe there is something underlying, it may be best to follow up with the child psychologist. It seems a little extravagant but if you've tried everything, maybe that will be your answer? Maybe she is nervous about something...

Or maybe it's just nothing at all, just a habit. Either way, there is no harm in seeing someone. All the best :)

Answer 5

It sounds like she has Trichotillomania.

Trichotillomania is when people can't help pulling their hair out. Whether it be on their head, their eyebrows, eyelashes, or even armpits.

It's normally associated with depression, but this doesnt mean it's always depression that causes it. Although, it is most likely another mental disturbance or trauma, even if it is subconscious for your daughter. It could even be just stress at school, or maybe a relative is ill?

She needs some counselling, if it is Trich. Don't worry too much - the problems behind her hairpulling may not be too serious at all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichotillo...

Answer 6

I am 15 years old and i am always plucking my head hair from the place where i part my hair and there is such a long and wide bald area over there. Even i dont know why i do it, though i really really do want to stop this habit of mine.

   I am not under any stress, i dont need attention because i already get a lot from my family, i am not lonely or anything else.

   But,i can tell you this, that it all started when i was having my final exams, and while studying i started pulling my hair one by one, and now the habit has stuck to me.

   I would say that you just keep her busy, tell her to draw or do some painting or keep writing so that her hands keep busy.

   I asked people here about my habit and they said that i suffered from "trichotillomania".. you can search online about it!

Answer 7

Sounds like your daughter may have Trichotillomania.  It's an obsessive-compulsive disorder that she can't help.  A psychologist would be able to determine if that's what she has for sure and will also be able to help her.  It's definitely something that you want to get on top of now, while she's young and before she moves on to her hair on her head.  This could be an embarrassing problem for her when she gets a bit older and it may be getting embarrassing for her even now.  She definitely needs help, as this is not something that she will stop doing on her own if that's what it is.  Good luck!!

Answer 8

Three ideas:

1) Trichotillomania.

2) High anxiety

3) lack of pain sensors - although rare, some people are unable to feel any pain, and will often harm themselves without knowing it

I'd check with your doctor again and a psychologist

Answer 9

It's just a bad habit, like biting your nails. Kids develop these habits out of boredom, just like your daughter said. She will most likely grow out of it, once she learns how to break that habit, which may be difficult to do.

Answer 10

She could be self-stimming (self stimulation)  Do u notice this at times when she is not active or you are busy doing something?  Has anything changed in the home recently, ie new baby, new work demands etc?  A psychologist might be a good idea.  Not that something is WRONG with her, but the fact that she may need a trained, neutral person to get to the bottom of what is going on with her.

Emma, mum to My2angels, stephanie 20 and Louise 173/4. MDS

Answer 11

Why ask us. You already had the answer from the doctor.