Dana

I have been pulling my hair for about five years. Since I understood what trichotillomania is, I started various treatments that helped temporarily, but the pulling returned during busy periods, such as exam times. About six months ago I got to know the wonderful SoloUno app. I started documenting my pulling by situations (meaning dividing the day into pulling according to what I’m doing—whether it’s work, studying, driving, or anything like that), and the app would show me graphs of the distribution of the pulling.

Gradually, I began to roughly understand my pulling patterns and how to regulate the pulling according to situations. This way I compare myself only in relation to the situation and not by the number of pulls, which is very hard and frustrating. In this way, the solutions can be broken down into small bites. Recently, new ideas were also added to the app, such as a daily challenge and counting resistance to the urge, so now I can also challenge myself in small steps—for example, counting how many times I touched my hair but did not pull it.

I think it’s a successful approach made up of many small successes, and that is the key the app emphasizes. Thanks to the app, I managed to reduce the amount of my pulling even during somewhat busy periods, and the best thing that happened—within the app you can connect to “reporting pairs” and groups, and that way receive support in the very moment and feel together in the process! Through it I met an amazing friend, and we also study together and truly support each other along the way.

So I truly believe in sharing, in community, in speaking this difficulty in everyday life, and doing so within an amazing company, a supportive and wonderful community. I think this really helps to persist and to feel together.