I’m asking this because I was never diagnosed for this, and when I looked it up online, it said it was a response to traumatic events and usually an unconscious habit. I understand in the rules it said it’s best not to ask for a diagnosis of Trich, but I’m not looking for that, I’m just looking for opinions.

When I was in 4th grade I saw an ad for an eyeliner. While watching it, I thought “Wow, eyelashes are gross. I don’t want them anymore.” I started to pluck my eyelashes everyday, until I had none left.

Since I had no eyelashes, I started to pluck other places, like my scalp, eyebrows, armpit hair, and later on pubic hair. I kept doing this as it felt rewarding when I plucked a hair out. Couple of friends started to notice I had no eyelashes, and when they pointed it I felt embarrassed. I told a teacher I had about the plucking, and she told me they would never grow back again, somewhat scaring me (I didn’t stop though). One day, my mom started to stare at my face. I got scared, fearing she saw I had no eyelashes. She got really mad at me, but only because she saw some of my eyebrow hair was missing. This was in 5th grade, so this habit of mine lasted for about a year.

I stopped plucking my eyelashes and eyebrows out of fear of my mom. I would still pluck my hair in less visible places, a little bit from my scalp, armpit hair, and pubic hair. Especially during covid lockdowns. Post-covid now, and I only pluck where a unibrow used to grow, knuckle hairs, and leg hair. Plucking hair has been less of an issue in life, but I do have scars/scabs on my legs from excessive plucking.

This goes back to my question, did I used to have this condition? Even though I only really pluck my leg hair, do I still have it?