[Amandabulger]

I find myself picking off my mascara almost every day and I will rip out at least 5 eyelashes each time. Once I start doing it I can't stop until all the mascara is off and I'm afraid I'm going to have no eyelashes. Someone mentioned it maybe involving an anxiety/stress inflicted habit. I have very high stress and some anxiety. What is the cause of me doing this?

[Wondergirl]

It sounds like OCD, an obsession combined with the compulsion to pick off the mascara. Part of the problem may be this -- Trichotillomania. Your best bet to identify and learn how to get rid of this behavior (especially before the stress and anxiety push you into new behaviors do you don't want) is to see a therapist who deals with this sort of thing. He/she will help identify the sources of the stress and anxiety and figure out with you how you can overcome them. Would it be possible to look for and meet with a therapist?

[Amandabulger]

It sounds like OCD, an obsession combined with the compulsion to pick off the mascara. Part of the problem may be this -- Trichotillomania. Your best bet to identify and learn how to get rid of this behavior (especially before the stress and anxiety push you into new behaviors do you don't want) is to see a therapist who deals with this sort of thing. He/she will help identify the sources of the stress and anxiety and figure out with you how you can overcome them. Would it be possible to look for and meet with a therapist?

Thank you so much and I am going to try to contact a therapist

[Wondergirl]

Thank you so much and I am going to try to contact a therapist

Be sure you find someone who will meet with you at least once a week, maybe even a master's level counselor such as a social worker or psychotherapist. If you need anxiety meds, that counselor will be able to figure it out and will have a psychiatrist to refer you to for the meds. The once or twice weekly counseling sessions are very important, so don't take get a prescription from a doctor without regular counseling sessions. Any meds would smooth out the anxiety wrinkles so the counseling will work. And you may not need meds.

[Amandabulger]

Be sure you find someone who will meet with you at least once a week, maybe even a master's level counselor such as a social worker or psychotherapist. If you need anxiety meds, that counselor will be able to figure it out and will have a psychiatrist to refer you to for the meds. The once or twice weekly counseling sessions are very important, so don't take get a prescription from a doctor without regular counseling sessions. Any meds would smooth out the anxiety wrinkles so the counseling will work. And you may not need meds.

I will do this, thank you!

[Wondergirl]

I will do this, thank you !!

Please post here again once you have found a therapist to help you with all this. It's a special area of interest for me, and I want to make sure you are okay.