Hair Pulling

I've suffer from trich for a while. I am so ashamed. I wear bandana or a hat when
I go out. I havent talk to my doctor or nurse about this. I know I should. I dont know much about this disorder. I try to keep my hands busy. Its the worst when I'm stressed. I've
had my head shaved twice in the hopes of starting over. I just can't stop. I dont know how my fiance can find me beatiful. I like wearing wigs but need a new one. ( but bills come first). Thanks for listening.

ayana95, Sorry to hear this. Were you able to discuss alternative behaviors with a doctor?

I have had trichotillomania since the 4th grade. I am in my early 50's now. I was told I have a chemical imbalance in my brain which causes hair pulling, and I also have depression. I can not take depression medication with medication for the hair pulling together. So I take depression medication to keep it under control. I used to take the medication Luvox for my hair pulling and it worked GREAT! Then depression started setting in and I've been on that medication ever since. I know that anxiety triggers my hair pulling but when I take an anxiety medication, it just knocks me out, not a good thing since I have kids. One is 11 and the other is 14. I'm just basically trying to find someone else with hair pulling to just visit with, or anybody that will listen to me ramble, lol.

[QUOTE=willubmyfriend;3781941]I have had trichotillomania since the 4th grade. I am in my early 50's now. I was told I have a chemical imbalance in my brain which causes hair pulling, and I also have depression. I can not take depression medication with medication for the hair pulling together. So I take depression medication to keep it under control. I used to take the medication Luvox for my hair pulling and it worked GREAT! Then depression started setting in and I've been on that medication ever since. I know that anxiety triggers my hair pulling but when I take an anxiety medication, it just knocks me out, not a good thing since I have kids. One is 11 and the other is 14. I'm just basically trying to find someone else with hair pulling to just visit with, or anybody that will listen to me ramble, I have suffered for 35 years!!! I know no one else who endures but me .. Most docs don't know what this is""

I stopped pulling when I started taking MSM methylsulfonylmethane for hair growth. I take 3 gr. daily with the same amount of vitamin C and have been pull free for months now.
Additionally I take inositol. This was recommended to increase hair growth also and made other people stop pulling.
The 3rd option in NAC (with a lot of vitamin C to prevent kidney stones).

To prevent the itch it is helpful to wash the hair often enough (in my case with anti-dandruff shampoo). And to use the dominant pulling hand for the computer mouse.

I am 47 and had 35 years of "experience" before I was able to stop.

I am still suffering and I am still very ashamed. I feel so alone in this.

Please don't feel ashamed. Have you been to see a doctor to see if he/she can help you?

I last pulled in February or March. It's a lot better than it used to be. I'm in my 50s and pulled since grade school.

I mentioned it to my therapist but not my prescriber.

Mine started when I was a teenager and I had a zit in my hair and my mom pulled out the infected hair and I loved the feeling. I noticed when I am stressed, high anxiety, and when I am in a hypo manic episode is when I do this. I have been going thru a hypo manic phase and I have a spot right now that is visible. I already have very thin hair. I am able to hide it right now barely by pulling my hair up.

BP 1/OCD/GAD

I just wish the urge would go away. My hair is super short. I really could use a good wig. I usually wear bandanas or hats. I guess I'm anxious all the time. I want to tell my doctor during my next appointment. I feel so ugly.

ayana95, Yes talk with your doctor. Be honest about how you feel. I hope he/she is able to offer some treatment suggestions. Beauty comes from within.

I still have a lot of thin areas from where I pulled 8 months ago. I am finding it's easier to keep from pulling since then, but mainly because I'm remembering how sparse the hair is.

Aww sorry to hear about that i wish you goodwill.

On the upside, less hair that smells like smoke.

I've heard about this condition and I've been slightly worried that I maybe have it a little bit? I constantly run my fingers through my hair and scratch my scalp and when I bring my fingers out I try to catch all the loose hairs I can. It feels like an irresistible urge and when I start it's really hard to stop. I think it started around when I was, I dunno, around 14? I'm not sure about this and it's kind of embarrassing. I don't have bald spots or anything I've heard about.

Can anybody help me out here? Did any of you start out like this?

No, not at all. It sounds like you are "finger combing" which is different from yanking it out. If you get the urge to yank it out, try to stop yourself and get help.

I've been a trichotillomaniac since I was about 11 years old, and I'm 23 now.

When I was a kid, it started when I got paranoid about head lice... I ripped out half my hair to make sure I didn't have any. I remember being super embarrassed and wearing hoods a lot because I had large bald patch on the top of my head.

Sadly, I've become "smarter" since then. I still pull every day, but I do it underneath where it can be easily hidden by keeping my hair down or pinning the back when I wear it up.

This still creates problems though, as I HATE getting hair cuts because they always ask me about it. I've also had to cut my hair short a few times to try and "start over" from an even length... but it never lasts. I find I do it when I'm bored (watching TV, sitting at my desk daydreaming) or when I become stressed.

Nobody knows though, not even my therapist. I'm pretty embarrassed about it.

Yes, it used to be so bad for me too. I pulled from early childhood and also had to hide bald spots all my life. But it has gotten a lot better though. I haven't pulled in months and I find I can even think about doing it and I won't start up, whereas before it was always sort of automatic.

I will see my doctor again in January. I will discuss what has been going on. I have a real hard time with the urge to pull with the stress of the holidays.