Hair Pulling

ayana95 · Dec 31, 2013 at 12:06 AM

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.

bluekoi · May 30, 2014 at 07:36 PM

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

willubmyfriend · May 31, 2014 at 05:29 AM

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.

Sissysunshine · Jun 22, 2014 at 09:41 AM

[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""

TinaSB · Jun 29, 2014 at 01:23 PM

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.

ayana95 · Oct 17, 2014 at 11:10 PM

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

bluekoi · Oct 18, 2014 at 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayana95

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?

Angelique67 · Oct 18, 2014 at 11:08 AM

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.

ayana95 · Oct 19, 2014 at 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluekoi

Please don't feel ashamed.

Have you been to see a doctor to see if he/she can help you?

I mentioned it to my therapist but not my prescriber.

BlackSheep79 · Oct 26, 2014 at 02:33 PM

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

ayana95 · Oct 26, 2014 at 06:05 PM

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.

bluekoi · Oct 26, 2014 at 09:22 PM

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.

Angelique67 · Oct 26, 2014 at 09:37 PM

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.

Oct 31, 2014 at 04:57 PM

Aww sorry to hear about that

i wish you goodwill.

Angelique67 · Oct 31, 2014 at 05:52 PM

On the upside, less hair that smells like smoke.

Mika no Chiyoko · Nov 03, 2014 at 02:58 PM

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?

Angelique67 · Nov 03, 2014 at 04:03 PM

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.

iRunforfun · Nov 11, 2014 at 07:35 AM

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.

Angelique67 · Nov 11, 2014 at 12:04 PM

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.

ayana95 · Nov 27, 2014 at 10:03 PM

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.

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bluekoi Administrator Community Support Team Member Since Feb 2014 Location: Vancouver, BC Canada Posts: 13,682 (SuperPoster!) 10 11.4k hugs given	May 30, 2014 at 07:36 PM #2 ayana95, Sorry to hear this. Were you able to discuss alternative behaviors with a doctor?
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ayana95 Member Member Since Dec 2010 Location: VA Posts: 190 13 9 hugs given	Oct 17, 2014 at 11:10 PM #6 I am still suffering and I am still very ashamed. I feel so alone in this. __________________ I love someone with Autism
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Angelique67 Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Oct 2014 Location: USA Posts: 22,125 (SuperPoster!) 10	Oct 18, 2014 at 11:08 AM #8 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.
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ayana95 Member Member Since Dec 2010 Location: VA Posts: 190 13 9 hugs given	Oct 26, 2014 at 06:05 PM #11 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. __________________ I love someone with Autism
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bluekoi Administrator Community Support Team Member Since Feb 2014 Location: Vancouver, BC Canada Posts: 13,682 (SuperPoster!) 10 11.4k hugs given	Oct 26, 2014 at 09:22 PM #12 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.
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Angelique67 Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Oct 2014 Location: USA Posts: 22,125 (SuperPoster!) 10	Oct 26, 2014 at 09:37 PM #13 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.
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Anonymous100185 Guest Posts: n/a	Oct 31, 2014 at 04:57 PM #14 Aww sorry to hear about that i wish you goodwill.
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Angelique67 Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Oct 2014 Location: USA Posts: 22,125 (SuperPoster!) 10	Oct 31, 2014 at 05:52 PM #15 On the upside, less hair that smells like smoke.
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Angelique67 Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Oct 2014 Location: USA Posts: 22,125 (SuperPoster!) 10	Nov 03, 2014 at 04:03 PM #17 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.
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Angelique67 Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Oct 2014 Location: USA Posts: 22,125 (SuperPoster!) 10	Nov 11, 2014 at 12:04 PM #19 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.
	Reply With Quote

ayana95 Member Member Since Dec 2010 Location: VA Posts: 190 13 9 hugs given	Nov 27, 2014 at 10:03 PM #20 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. __________________ I love someone with Autism
	Reply With Quote