Trichotillomania (pulling out hair)

[randgirl]

Hi everyone. Im in quite a bit of shock sitting here as i have just done some googling on this topic.

Yesterday when i took ds (age 14) to the barber for a haircut i heard him ask ds why he had shaved his head.. Ds looked shocked as said he hadnt. when he was done i could see now that his fringe was shorter than there is no hair way back above where his hairline should be, but there is stubble there where there is a little regrowth. (so his fringe is starting way back on his head). When we got home i asked why he would shave his head like that, so then he told me that he cant help it but he realized that he is pulling out his hair during school.. I thought it odd the other day as i washed his jacket and it did have bits of hair all on it.

So we chatted, he is quite anxious as has started at a new school, but all in all i was under the impression that all was well as he just seems better in himself. He is on Concerta for ADD. I read that there may be link with trichotillomania and adhd as there could be underlying ocd (which i do know sometimes can link with as, adhd etc). He has said now that he doesnt know he is doing it, he remembers the first time he did it and that it felt nice... . HE said later in the day that he wanted to do it during homework, but he reminded himself not to pull at the hair. This can only be a recent thing as he had his haircut 6 weeks ago and we always go to the same barber so he would have noticed it before i am sure.

Has anyone been through this? I feel so awful for him, have we put him under so much pressure that this is what he has resorted to doing, so i would catergorize this as self harming .

[mikkii]

I went through a phase of doing this when I was in my early 20s. It does feel really satisfying. Once I realised what I was doing, and how I was going to look if I carried on, I managed to stop.

I can't comment if the ADHD might affect it, but hopefully, as this has only started recently it is a habit that can be broken.

[vess]

DS sometimes does that when he is stressed. Cutting his hair really short helps, because you can't really pull it then. Obviously you need to address the cause of the anxiety as well.

[EvenBetter]

I do this, to my eyelashes since I was a teenager. It means I look hideous for weeks until they grow back, but I still do it. Nothing goes through my mind when I do it apart from 'right, stop that!'. I was abused as a very young toddler and have anxiety, I also bite skin on my lips and fingers.
I dont know where I'm going with this post, my mother was/is horrified at my eyelashes. CBT may be of use to your son, or counselling-which may sound extreme an he'd probably say no to it, CBT is apparently very good in treating anxious and compulsive people.

[CouthyMow]

My toddler does this. He has been dxd as hyperactive 'with a high chance of ADHD'.

Maybe a connection?

DS3 is unmedicated as he is only 2y4mo, and CBT isn't going to help - he's 2 and practically non-verbal!

No suggestions other than distraction. My friend that had the same issue when we were teenagers used to have a rubber band on her wrist to snap against her wrist when she felt like doing this. It seemed to provide enough of a 'sting' to feel good, without damaging her IYSWIM. That was suggested by her counsellor.

[Tiny12]

My DD also does this. First started about 5 years ago when she was 7. We got her referred to child physiologist. She stopped it after about a year but I noticed at the weekend she has started hair pulling again don't know what to do. Can't handle to see what she is doing to herself

[Olivebranch]

My DD has been doing this for the last year. She picks her eyebrows, like previous messages she say that it "felt good". I spoke to the doctor about this and she suggested that every time we see her doing it, just use a key word to make her aware of what she is doing. Which we do she gets a little irritated with us but I try to be consistent. Has it helped?? I would say no. The only person who can stop doing this is herself. This all started in year 12 now coming to the end of year 13. I also think that this is a mild form of self harming, but my husband and daughter disagree.