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Mental health

trichotillomania?

17 replies

StirFry · 01/02/2010 14:55

Please Does anyone have any experience of this and can you tell me what exactly it is?

OP posts:

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clever1 · 09/02/2010 14:53

I've been pulling out my eyebrows since I was in my teens. Atm, the cycle seems to be every two months (something to do with hormones during periods?), in a similar way to StirFry in that they grow back completely then I have to pull them out again.

I think my reasons for doing it is a feeling of control. Similar to self-harm in that there is a 'release' when you do it but guilt follows afterwards.

It's not just eyebrow hair either. I also used to pull my pubic hairs out (now stopped) and I often bite the hairs on my fingers, near the knuckles.

I'm due to start CBT soon to help with my depression but my GP also mentioned the trich in my referral to the therapists, so will have to wait and see what comes of that.

PaiMei · 02/02/2010 10:42

People are not normally open about the behaviour, obviously, due to the stigma. I also used to selfharm, mainly as a troubled teen. Now i smoke(a once accepted but now recognised as selfharming behaviour).
I took up sewing in my early twenties... that deffo helped keep my hands off my hair.
For me, pulling the hair was a comfort, a stimulation when i felt numb and invisible.
Now i do it without even knowing.
I wish you all well x

Elicpise · 01/02/2010 18:10

Hi Stir fry yes i too twist and pull my hair out got many knots at mo i find it quite comforting and like feel of the knots it's good to know others out there

pooter · 01/02/2010 15:17

At the very least its good to know we are not alone in our oddity

pooter · 01/02/2010 15:16

hey - im on citalopram too! It obviously doesnt cure trich!

I have tried doing something with my hands - like knitting or embroidery, so i cant pull any eyebrow hairs out. I usually do it when im reading a book, and i love to read, but its sometimes just not a good idea.

I would mention it, but dont expect your GP to have heard of it, or be that interested.

What about CBT? I havent tried it for trich, but it was useful to me about some other self harming behaviour i used to have (god i sound like such a wierdo!) Its all about identifying triggers and having different strategies in place for dealing with it - displacement activities etc.

PaiMei · 01/02/2010 15:14

Don't feel daft, Stirfry. It may just help... at least talking about it may help.

StirFry · 01/02/2010 15:13

Have to go and grab DC from school, will be back later x

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StirFry · 01/02/2010 15:12

I'm exactly the same pooter! I get to a point where my eyebrows have all grown back and look almost normal and then I just have this sudden and over whelming urge to pull the hairs out and just can't stop myself.

Paimei, I do see my GP because of my depression and anxiety but have never mentioned the hair pulling before. TBH its only just occured to me that it is probably linked to my depression.

I do take citalopram, propranolol and also diazepam at the moment and have to see GP again next week so I might mention it then,feel a bit daft though!

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PaiMei · 01/02/2010 15:09

I have a bald patch from a head injury scar. Whenever i get stressed i fiddle and pull out any new hair growth without even knowing I am doing it. I can stop, just like you, pooter, but then start again.

pooter · 01/02/2010 15:08

its a compulsion rather than a habit i think. You feel like you CANT stop - have no choice. When you are doing it, things feel calmer, but when you stop, you feel ridiculous. IMHO anyway.

PaiMei · 01/02/2010 15:06

Have you spoken to your gp about it?
Do you think it's a habit?... Like nail biting?

pooter · 01/02/2010 15:06

me too stirfry
i feel like such a freak when i do it, then feel so stupid because ive only myself to blame. I can go for months without doing it, then it just takes one night and im looking all weird again. I dont know what to suggest - the doctors ive seen - mainly for depression, havent really been that interested, but there are self help groups online that may be useful to you.

Have you considered hypnotherapy? I think if it gets bad again i will give it a go, because ive just had some for pregnancy and am convinced it is helping.

StirFry · 01/02/2010 15:03

I am suffering with PND at the moment and have also suffered with chronic generalised axniety all my adult life. I know its probably part of this but I can take pills for that, how do I stop the hair pulling!?

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StirFry · 01/02/2010 15:01

I pull the hair from my eyebrows. I've done it for years and just can't stop. It is getting rediculous now though and I look a bit weird with small bald spots on my eyebrows.

I done it that much that I can literally just pull them out with my fingers now.

I need to stop now!!!

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pooter · 01/02/2010 14:59

its a cross between obsessive complusive disorder and self harm in my opinion - the sufferer knows it will make life difficult as they will look odd - and it is usuallly done in an obvious place too - and of course it does hurt a bit when they are doing it.

PaiMei · 01/02/2010 14:59

Here, stirfry

pooter · 01/02/2010 14:58

It's where someone has a compulsive desire to pluck hairs out - be it from the head, eyebrows, eyelashes - wherever.

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