trichotillomania

[NameChangeAdvice]

Hi there.

I have name changed but I have been on Mumsnet for years supporting and advising as much as possible.

Anyway after a traumatic event in 2020 I have found that I have started pulling out my hair. In particular on my legs, groin and face with tweezers. So much so it bleeds, scabs and scars. I can't wear any clothes that show my legs due to the damage I have done.

I am obsessed. I sit for hours with tweezers digging at my skin and I have no idea why.

Has anyone had any similar experience and have you had help etc?

Thank you

Bump

Hi OP,

Not exactly the same but I have skin picking disorder, particularly on my scalp. I also pick so much my scalp bleeds and I have bald patches. Not had much success getting help to be honest. Have you spoken to your GP? It sounds like you know what caused it to start, so I would try and address the root cause, whether that be counselling, medication or some other kind of therapy.

it's totally shit but hopefully you can overcome it with the right help

It's a distraction technique, you are avoiding thinking or feeling. CBT can help. Definitely triggered by trauma. I also found this study but haven't tried the supplement yet.

www.bfrb.org/learn-about-bfrbs/123-n-acetylcysteine-for-trichotillomania-skin-picking-and-nail-biting

Yes I have trich and it started when o was 9 and now I'm 34.
I've not heard of anyone developing this later on life but I do know PTSD can be a cause.

Are you able to go to counselling re the event in 2020?

I personally have never every found a cure. Some days/weeks/months are better than others but I do have a bald spit on the top back of my head.
I have tried a habit awareness trainer called "Keen" where it looks a bit like a Fitbit and you wear it on your wrist and train to to the motion of you pulling the hair. Then when you do the motion it sends a buzz onto your wrist to make you snap out of your hair pulling zone.

Tying hair up has helped too.

I'd imagine if this is a new thing you should be able to train yourself out of it but it takes so much will power and the urge to pull is so strong.
I tried CBT twice and it didn't do anything for me

It's called a body focused repetitive disorder (BFRD) and there is a group of things like a pp, said skin picking is also one.

I have this too OP. It worsens when anxious or stressed and I agree with the PP that it's an avoidance technique as you kind of zone out and just focus on the action of what you're doing.

Mine is my head hair, although I do also sometimes spend hours plucking my armpits .

I've been doing it since a teenager and am now 40. I was clinically depressed a few years ago and it was uncontrollable to the point of a visible bald patch on the back of my head. I have these stupid rules about which hairs I'm allowed to pull out as a way to justify it to myself.

I don't see it ever stopping as it's definitely a stress-reduction thing for me....and life is stressful!

Had trich for over 30 years now and have never been able to stop. Mine is focused in my head and I have several bald patches. Like pp, I've never been able to stop or found anything that helped.

If you only do it with tweezers, could you throw them all out? I read that breaking the routine sometimes helps to break the habit. After I pull I will eat the root of the hair which I know sounds disgusting. Other people collect the hairs or search for ones with a particular texture.

I think there would be hope for you, op since you have "only" done it for a year but you will really need to be aware of when you're doing it and I agree with pp, get rid of the tweezers. Anything that will make it harder for you to do.
Maybe get every area you are doing it in waxed?! That could be an idea.