What is Trichotillomania? (I can not even pronounce that)
Trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-nee-uh) is a disorder that
involves recurrent, irresistible urges to pull out hair from your scalp,
eyebrows or other areas of your body, despite trying to stop.
Hair pulling from the scalp often leaves patchy bald spots, which
causes significant distress and can interfere with social or work
functioning. People with trichotillomania may go to great lengths to
disguise the loss of hair.
For some people, trichotillomania may be mild and generally
manageable. For others, the compulsive urge to pull hair is
overwhelming.
(I linked the Mayo clinic site up there ^ )
I have a mild case. I've always had it. One of my earliest (13 years old maybe younger) memories of it, is plucking most of my eye lashes out!!! Youch! right?
My eye brows have been paper thin before, trying to get a straight line.
I still over pluck sometimes...and have to painfully let them grow back in. I say painfully, but what I mean is resist the urge to pluck and maintain a clean line.
I catch my self doing that with my eye lashes too! If there is one or two out of line I have to pluck. Or resist the urge to. Not really an urge but a compulsive behavior that just happens.
When my third son was born, I developed a habit or compulsion to pluck my hair out. I had a few spots that were BALD on my head. One was at the base of my hairline on the left side of my neck/head. I felt ashamed to put my hair up and let people wonder why. I thought it was stress, until I stumbled upon this disorder. I felt better about it, knowing it was 'real'. I thought it was all stress, overwhelmingness ( <--- a="" baby...new="" house...etc.="" kids...new="" not="" of="" p="" thats="" three="" word...="">
I 'grew' out of that slowly, my hair grew back.
Until recently. about a year ago. I started pulling my hair on my head again, right at the top. I had to part it differently, or rather a deeper side part to cover it up. And still it shows. I see it. Others may not. But I do. I am getting to the point where I may not be able to cover it up. It scares me, but I CAN'T stop!
I have tried occupying my hands.
When I realize what I am doing, get up and move around.
I change the way I'm sitting. I tried a squeeze ball.
I have also noticed my eyebrows getting thinner, and a greater distance from each other.
So I am hoping by admitting this, or rather publicly outing myself I can cope with it better, or lessen it, or hopefully stop it all together!
Do you have Trichotillomania? If so, do you have any techniques that you have in place to avoid plucking?
Or even if you don't, do you have any thoughts on how to overcome, or lessen my 'urge'?
Thanks for getting through all that.
~Carrie
Footnote: I do NOT eat my hair.
