Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group
Impulsive control disorder is the inability to resist an urge, temptation, or impulse, even when it may cause negative effects to the self or to others. If you or a loved one suffers from impulsive contorl disorder, join the community to find support and share your challenges with others who know what you're going through.
I'm sure most of us have been pulling for over a year. My mom just hung my old school pics on the wall and I really started to look at them. And the sad thing is, from 7-8th grade, I can see the damage I've done. It really depressed me. I just feel like getting this all out in the open.
I know some of you are still in school, whether it's Elem. School, Middle School, High School, and college. I'm on my last year of Middle school (8th) and something happened the other day and I went home and cried. For a long time.
I have most of the people from my 7th grade classes in my 8th grade classes. Last year in 7th, I was in math and I happened to be pulling my hair (duh). The girl behind me said "ew that's disgusting!" but I didn't know what she was talking about. I kind of turned around and she was MOCKING me by pulling her own hair out. That hurt real bad. But just the other day the same girl was talking to this boy (call him Mike, that's not his real name). But the girl was talking to Mike and I could hear her saying that I pull my hair out and she was mocking me by pulling out her hair. AGAIN. I mouthed her an "FU" and I walked away. I feel so hopeless that this will never end. The meds I'm taking do nothing and they just make me an emotional roller-coaster and they slow down my metabolism (therefore I gained weight). I feel hopeless and I try to keep my spirits up but I just don't want to do this anymore. :( words of encouragement?
I know some of you are still in school, whether it's Elem. School, Middle School, High School, and college. I'm on my last year of Middle school (8th) and something happened the other day and I went home and cried. For a long time.
I have most of the people from my 7th grade classes in my 8th grade classes. Last year in 7th, I was in math and I happened to be pulling my hair (duh). The girl behind me said "ew that's disgusting!" but I didn't know what she was talking about. I kind of turned around and she was MOCKING me by pulling her own hair out. That hurt real bad. But just the other day the same girl was talking to this boy (call him Mike, that's not his real name). But the girl was talking to Mike and I could hear her saying that I pull my hair out and she was mocking me by pulling out her hair. AGAIN. I mouthed her an "FU" and I walked away. I feel so hopeless that this will never end. The meds I'm taking do nothing and they just make me an emotional roller-coaster and they slow down my metabolism (therefore I gained weight). I feel hopeless and I try to keep my spirits up but I just don't want to do this anymore. :( words of encouragement?
I know it's hard, but from my experience I found there's only a couple things that actually worked for me. Confrontation & Ignoring them. You could just say, "Yes, I have trichotillomania, what's your point?" I said that to a girl at cosmetology school when she made fun of me for not having eyelashes. She stopped real quick. I don't know if it was because I confronted her like I didn't see what the big deal was (like, "yeah, and?"), or if she was just dumbfounded by the word [trichotillomania].
Either way, she didn't say anything about it again.
I also agree with wanderlust, an expression, or lack thereof, can say more than words. I recommend the 'wth face' aka the implied facepalm.
As demonstrated by Tommy Lee Jones at this link: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uRlNDK_Z03o/TqwNcqfvgsI/AAAAAAAAANo/Wes3uDQUSwQ/s1600/ImpliedFacepalm.jpg
Basically, it's just a face that makes them feel stupid without saying anything. Just an emotionless, wordless "wth?". Because mouthing "FU" is still an emotional response, so she's still getting something out of it. I'm seriously not joking either, facial expressions are important and can work. Not only have I done it to people, but It's been done to me... and I felt like crap. lol
I know that Trich can leave you feeling hopeless, but It's not hopeless, it's just hard. People do get better, but it takes some work.
You're beautiful. Don't let trich or any person make you feel otherwise. We're all here for you.
I would suggest you find something at school that can keep your hands busy (we tend to pull when we're not thinking about it). A stress ball is a really good one and they are easy to find. Sitting in school listening to teachers with unoccupied hands is something we cannot afford.
So take courage.....if she wasn't hassling you about this issue, she'd find something else and if there was nothing else, she would make it up!!! Try to remember that it is HER problem!!!
Hugs to you, and contact me any time!