Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group
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I was just thinking about how I wish I could make my family understand what I go through with trich. None of them understand how powerful it is. They all write it off as a nervous habit. But it's so much more than that. So I tried my best to think of an analogy that could make people that dont have trich understand what we are dealing with.
having trich is like an itch. Lets say theres this little area on your arm and it itches a little bit. it doesn't itch enough to scratch, but you think about it. The itch gets worse once it's on your mind. Then you scratch and it feels good, so you keep on scratching. The itching continues and intensifies and at this point you can't stop. You know you should because if you dont, you'll damage your arm. But the itching is still there, so you can't stop. Eventually, you do damage your arm but it still itches really badly so you keep scratching. as the damage increases, so does the itch. The only way you stop scratching is if the itching stops. The only way the itching stops is if you think less about it. The itching won't stop all at once, but eventually it will start to taper off and the itch will be small enough for you to concentrate on something else and stop scratching. But the scab on your arm will remind you of that itch, and it will come again. Sometimes the itch will spread to other areas and you'll have to scratch them all. this is what trich is like for me. The itching = my urge to pull. The scratching = pulling.
What do you guys think?
having trich is like an itch. Lets say theres this little area on your arm and it itches a little bit. it doesn't itch enough to scratch, but you think about it. The itch gets worse once it's on your mind. Then you scratch and it feels good, so you keep on scratching. The itching continues and intensifies and at this point you can't stop. You know you should because if you dont, you'll damage your arm. But the itching is still there, so you can't stop. Eventually, you do damage your arm but it still itches really badly so you keep scratching. as the damage increases, so does the itch. The only way you stop scratching is if the itching stops. The only way the itching stops is if you think less about it. The itching won't stop all at once, but eventually it will start to taper off and the itch will be small enough for you to concentrate on something else and stop scratching. But the scab on your arm will remind you of that itch, and it will come again. Sometimes the itch will spread to other areas and you'll have to scratch them all. this is what trich is like for me. The itching = my urge to pull. The scratching = pulling.
What do you guys think?
deleted_user
i suffer from hair pulling only from the scalp,, is that called a trich? i' ve never heard of skin pulling, though it sounds really painful :( .. the only way i think to stop that torturing itch is to spread cream on the itchy areas maybe? hope you'll get well soon and stop pulling . :)
deleted_user
i think your justification for the trich is satisfying to deliver a proper answer of the trich to your family.. and they will understand and will give it more importance rather than a nervous habit, although it' s a nervous habit ..
rttsmom
I was just comparing an itch to the urge to pull out my hair. the whole thing is just an analogy to help people understand hair pulling and isn't literally what I do. but there are people who are skin pickers.
QueenMarie
I've always compared trich to scratching an itch. it's a great way to make someone understand who otherwise might struggle with relating. Also, you might want to tell someone- when you are introducing them to trich- that it is genetic- it is like ocd- it is not just a nervous habit. I've been thinking of telling my friends soon- I am camping with them in about a week and feel like they should know. Thinking of just telling them that I have a hair loss condition- maybe not about the trich...eeks :/
rttsmom
i've told 2 of my friends. 1 of them didn't say anything (which was awkward and made me feel bad) and the other asked a couple of questions and didn't make me feel like i was some kind of weirdo. with whoever else i decide to tell, i'll use the itch analogy. but yeah queenmarie, it would be so much easier to say you have a hair loss condition. if you think about it, that's kinda what it is :p
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