Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group
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Hi everyone,
I just wanted to post my experience, in case this could help anyone out. A few months ago, I had a genetic test done and found out I have the MTHFR gene mutation, which means I cannot metabolize folic acid, which is essential for brain functioning.
I started taking methyl folate (it has to be methyl folate, though, as this is different from regular folic acid). They have a prescription form called Deplin, but I was taking just an OTC supplement.
Anyways, I noticed during the time I was taking it, that my anxiety was much better and I hardly pulled at all. Like maybe a few times within a few months. I normally pull my armpit hair, and also my leg and pubic hair, but while on the methyl folate, hardly pulled at all.
Something happened a few weeks ago and I have been feeling depressed, and have since stopped taking the folate. Low and behold, my urges to pull have returned.
This could just be due to my increase in anxiety and depression, as I know that for me, my trich is definitely connected to how I feel. But, I just wanted to share my experience, as maybe folate supplementation could be helpful to you. Of course, I would talk to your doctor and/or psychiatrist/therapist who would know more about this than I do.
If anyone has had any experience with the MTHFR mutation and methyl folate, I'd love if you'd like to share. And if anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask.
Hope you're all well.
I just wanted to post my experience, in case this could help anyone out. A few months ago, I had a genetic test done and found out I have the MTHFR gene mutation, which means I cannot metabolize folic acid, which is essential for brain functioning.
I started taking methyl folate (it has to be methyl folate, though, as this is different from regular folic acid). They have a prescription form called Deplin, but I was taking just an OTC supplement.
Anyways, I noticed during the time I was taking it, that my anxiety was much better and I hardly pulled at all. Like maybe a few times within a few months. I normally pull my armpit hair, and also my leg and pubic hair, but while on the methyl folate, hardly pulled at all.
Something happened a few weeks ago and I have been feeling depressed, and have since stopped taking the folate. Low and behold, my urges to pull have returned.
This could just be due to my increase in anxiety and depression, as I know that for me, my trich is definitely connected to how I feel. But, I just wanted to share my experience, as maybe folate supplementation could be helpful to you. Of course, I would talk to your doctor and/or psychiatrist/therapist who would know more about this than I do.
If anyone has had any experience with the MTHFR mutation and methyl folate, I'd love if you'd like to share. And if anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask.
Hope you're all well.
I am really glad I ran into this today. ,I was born premature with jaundice (now known as b-12 deficiency)- allergies, eczema and mid-night vomiting and diarrhea episodes as well as passing out as i got older... I have been suffering with trichotillomania since 1993. It began halfway through my parent's 8 year divorce, a seriously stressful time, with eyebrows and eyelashes and grew to hair pulling. Of course i got all the same old 'advice' you've heard and it was all useless crap. Stopping myself causes immediate flood of anxiety producing hormones. getting up and moving aroudn helps, but if you need to be sitting, it's a problem. I found that doing my hair naturally decreases the 'need' to pull,but blow dried straightened curled the texture just 'makes' me do it more. Over the years, i've had mini bouts of anxiety and depression, diagnosed, but horrible reactions to the drugs, so i never took more than a few. Then the skin sores on my hand developed, moved from hand to hand, but went away while pregnant... After having a child things became severe - insomnia (like up 4 hours a night every night), chronic fatigue, lower back pain, waking with numb fingers and more.... I was diagnosed with post partum depression, still inconsistent symptoms, never helped by anything prescribed and other symptoms chronically ignored and dammit if the hand sores didn't return after a year or two. Fast forward to August 2017, (NO symptom relief from any prescriptions, main relief from melatonin for sleep improvement) I began learning about MTHFR. I've known I had it for about 8 years, but I didn't know how serious it was until now. But it's not just me. This all became 'known' as a result of the Human Genome project (look it up). so few doctors and therapists know much about it either. So you'll have to do your own research unless you can find a methylation specialist you can afford to see.
From what I have read, methyl folate is absolutely essential for people who have been deficient for years because your methyl-groups get low, (These are the groups that grab and deliver vitamins and such around your body.) They are also integral in helping deliver toxins to the systems to get out of your body.
In short, the methyl folate helps you to start methylating again, but having been so long, there is a lot of toxic buildup to deal with which can lead to symptoms that range from pain to depression.
A doctor has a protocol to slowly integrate them into your system mthfr.net and this supplement company has a chart on how to start low and increase (even if it's not with their supplements). methyl-life.com Most important to note, you can over-methylate, which means you are taking too much methy-folate OR too often, OR you need to balance out your other vitamins (usually other Bs especially b-12, zinc, enzymes or amino acids.) the takeaway is, you can't just suddenly add mass doses of one vitamin that you've been missing for years and expect everything to be fine. The lack of diagnosis and treatment caused many things to be out of sync and it needs to be fixed a little at a time. Do your homework, check your sources, make sure the people have knowledge and dont' just reject it because of ignorance, and get well!
your post has encouraged me to stay the course until I can take enough methyl folate to help my body rebalance and stop pulling once and for all!