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.

1,293 Members
4,912 Posts
0 Online
Anxiety Disorders
/ Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

Started and Ended around 5?

baker88
baker88

Hey everyone. I'm 15 and I remember battling trichotillomania as a 5 year old. We took family pictures when I was little and my mother only recently told me she had to style my hair differently because I pulled it out. Today, I still don't know exactly when I was diagnosed and just how hard/ easy it was on my family. I remember using a stress ball to treat it and I stopped pulling out my hair around that age. Yet, today I'll occasionally pull on my eyelashes, eyebrows, and chew on my arm hair. The one thing I always do is bite my nails. I think that because I stopped pullling out my hair, I took up biting my nails. I'm not completely sure if I do this out of boredom or stress. Up until a month ago, I figured I didn't have trichotillomania anymore... that it was just a little phase. But now I'm really not sure. From what I've read, it seems that if diagnosed, you'll have it forever? Has anyone else experienced somthing similar (stopped one symptom and started something else)?

getbacktoserenity
getbacktoserenity
Yes....and even if you beat your body focused repetitive behavior, you might experience something new on a new whole spectrum. Such as irrational OCD of all sorts. What helped me to completely stop biting my nails this year was weekly maintenance of my nails. Make it a ritual to paint your nails...it helps to diminish the urges. It will be a long process for your brain to stop registering the impulse...but it will happen. I have high hopes for myself to fully get better in other aspect as I am already showing improvement.. You must have hope for the future. The nail biting might be just another phase.
alh2479
alh2479
Hi. I've been suffering from trichotillomania since I was around 10 years old. I'm now 29. I've tried everything from depression meds, anti-anxiety meds as well as amino acids with no relief. I'm not a depressed person and I believe the anxiety I feel on occasion is warranted by the situation I am in (in public around a large amount of people, etc) - nothing out of the ordinary. I've recently had blood work done and found out that my vitamin D levels are low. Since starting a vitamin D supplement, I don't pull.... it's amazing! Now, I'm not sure if vitamin D itself has been the cure or if it's just a vitamin deficiency. For instance, what if you're low on Vitamin C... will taking a supplment for vitamin C help? It's hard to say. Get blood work and see if you're lacking anything. See if that helps. You can do this!!!
getbacktoserenity
getbacktoserenity
I agree with alh2479. I've started taking 2,500 IU of vitamin D3 and the urges have diminished greately. Vitamin D3 is better absorbed so I would recommend that. I saw improvement after taking it daily for a week. It's also been extremely helpful at balancing mood and buffering seasonal affective disorder.
sunnyd55
sunnyd55
I pulled a few hairs out last night. It's totally subconscious for me until it hurts. I like to look at my hair, feel it, and especially love it if it's thick and kinky curly.
axxxxshhhh
axxxxshhhh
Hi, I don’t know where to start but I heard that support groups and talking to people that are going through what you go through helps a lot, I’ve suffered trich since about 6th grade, I pulled all my hair out I’m the back and had to wear a beanie (kids would pull it off and make fun of me) and at the time hats weren’t allowed at my school so I had to get a now from my tharpist, teachers didn’t believe me and made me take it off anyways, I stoped pulling my head hair but I don’t know how to stop with my eyelashes and eyebrows.. anyone have tips to help? Stories to share?