Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group
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Greetings All,
My 16 year old daughter and I (as well as her 13 year old sister) have had many discussions recently about going for the 'whole head shave'.
My daughter has been pulling for just about 3 years fairly consistently and at this point has several completely bald spots on the top of her head and the rest of the hair on the top of the head is 'baby' hair ...anywhere between 1/4 inch and and inch in length. She has lots of very long hair all around the crown.
For 2 years she has been forced to wear her hair in a bun to disguise the bald and short hair areas. About 6 months ago she pulled closer to the front of her head than she had before and then had to begin wearing a headband with her bun. Every day...
Only a group of people like this would truly understand the immense stress and pressure and depression that this could create for anyone..but particularly for a 16 year old young woman.
Now school is about to end and she is faced with swimming and water sports..we live on the water so our summer is filled with these activities...last year she couldn't even swim in the ocean because she worried so much about her bun coming out and people seeing her scalp...
Over the past year the conversation about shaving her head has come up...but just in the last few weeks there has been some very serious conversation...reading, research etc. about regrowth after shaving ..she has even begun to take all of the supplements that she previously avoided or would not commit to and is now discussing changes in her diet and nutrition ...all of this is coming from her reading and research surrounding the thought of shaving her head.
She is a beautiful kid (young woman!!) and as her sister says 'you will rock a bald head...and you won't have any hair to pull so it really could help you break the habit if you keep taking your supplements and go to counseling while it grows back. and you would always be that cool girl who was brave enough to shave her head'
I will support her in whatever decision she makes ....we all have the same concerns...the social stress of going for the shave...(which can't be much worse than the stress of hiding the bald spots every day)...the chance that the areas most damaged will take longer to grow back and thoughts of how do we handle the possibility of cont. bald spots during regrowth...
I am going to share this site with her so that she can choose to set up her own account..
Does anyone here have experience with going for the shave???
My 16 year old daughter and I (as well as her 13 year old sister) have had many discussions recently about going for the 'whole head shave'.
My daughter has been pulling for just about 3 years fairly consistently and at this point has several completely bald spots on the top of her head and the rest of the hair on the top of the head is 'baby' hair ...anywhere between 1/4 inch and and inch in length. She has lots of very long hair all around the crown.
For 2 years she has been forced to wear her hair in a bun to disguise the bald and short hair areas. About 6 months ago she pulled closer to the front of her head than she had before and then had to begin wearing a headband with her bun. Every day...
Only a group of people like this would truly understand the immense stress and pressure and depression that this could create for anyone..but particularly for a 16 year old young woman.
Now school is about to end and she is faced with swimming and water sports..we live on the water so our summer is filled with these activities...last year she couldn't even swim in the ocean because she worried so much about her bun coming out and people seeing her scalp...
Over the past year the conversation about shaving her head has come up...but just in the last few weeks there has been some very serious conversation...reading, research etc. about regrowth after shaving ..she has even begun to take all of the supplements that she previously avoided or would not commit to and is now discussing changes in her diet and nutrition ...all of this is coming from her reading and research surrounding the thought of shaving her head.
She is a beautiful kid (young woman!!) and as her sister says 'you will rock a bald head...and you won't have any hair to pull so it really could help you break the habit if you keep taking your supplements and go to counseling while it grows back. and you would always be that cool girl who was brave enough to shave her head'
I will support her in whatever decision she makes ....we all have the same concerns...the social stress of going for the shave...(which can't be much worse than the stress of hiding the bald spots every day)...the chance that the areas most damaged will take longer to grow back and thoughts of how do we handle the possibility of cont. bald spots during regrowth...
I am going to share this site with her so that she can choose to set up her own account..
Does anyone here have experience with going for the shave???
For one, I love how you guys did research and discussed it and everything! You sound quite supportive and i'm sure she will indeed rock the look! :D
I'm afraid my experience isn't good for reference except for what not to do. My own experience with shaving my head did help with regrowth, but I'm afraid it wasn't my choice; let's just say it was more stress then it was worth at the time ( I haven't trusted my mom to cut my hair since i'm afraid). Though I have since occasionally thought of going punk ,and shaving my head willingly i'm afraid I lack the courage so far.
On the other hand, you guys sound like you're doing swimmingly!
Also might I suggest swim caps? They're great when you're self conscious about your head, and as a bonus make you look like a pro swimmer. She can use them as a barrier/ cover till she decides to shave, or afterwards when it's growing back. I wore them a lot when I was taking swim classes, and also when I went kayaking or went to a pool party.
sorry, i'm all over the place. And Welcome to her! :)
-Ruubix
Your daughter is fortunate to have her mother's and sister's understanding and support.
I wish her well. Tell her she can msg me any time. (Sent you a friend request)
Take care