One woman battles trichotillomania, the urge to pull out her own
hair. Up to 11 million Americans wrestle daily with an overwhelming urge
to pluck hair from their own bodies. Here, one woman describes her
never-ceasing struggle with this impulse-control disorder.
By
Jennifer Raikes, published on May 01, 2003 - last reviewed on June 16, 2008
It isn't yet known what causes hair-pulling, but research has
uncovered structural differences in the brains of sufferers, specifically
in the areas associated with motor actions. Genetics may also play a
role, as is the case with obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette's
Syndrome, both of which may involve neurological disturbances similar to
trichotillomania. Stress often exacerbates the condition, and most
experts consider it to be closely related to body-focused problems such
as skin-picking and nail-biting.
Despite increasing knowledge about trichotillomania, ignorance
about the disorder remains one of the most overwhelming problems. It
wasn't even officially labeled a disorder until 1987. Still, resources
are improving. With proper help, people are often able to reduce or
eliminate hair-pulling, but there is no single treatment that works for
everyone.
For me, recovery requires daily effort. To better cope, I began a
support group with three friends in New York City, where I've met
hundreds of women and men with trichotillomania. The associated shame has
at times controlled their lives, impacting decisions both large and
small, from whether to venture outside on a windy day to whether to
marry. Greater self-awareness (I call it "hand awareness"), fostered by
reporting weekly to my support group, has helped me most. Though I
continue to feel the urge to pull nearly every day, I have not caused
noticeable damage in more than eight years.
For many, having trichotillomania remains their biggest secret. And
for good reason: Responses to the disorder range from disgust to
laughter. Still, I've also noticed that these reactions are almost
inevitably followed by, "Come to think of it, I know someone who does
that."
Tags:
admonitions,
anxiety,
birthday candles,
black dot,
disorder,
eyebrows,
eyelash,
eyelashes,
eyelids,
impulse,
lash,
lashes,
mittens,
naked eyes,
ocd,
pep talks,
pigment,
self consciousness,
self discipline,
sixth grade teacher,
strange behavior,
Trichotillomania,
vaseline,
watching television
