Trichotillomania: Where did my hair go?
By Rebecca
One of the most beautiful, intelligent and strong women I know has a secret. She pulls out her hair. In high school, she told me and a few other close friends her secret. She told us that she has a disorder called “trichotillomania.” We did not really understand what she was talking about, but later she explained that she pulls out her hair, sometimes without even thinking. It might sound shocking, but she is not alone. She is one of an estimated four to eleven million Americans who are affected by the disorder trichotillomania (TTM), also referred to as trich.[1]
As the years went by, her hair grew thinner and thinner, and we could all tell that it was really starting to take its toll on her appearance and on her spirit. She began to experiment with different hairstyles to cover up her bald spots. We lived in a very hot city, and in the summer, she declined to join us for swimming on more than one occasion. It began to affect her social life in many ways. Like most teenagers, she was very self-conscious, and adding this issue made her even more so. She didn’t want to get too comfortable around new people and that included with guys she liked. She was constantly afraid that someone would find out or expose her “secret” before she was ready to tell them. She feared embarrassment, and I can remember at least one occasion that she did experience that embarrassment.
This disorder does not only affect her, it affects her family and friends as well. As friends, we became very protective when we first found out. I remember a group of us getting into a fight one night because some girl had made a rude comment about her hair. Her family was very supportive, but it did take effort from them to learn about the disorder, and I remember her telling me that her father had a particularly hard time understanding it. Fortunately, in the end, she has everyone’s support.
One day a few years ago, she finally decided to just shave her head and wear a wig. She wore them for awhile, and they helped to make her feel more comfortable, but she still struggled with the disorder everyday. She started to learn about Trich, and trying to be a good friend, so did I. I read for myself any information I could find. Once I started to understand it more, I think I became a better friend, because I could be there to listen to her and understand, somewhat, the complexities of the disorder. The disorder is more common than I thought, and there are resources to aid those who are affected. Now, she has developed better coping skills to face the issue, although it is a continuing battle. She went from wigs to hair extensions, and now she has been growing her real hair out and is enjoying that success. We all are. We are very proud of her. Although we traveled different roads, we both ended up with an education and awareness about this important issue.
What is Trichotillomania?
It is currently defined as an impulse disorder that causes people to pull out the hair from their scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or any other parts of their body.1 This pulling can result in bald spots/patches. It is often described to be similar to a habit, an addiction, a tic disorder or an obsessive-compulsive disorder. People may even eat the hair.[1]
What are the symptoms and how/when does it start?
They symptoms of Trich do not follow a precise pattern. They range greatly in severity, the location of the body from which hair is pulled, and response to treatment. Generally, the following symptoms may be experienced:
- Recurrent pulling out of one’s hair resulting in noticeable hair loss.
- An increasing sense of tension immediately before pulling out the hair or when resisting behavior.
- Pleasure, gratification, or relief when pulling out the hair.
- The disturbance is not accounted for by another mental disorder and is not due to a general medical condition (such as a dermatological condition).
- The disturbance causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.[2]
Other factors associated with Trich are the feelings of shame, depression, embarrassment, hopelessness and anxiety that surround this disorder.[1] These feelings can strongly affect an individual’s life and that is why awareness is so important.
Who is at risk and what causes Trichotillomania?
Most commonly, Trichotillomania starts in childhood or it can develop in the teen years or later in life. It is also possible to experience Trich as a short-term habit in early childhood. The cause of Trich is not clear. Different factors play a role, such as stress.1 Something important to understand is that Trich is not an intentional or voluntary behavior. People who are affected are often distressed and embarrassed because of it. The urge to pull hair typically accompanies a powerful sensation of anxiety. The person believes that the only way to ease this sensation is by pulling his or her hair, which brings only temporary relief.[3]
Why haven’t I heard of this before?
This disorder is not very well-known because it did not gain any media attention until around 1989. This is bad, because people may be living with this disorder, and it may be severely affecting their lives, and they might not even know what it is or how to get help. This is why awareness is so important. You may know someone who is struggling with this disorder, and they might not even know what it is.
How is it treated?
For information on treatment, support services, additional resources, or just more general information check out these resources:
References:
- About Trichotillomania. Trich.org. Trichotillomania Learning Center. 3 Oct 2006 http://www.trich.org/about_trich.
- Trichotillomania. NMHA.org. National Mental Health Association. 3 Oct 2006 http://www1.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/92.cfm.
- Hall-Flavin, MD, Daniel. "Ask a Mental Health Specialist." MayoClinic.com. 13 Dec 2004. Mayo Clinic. 3 Oct 2006 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/trichotillomania/DS00895.
|
