Sister has Trichotillomania
 

Big word for chronic hairpulling. She's been seeing a therapist for years, but this is new.

Anybody want to talk about their OCD?

Hi Sparky :)

my son has OCD and Tourette Syndrome, but has not ever shown trichotillomania

DocJohn posted some interesting articles on it recently on the Health News board

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=21170

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5381232.stm

BTW this week October 1-8, 2006, is National Trichotillomania Awareness Week.

Thanks, Chemar! That's a forum I've yet to poke my nose in to.

So many forums, but all I've got is time! :)

Hey Sparky,
I work with some people with Trichotillomania. Things that have been recommended for them were to journal when they were doing the hairpulling; look at times of day, triggers, etc.; Once they are awarof when they are doing it, find other things to occupy their hands when they are most likely to pull - like needle work, drawing, coloring... Some of the OCD medications have targeted trichtillomania -Anafranil is the one that has been most sucessful with the people I know. Hope things get easier for our sister.
Gabrielle

Using Antidepressants
 

Hi, Sparky ....

Gabe mentioned a medication that is often successful. I don't know what brand name medication he used back in the mid-1980's, but I knew a young elementary school student who totally stopped pulling out his hair (he had large bald spots) when the psychiatrist immediately prescribed an anti-depressant.

Antidepressants are regularly prescribed for anxieties - but I don't know enough about Trichotillomania to say anything at all about the "whys" it worked.

Teri

Thank you, everyone, for your comments and suggestions. :) Maybe we can open the door for others to discuss these things that may be difficult.

My sister was here over the Thanksgiving holiday. Her therapist had suggested *doing something* with her hands....she collected horsehair off the barbed wire fence to take home and "mess" with. This was something specifically mentioned by the therapist.

My sister is into crafty things...who knows; maybe she'll create something interesting to sell! :)

[QUOTE=Sparky10;21406]Big word for chronic hairpulling. She's been seeing a therapist for years, but this is new.

Anybody want to talk about their OCD?[/QUOTE

I think my Grandson has that condition. He is 4 years old and pulls out his hair on the top of his head. This started a few months ago. He doesn't pull out his hair on the sides, just the top, and leaves a very big bald spot on the top of his head. Poor baby wears a cap to cover it up, as he is embarrased by it. The last time he pulled it out, it hasnt grown back as fast or as thick as the rest of his hair. I just hope he hasn't caused permanent damage to the roots. He has an appointment with a Psychologist next week. His Mom also had a similar problem when she was young. She was dx as being OCD. She would pull out all of her eyelashes and her eyebrows. The Psyc. put her on Anafranil, which helped her in time. I just hope that we can find the right treatment for him. Anyone here have any similar experiences with children with this condition? Thanks in advance

This thread breaks my heart. I'm sixty years old now and I haven't pulled out my hair in over 35 years but I remember the anxiety and shame that went with this problem. As I recall, I was about 8 or 9 years old when I started doing this and the fifties were not exactly the age of enlightenment, medical help was nonexistant. My mother dealt with this problem by embarrasing me in front of my friends. Any one who has this problem is ashamed enough, pointing out your odd habit to friends is beyond cruel.

On the upside however, once you stop your hair grows back. It will never be like it was and the process is slow but it comes back. All I can say is thank goodness for the sixties and big hair.. wigs and falls do the trick if your a girl. I suggest getting the boy a buzz cut for the summer. If he can't get at it he won't pull it out.

But the problem goes way beyond a quirky little habit. I pulled my hair at night when I was in bed. In the morning there would be a pile of hair on the floor that I would gather up and flush down the toilet. I remember the self hate that goes with not being able to control your impulses. You make deals with yourself, God, nothing works. What set me off was stress. My mother was verbally abusive and even in my early twenties spending any time with her would set off a bad night. I moved out of the house a month after graduating high school and putting distance between us did help quite a bit. And the drug which stopped the problem forever was valium.. I was taking valium for an entirely different problem and this was a wonderful side effect. It took about six months during which time I didn't have the urge to pull and actually I remember being amazed that I didn't even think about it. It was a tremendous relief. I stopped taking the drug and the urge has never returned. And it was not replaced by another ocd. This was in 1972 and I am not advocating valium, there have got to be other drugs available to the child now.

My heart goes out to the boy. This is not good for his self esteem. But I also know that keeping his hands busy will not redirect his anxiety. I haven't seen or spoken to my mother in years. She was also nasty with my daughter so I have no regrets about the estrangement, it was a healthy decision. Hopefully this problem will go away as swiftly as it came.