Trickotillomania
 

This is where you feel the need to pull your hair out. It is sort of related to anxiety.
I pull my hair out rather it is on my arms, legs or head. When I was younger I used to pull out my eye lashes and eyebrow hairs. I wanted to stop but I could not stop it at all.

So in 6th grade I had a bald spot on my head. It was totally embarrassing for me. I also had no eye lashes or eye brows because I have pulled them all out. now I do it less because I avoid mirrors. But it is hard still for me to stop because I am 24 year old and I am still doing it :(
I have my eye lashes and eye brows back :) So that is some progress :)

I have at a few times in my life pulled my hair,but not to much.

Some people bite their finger nails to the skin. I never did that.

I hated to see that there where no replies here for you,so I thought that I'd let you know that I have done some hair pulling,but not to much.

I saw that your anger sign is up. Are you OK? BF:hug:

Aww thanks I hope everything is going better you too.
Just one of my rants I guess.

I am fine but I think I discovered that one of my triggers with bipolar is I can not tolerate ignorant people. And I just lose it. When people talk out of their butt literally, I get really angry at them or disgusted. I am not miss know it all but I at least learn about something before I open my mouth in which I talk from my face.:D

So you pulled hair too a little bit? I still do it. I pull from my arms and leg hairs. Some times I have to avoid mirrors or tweezers:)
I am better than years ago that is for sure.

Thanks for responding;):hug:

Aww I'm sorry that you have the hair pulling thing. I know that you can't help it.

Yes!!! There are plenty of people who dare to look down on us with emotional problems. Do you see the way they still make us look on TV?

Things are changing though. Major Mental Health legislation just passed into Law! Soon mental health will no longer be a "Special Problem". It will be considered a problem,like health problems. We will get more help. BF:hug::hug:

Hurrayy It is about time! I am so glad. But even though I may have this condition, I am not disabled. I refuse to be called disabled. I want to live my life and as a strong individual. And if people look down on me because of my issues I will SQUASH THEM LIKE A BIG ON A SIDE WALK! I will not let people bring me down with out a fight or at least a verbal counter strike. When people do that it should be called a discrimination. You know in a way it is!

That's right
 

I agree. It most definitely is discrimination. They have ramps for people in wheelchairs. They should bring into being a few safeguards for people with emotional challenges. BF:hug:

I agree, We do not choose to be born like this. We are at a disadvantage but we are still willing to live our lives to the fullest. But we still have our challenges that cause us to hurt. It not our fault we are like this:hug:
sharla

Back to the hair pulling
 

The other day,I was grabbing the hair on top of my head. I was grabbing a hand full,and pulling up. I did that till I thought about this tread. LOL Then I stoped. BF:hug::hug:

EEEk do not do that!
you have nice hair

EEEk do not do that!
you have nice hair

Fevah
 

Thank you. I stoped pulling my hair pretty fast.

Don't worry about the double post. When my computer double posts on here, I ask a moderator to remove one of the posts.

Have a good weekend. BF:hug::hug:

You're not alone.

Like you, I've had trich since an early age. In fact, I also had a bald spot and hardly any eyelashes or eyebrows when I was in 6th grade. I'm 45 now and, while I still have trich to some degree, it's much better than it was.

I find I pick more when I'm either anxious or bored. It's usually just the little hairs around my hairline and my eyebrows these days. I also cant seem to leave things like hangnails or anything on my skin alone, although I don't pick until it turns into a nasty sore.

I did find some help through behavior modification exercises I did on my own (too embarrassed to see a counselor for it). Anything small and picky seems to work to distract from the self-abuse. Beads have been my sanctuary. I've also found something like a couple of marbles or some birdseed in my pocket or somesuch seems to help as well.

Hope this helps.

Please do not feel embarassed.
 

This is not your fault that you have this. I was crying when my mom first found my bald spot in 6th grade. I was so ashamed to explain it. But if they can help me I might as well tell them. The therapist is nothing bad to tell them. You can tell them anything and by law they are not allowed to tell anyone else about it.

Sharla

Welcome aboard Curiouser
 

You have found a good website here on neurotalk. The bipolar forum is very popular. You will find neurotalk to be a safe place for you. I'm Brokenfriend,and it's nice to meet you. BF:hug::hug:

Fevah
 

Your cat on the left looks so much like mine. White hair,pink ears,pink paws,pink,pink,pink.(Green Eyes) She also stretches out her pink paws like your cat. She likes to claw me when I don't expect it with those pink paws too. haha

I'm learning that I can pet her two,or three times, and then raise my hand before she claws me. That's probably why she was at the SPCA,but she is getting more mellow.

She had me fooled at the SPCA. She was all Lovey Dovy there. It wasn't till I got her home that she clawed me,and meowed me to death.

She is a talker. She Meow's about this,and that. If she starts meowing when I'm trying to sleep,I reach over,and put on my Sound Barrier Ear Muffs. Then I don't hear a thing,except for my breathing. LOL BF:hug::hug::hug:

Hi! *waving*

I've had difficulty finding a good counselor. I have a lot going on (PTSD, grief, OCD/trich, depression, anxiety, etc) and haven't been able to find one smart enough or aggressive enough to deal with all that. After burning through 6 different counselors (spent 6+ months with each one), I finally gave up and decided to do what I could on my own.

That doesn't count the ones I "test drove". It really is frustrating to spend 4-6 weeks breaking in a new one only to find out they can't offer what you need. I can only listen to "And how does that make you feel?", after just telling them how I feel, so many times.

Anyhoo, sorry for the rant and thanks for the welcome. :)

I know exactly what you mean. It make's you think about going to the Mayo Clinic,or Johns Hopkins University for an appointment.

I'm tired of all of the Psychiatrists who really don't seem to know what they are doing. There seems to be plenty of them. I've had about 7 Psychiatrists,and 1 psychologist,and it's all a lot of talk,and sometimes they make big mistakes. The psychologist learned in school how to say,"How does that make you feel"over,and over again. LOL

Now when they talk I hear the same thing over,and over. I want to go to a good one. I'm ranting also. LOL BF:hug::hug:

My Daughter has this condition since last year. I had no idea what was going on till I saw this on TV. She wanted me to shave her whole head which I did. Since I shaved her hair, she has continued to pull and has to ware hats. I feel bad for her and am trying to find help for her.

trichotillomania
 

Im new to this site. My daughter has been pulling her hair and biting her nails down to the skin since she was 14. She is now 30. Any new updates on how people can cope with this or ease the urge?

Trichotillomania
 

Hi Deborah,
There's information at PsychCentral that suggests a specific type of cognitive behavoural therapy (CBT) called ComB

more info here...

Cause And Treatment Of Trichotillomania - PsychCentral

Beyond CBT, some have reported benefit from the supplement NAC (N-Acetylcysteine) for relieving the urge to pull. A possible approach to discuss with one's doctor.

Hi feral1

Welcome to NeuroTalk :).

There is some evidence which shows that N-acetylcysteine can be effective in management of trichotillomania.

This is discussed here http://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/obs...rticle/432260/.

Hi kiwi33... thank you for the warm welcome. Glad to be aboard! :)

Thanks for the link; there is such a treasure trove of info on this board for so many conditions. Such a blessing.