I need help.... Trichotillomania... :(?

Question

Okay... I'm fourteen, and I finally decided to research my eyelash-plucking habit on the Internet. I'm starting to regret doing so... I found out about trich, and now I'm really, really scared... and I don't usually get scared this easily. For 5 years, my parents have pestered me.... "Why do you pull on your eyelashes?" "You need to STOP THAT!" And I'm afraid they won't understand if I tell them I think I have trich... they'll think I'm being ridiculous. I really, really, REALLY need some help, guys... I want to defeat this problem w/o my parents finding out. I know it's possible to overcome it w/o medicine... but I need more tips. I just found out about this condition today. Help, PLEASE!! :(

Answer 1

Wow, I was in your same position! I pulled out my eyelashes from ages 15 - 20, at which point I grew out of it. So don't lose all hope.

I'm 29 now, and I still struggle with compulsive bad habits - mostly skin picking. When I was 15 I would have given ANYTHING to know there was a name for what I did. My parents even took me to a shrink and she had no idea what was wrong with me.

I would love to be able to help you with this personally - share my experiences and advice in more detail. So I'm going to put my email address here in the hopes that others will respect me and not send me junk. Please write and we can talk more.

[e-mail]

Answer 2

Trichotillomania..or Trich is an impulse control disorder in which an individual pulls their hair. Yes, I've had it since I was 11 I'm 17 now....it went away but now it's back.It's terrible, it's a struggle everyday, especially at my age...Instead of thinking of new ideas to fix my hair...I have to find new ideas to cover up the new bald spot I made. I can't go swimming or else people will see the bald spots, I used to cover them with eyeliner and black eyeshadow...I got desperate...but now I use some product call X-Fusion works great but takes quite a while to put on. So what does this do to a person??? Lowers their self-esteem bigtime...but it also has had some positive effects on me...I'm not a shallow person, I'm very kind to others...I think it's made me a better person having to deal with this disorder.

Answer 3

You know, I went through so much similar with my parents. I was 8 when I started. My mom always stared at me, watching my hair and eyelashes grow more bald every passing week. And my father, who couldn't understand it was a disorder (I myself didn't know until my late teens), decided to criticize it instead of support me. He called me cruel names like "baldy" and used my hair-pulling disorder against me every time I did something he didn't like. Sad thing was, I thought I was different too, so I let him do that to me. When I found out it was a disorder and that it was something I could possibly recover from in the future, I was relieved. Angry at my parents, yet understanding somewhat that they just didn't know any better.

I found this article on the Trichotillomania Learning Center Website. It's called "Advice For Significant Others", but I think it's great advice for parents and other family members as well who know someone with Trichotillomania. Here's the link so you can take a look at it, and maybe you can show it to them, so they can get an idea on what's happening, especially since it's really hard talking to them about it at this point.
http://www.trich.org/articles/view_default.asp?aid=15&yd=familyandfriends_basic_Information
It's a really good article. My husband never knew about it and he got a lot out of it when he read it. It helped him to understand a little of what I still go through today.

What I just advised someone else, and it's also a popular suggestion, is keeping yourself physically busy, or at least your hands. Find a hobby or go work out. Trust me, it does keep the urges away and makes you feel good about yourself at the same time. I found that doing the occasional workout, doing some scrapbooking, having a bowling night with a few friends, or whatever it is I feel like doing (as long as it keeps me busy), really makes me feel great and takes away the urges for a while.

Get yourself a good support system behind you as well. If not your parents, find another trusted family member or close friend or two. Not everyone thinks horrible of us because of our hair-pulling. Feeling good about yourself/having the self-confidence to move forward will get you through this. And if you ever need to talk, my door is open as well. Contact me through my profile. Sometimes it does good to talk to people who've had it and know what you're going through. Good luck, sweetie!

Answer 4

Trich is a form of self mutilation. If you want to do this without medicine, you are going to have to focus very hard on quitting. This is just a hard as a smoker quitting smoking. You have to find other means of coping with your inner demons. That is what triggers this behavior. For people who cut themselves, they tell them to put ice on their skin and it gives them the same sensation but doesn't leave the long term damage. So you must do the same. Find something that will take place of your problem but at the same time, leave you just as satisfied as if you did it. Good luck!

Answer 5

First, let your parents know that you aren't pulling your lashes for kicks, that it is a disease and that you need help--their help and moral support but also the help of some trained therapist who can give you tips on how to overcome it. It's kind of similar to bulimics and anorexia but without the dire health problems. Your parents need to help and they can't until you make them accept that it's not something that you can simply stop without help. You're parents' employers maybe offer access to a counselor (it's part of my company's health insurance plan) but you have to recruit your parents to work with you, not put any more pressure or guilt on you.

Answer 6

It's classified as an Obsesive Compulsive Disorder. You just need to be stronger than your compulsion. Problem is, and you may experience this, you probably do it subconciously. If you know it can be overcome w/o medication then do it. But I think you'll need help.

The Syko Ward

Answer 7

See a mental health professional.

Answer 8

You need to tell your parents so they can get you help today!