According to Dr Catherine Madigan of Anxiety Australia, Trich sufferers cannot control the impulse to pull out their hair. It can occur in states of relaxation such as watching television, where they are not even aware of their behaviour or in times of stress where hair pulling serves as a release of tension. However severe, repetitive hair pulling, on a daily basis leads to significant hair loss and potential skin damage.
"Trichotillomania is often associated with depression, lack of impulse control, or a habit disorder and may be precipitated by a stressful event such as a parental divorce, death of a relative or something as simple as studying for a test," says Madigan. “The disorder can also lead to low self-esteem, social insecurities, and even severe depression.”
Dr Madigan is quick to point out that it is unusual for Trich sufferers to be open about their disorder because of the obvious hair loss, and the stigma that is considered abnormal behaviour not only by themselves but by society. She adds that Trichotillomania is very similar to other psychological problems with respect to the silence and social stigma.
“For young adolescents already dealing with peer and social pressures and the normal turbulence of being a teenager, coping with a seemingly uncontrollable ‘weird’ behaviour all by themselves, while attempting to hide it from everyone else, including their family, can be particularly hard.”
Trich sufferers find it hard to deal with some aspects of society. They are so ashamed of their condition that everyday life aspects such as going shopping or even to the hairdressers becomes a burden they are unwilling to face.
“It’s not as if I don’t want to go to the hairdressers, but I’m almost scared to,” Stephanie says, adding, “I find when I do go to the hairdressers they have no idea what TTM is. Not only that but they tend to give me a look of sympathy. I don’t want anyone’s pity. I want them to understand Trichotillomania, and accept it. I don’t want to be treated like a social outcast.”
One of the sad aspects of Trichotillomania is that many of those that suffer from it are unaware that they even have the condition. It is a disorder that is not highly publicised, and it wasn’t until 1989 that it was even mentioned in the media. As a result many Trich sufferers have gone without adequate information about their condition, and some aren’t even aware that there is treatment for it. As a consequence the one symptom Trich sufferers share is shame.
Article comments
1 - Anonymous
Thank you for this article. I have suffered with TTM since I was 3 years old, focused on my eyebrows and lashes, but I didn't know that it had a name, or that other people suffered this until I was 25. All of the shame and embarrassment you described are completely accurate.
2 - jmac76
there are definitely people out there and a few good websites, which are worth checking out. It was a personal article for me, as I also suffer from it so know the extent of how horrible it can be and the shame stigma.
3 - Leef Smith
Thank you for this excellent and informed article!
I would only add a note about all the amazing work that the Trichotillomania Learning Center does in helping to promote awareness around trich, advocate for research, and work toward ending the suffers of millions of people with trichotillomania
4 - Sarah
excellent article!
i'd just like to point out that SSRIs are NOT addictive(see Dr. Da Costa's comment).
however, you are correct in stating that they've been shown to have minimal effectiveness with hair-pulling behavior. SSRIs HAVE been shown to help a LOT with depression and anxiety.
right now, the best treatment that we know about for TTM is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
5 - iamrj
Good article. I enjoy reading it. I just wrote an article about alopecia (hair loss) and, while researching it, I ran across a comprehensive survey of Trichotillomania research. The information was compiled by Manjit Kaur Ubhi, who uses hypnotherapy, neuro-linguistic programming and cognitive behavioral techniques in her work with hair pullers. Her very informative survey is available online. Anyone wanting to delve deeply into sociopsychological aspects hair pulling should check out Manjit Kaur Ubhi's work.
6 - Tonia
I have just realized I have TTM, I can remember pulling out hair one strand at a time when I was a teen and even younger. But it has just reared it's ugly head just before my daughters wedding. Mine is a little different. I pull out my husbands facial hair. Has anyone else heard of this?
7 - kml
wow-i have had ttm since age 10..i am now almost 20 years old and i haven't been able to stop. it is true that medications don't really have the affect said intended..i have tried various medications with no luck. the embarassment and harassment of society makes having this illness even more unbareable. i have never personally met anyone with the same thoughts as mine...towards trich..i wish i could know why i started doing this..what triggered it..ttm has seriusly mad a HUGE IMPACT ON MY entire life...i can not picture my life without it.. it has sketched me out to be this person i am.. and i am fully ashamed of it. i would do anything to be able to stop..anything
8 - cc
i am 24 years old and have been pulling out my eye lashes since i was 12. recently i moved back to my home town a couple years ago back in with my divorced parents and i started pulling severely more and started using more drugs and drinking more. i guess i have family issues. i got treatment for my alcohol and drug problem and have been clean for 6 mnths now. i still have this trichotillomania problem tho i have to learn to deal with. i dont know how but i refuse to take ssris's. i generally pull n play with my eye lashes while driving in the car, watching tv or on the computer reading something. it's hard. i guess it's anxiety
9 - im worried
I am a 16 year old boy and i think i have this.
I just twirl my hair all the time. The area between my ear and forhead.
I have pulled out so much of my hair, im really worried... im already depressed and suicidal, this is crossing the line.
10 - Cindy
Hey there im worried. Do you have someone to talk to in person or on the phone right now? Can you call a friend?
11 - Cindy
im worried,
Here is a place online you can go, no matter where you live or what time it is. They don't tell you what to do or judge you, they just listen.