I want to say thank you to rjsmama who emailed me to tell me about an inspirational and personal story of trichotillomania. Please leave your comments and she will be notified of them. This could be an alternative cure option for anyone with trichotillomania, I certainly had never come across it until now.
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I wanted to offer hope for anyone suffering from Trichotillomania.
My daughter began exhibiting mild “tics” at age 7 (swallowing, throat clearing, sniffing, eye blinking). Her pediatrician told me not to worry because it can be a normal part of a child’s brain development and that they would most likely come and go as her brain was changing/developing.
When she turned 9, she began pulling her eyelashes out. I panicked when I began reading about Trichotillomania and reading so many stories of individuals who have not been able to overcome it.
Through a round-a-bout contact, I was told of a doctor that does neurology testing in children. I decided to call him. He talked to me for over an hour about a brain balancing program and referred me to a book by Robert Melillo called “Disconnected Kids” (I found it on both Amazon.com and eBay, I would imagine most book stores carry it???). The book shows you how to diagnose and self treat, but I highly recommend finding someone in your area to also work with.
Essentially, their philosophy is that a person’s brain is divided into hemispheres (we’ve all heard of “right brain” and “left brain” activities). You use certain parts of the brain to perform certain functions/tasks. One part of the brain can become highly stimulated, while the other half may be under stimulated. When this occurs, the brain becomes (for lack of a better term) “out of balance” and the synapses between the sides of the brain becomes increasingly difficult.
I took my daughter to an appointment to see the doctor. He spent over 2 hours with us running a series of over 100 tests (from balance to eye tracking, etc.)
By performing the tests, he was able to determine that my daughter’s left brain was highly active/stimulated (she has tested in the top 2% in the nation academically – but almost exhibited signs of ADD or ADHD), so this made perfect sense.
Because her “left” brain was so high functioning/active, it had become increasingly difficult for it to communicate with the “right” side of her brain. The neurological activity would become so overwhelming and it would “escape” or “release” in a form of one of her tics and/or the eyelash pulling.
He then set us on a program to start exercising her “right” brain with physical, mental, sensory exercises. He did not expect to see results before 6 weeks. Well…within DAYS the tics and eyelash pulling completely stopped (has not returned) and more amazingly she has (without any prompting) completely stopped biting her fingernails (a habit that she has had since she was a toddler). She used to bite her nails so far down that they would nearly bleed and the skin would puff up over the ends. She told me the reason that she pulled her eyelashes out, was because she could no longer find enough fingernail to bite. We now have to file her nails down every couple of days because they are entirely too long for a little girl (and they become snagged on everything). This in itself is incredible, but was not our primary concern, of course.
Her teacher has indicated that she is less “fidgety” and not as easily distracted. Her grades are improving. Her physical abilities are improving (not that she had any previous problems). However, as an example, she is a softball player and it has greatly improved her ability to catch, throw, etc. Her sleep has also improved.
He also said that she was Magnesium and Omega 3 deficient and suggested that we put her on a fish oil supplement. Apparently Omega 3′s are the “coating” for the electrical wiring in the brain for children. She was not getting enough, but now she is!!! I also have her on an excellent liquid multivitamin and a Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc supplement.
To see changes occur like this within weeks was amazing. Both my husband and I are next in line to have him work his “brain balancing” on us (I have insomnia and my husband has “restless legs”).
I truly believe that there is not a soul on this earth that would benefit from this therapy. I want to shout it from the roof tops.
Apparently Albert Einstein would have been diagnosed (as a child) with ADHD and/or dyslexia. He unknowingly was able to balance his own brain. When he was working on a mathematical problem (a left brain activity) and became stuck or frustrated, he would turn to his next passion (his music playing – which would stimulate his right brain). And, VOILA, you guessed it, when the right brain caught up to the left brain, he would solve his mathematical problems and became a self made genius (literally).
When I mentioned this to my regular pediatrician, he simply dismissed it. You would think he would want to know more about it to share with other parents, but unless he can write a prescription for Ritalin or something else, he didn’t seem to care to hear about it.
The doctor that helped us is absolutely brilliant and helping thousands of people yet people are never told about this option.
I do not know how many Doctors are trained in this, but more need to be. We are in Colorado, but I believe this doctor travels on a regular basis to Southern California, Minnesota, Wisconsin and perhaps Missouri (I forget????).
Feel free to email me and I can either connect you with him, or see if he is aware of someone in your area that provides this treatment.
I felt that I would be remiss if I did not share this and if it only helps ONE person, it is worth the time to do it.
God Bless all!
NOTE: Leave a comment and it will be sent by email to rjsmama.
Hi there,
I have been suffering from Trichotillomania since I was a little girl, and now I am in my early twenties. A bad case of pulling occurred today, so I googled a cure for the habit, and stumbled upon this story. Thank you so much for posting it! I have had many different tics over the years, and have always pulled my eye lashes and eye brows. I would love to figure this all out and try to end it. I would greatly appreciate the doctors contact info, and/or if he knows anybody in the Cleveland, OH area or Nashville, TN area. Thank you so much!!
-Susan
Hi,
I was wondering about the doctor’s name that helped out your daughter.
Thanks!
The doctor’s information has been listed a couple of times in the comments, but I will post it again as it seems to be getting lost and/or passed over.
The doctor that we see is Dr. Michael Pierce. He is currently practicing out of Integrated Health Systems in Englewood, Colorado and their phone number is 303-781-5617. I believe that he has other offices that he works with – but I am unsure where those locations are. I do not think that this office has that information for him.
PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE ALSO POSTED THE WEBSITE INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HELP YOU LOCATE A DOCTOR IN YOUR ZIP CODE AREA ALSO. THAT WEBSITE IS;
http://www.Acnb.org
Hope this helps some of you. I do not know how to find international doctors. I had hoped that perhaps someone through the website above might have had some insight. I wish that I could be more help in that area.
Thank you, I love the part about Albert Einstein too, because, I play cello in the orchestra at school and i find it easier to do work after orchestra rather than before, or I’ll remember the answer to a question while I’m playing (P.S I’m 12) and just thank you, i plan on telling my mom today about my trich.
Jackie, good luck telling your mom. I give you so much credit. Let me know what her response was and how she reacted.
I’m 16 and have been pulling my eyebrows & eyelashes for about three years and recently started pulling my breast hairs. I also pull the hair on my head but it’s much more mild than the previous pulling I mentioned and I can control myself not to pull it much more. This article helped me alot but I know I could/will never tell my family about my trich. I can tell they all notice the bare eyebrows that I fill in everday, but they don’t say anything and neither do I cause it’s way too embarrassing. I have a really nice doctor but am not comfortable telling her about my trich either. I think I can overcome it on my own though cause lately I haven’t been pullig as much and my eyebrows and eyelashes are really starting to come in pretty nicely. So I can overcome it on my own but I want to get to the point where I don’t even think about it because it’s not an issue anymore. Any suggestions?? Thanks
Thanks for this info, I will look for the book. I’m 42 and have pulled various sites since I was 6. Right now I have no eyebrows, but my eyelashes and back of my head have grown back so I’m hopeful to find something that will stop me pulling my eyebrows. I also chew my nails non-stop and am in the top 2% for IQ’s.
Hi Joanna.
You mention getting a book in your post. I can’t seem to find any reference to it. Would you let me know what it is?
Thanks
Emma
First, I must say thank you for this information! My daughter has been displaying symptoms since infancy. She pulled my hair then. I got her to stop (it was painful!) and she started on her own. She’s turning six in a few months and I can’t get a doctor to even diagnose her with it. Our family doctors have all said that she will grow out of it. Really! She eats her hair also and our last doctor has her scared out of her mind because of it. He told her if she didn’t stop then they would eventually have to cut her open to remove the hair from her body! I understand that it could be a reality, but NOT something you tell to a five year old! I’m tired of the scare tactics, the recommendations of therapy and medications, the toys, the gloves, the hats, and the contradicting diets. It has even been suggested to me to actually tie her hands down! I didn’t do that, of course!
I ordered the book you wrote about tonight. I am hoping that it will help. I feel like I’ve been grasping at straws for years now.
I am so sorry for the inappropriate comments given by your physician. I have been a pediatrician for over 20 years and have found that most other specialities are not trained about this common and painful condition for both the patient and family. I found that even my training was inadequate and had to learn much on my own when my daughter began pulling at six months. There are physician’s more versed in this condition and I would recommend searching further in your area. Best of luck and never give up. Dr. J
Hi. I wanted to say thanks as well. My daughter has been battling this, and although I try really hard not to shame her or act disappointed, it’s hard to understand. She is tag and a brilliant girl, so your article made sense to me. I’m trying to have her in therapy. I might add on hypnosis and I’m going to look into a doc. here as well from your doctor finder website you posted. I found two in my area. I just want her to not feel so much anxiety.
Thanks for the information!
I have had trick since i was 13 when my grandmother past away, i thought it was just a temporary thing like a grieving this but im now 28 and i still have it.
I used to pull my eybrows and my eyelashes but that stopped after a few months, I still pull my hair off my head, i have a bald spot on top of my hair and im always covering it and paranoid of it showing.
I just want this to stop so i can have hair like everybody else and have different hair styles.
Your story has inspired me, Im hoping that there is somebody here in Australia that can cure me like they have for your daughter.
Hi Natalie
We are also in Australia and I was wondering whether you had any update on available help in Aus.
Emma
Hi, my name is Carrie, I am a freshman in high school and I have pulled my hair out sense fourth grade. My struggle with trichotillomania has been very overwhelming and I have been to therapy, put on medication, tried meditation and hypnosis, all with no success. You said that the doctor put your daughter on a program with mental/physical/sensory exercises and I am just wondering what they were.
Thanks so much!
I am 14 and i have had trich sense i was about 9. My struggle with trichotillomania has been very overwhelming and I have been to therapy, put on medication, tried meditation and hypnosis, all with no success. I was just wondering what types of exercises your daughter was told to do by the doctor in order to stimulate the right hemisphere. If you could let me know, I would be extremely thankful!
Thanks for sharing your experience!!
oops! i accidentally posted twice!
Hi Carrie,
I can tell you some of the exercises, but you should really work with a doctor that can determine EXACTLY which ones to do – because if you do the wrong ones, I suppose it could aggravate the condition. If you do not want to contact a professional, you could read Dr. Melillo’s book and it will help you to determine what type of deficiency there might be – and what exercises you can do to help remedy it. I would highly recommend finding a doctor, but understand that it can be cost prohibitive for many folks. I just saw the book on Amazon.com and it was only $10.95 (that was for new – used are even cheaper). There are also 46 reviews by individuals that have purchased the book – so you can also see what their success stories and opinions of it are.
Our doctor determined that my daughter had a mild right brain deficiency. So, some of the exercises given to us were in an effort to engage the right brain (which means left sided activities). For example, we would have her stand on her left foot, while we tossed her a ball – and she would catch it with her left hand (while balancing on the left foot). This activity causes the right brain to kick in (the right brain controls the left side of the body and vice versa). She also would do an exercise where she would stand on her left foot and once she had her balance, would close her eyes. She would need to maintain her balance for at least 20 seconds (with her eyes closed). Again, this would engage the right brain. We also had some visual exercises – her eyes would track an object (this is VERY specific exercises and I highly recommend finding the right doctor to help you with this). After they do the series of tests (our doctor did over 100 tests), they will be able to determine which direction, angle and speed the eyes will need to track. This will ensure that the correct part of the brain is being engaged.
I wish that there was a “one size fits all” remedy for this – but unfortunately all of our brains are unique and each of us should work with someone that can help custom tailor our needs. However, once you find a qualified professional to determine what needs to be done, or if you read Dr. Melillo’s book, it will also tell you how to determine the exercises and which ones to do. I never felt confident to try them all by myself – but I believe that the book can break it down for you. You will have to read it very thoroughly (no skipping paragraphs or pages in this book)! ; )
ALSO, I cannot emphasize enough – the importance of getting an adequate amount of DHA/EPA Omega 3′s (through a quality fish oil). We have tried them all, and Carlson’s Lemon fish oil tastes the best by far. We tried Eskimo kids – but my daughter did not like it. We also tried another brand (I think it was a strawberry flavor – and it was disgusting). You may have to try a few, but I can assure you Carlson’s tastes far better than any of the others we tried. You can find it online, eBay, or most health food stores. This alone made a HUGE difference!
I hope this helps? I wish you all the best with this!
Hi rjsmama
Thanks for all the posts – they are really helpful. My daughter has had trich but we are in Australia. I was wondering if you have tried any other internet sites and whether any of them are useful.
Regards
Emma
Hi Emma/Natalie
I am a 27 year old male and cannot stop picking my beard (I used to pick my eyelashes from the age of about 10). I too am in Australia (Sydney) and am interested if you found any help locally?
Thanks
Ryan
Hello, thanks for your information, I am in Canada and have suffered from trich for 20 years, I would say I mave no access to US resources such as this doctor or other medical programs instituted there, but you mentioned that this doctor put your daughter on a program with mental/physical/sensory exercises and I am just wondering what they were.
thanks
Hi
I’m 29 years old, and I’m really suffering from trich, since I was 13. I tried many different ways to stop. I’m not pulling my hair from root. I may sit somewhere in font of the TV, or computer. and start looking at my hair, and cut them to half with my fingers. Sometimes I’m looking for split ends hair for more than 3 hours. Usually when I’m alone I stand in front of the mirror, and pulling and cutting them with both fingers and scissors. I once seek treatment from doctor and had 8 therapy sessions but I just stopped for two weeks after I watched videos in Youtube. Once I cut my hair really short for two years in a row. Last year I kept tracking of my pull free days on a calendar, again I stopped for a month and again started. Few months ago I started taking NAC for a month, and I saw no change. I really believe on what you wrote here about communication between Right and left brain. Right now, I’m leaving out of U.S. and I’m not sure if I can get good treatment here. Usually when Iam talking with doctors I will give them lots of information about trich that they never heard of. I would appreciate it if you could give any more information about the treatment of your daughter.
Thanks.
I spoke to my doctor a month ago who is a specialist in skin condidtions and he had never heard of Trichotillomania, but he is going to contact the medical world and see whats out there, if I get anywhere ill post it here.
Alan Charnock´s last [type] ..Yahoo site explorer closes today November 21st 2011
Hi Emma,
We did not try other internet sites – as the above mentioned method/s was able to stop the Trich entirely for us. Our daughter is still doing great, with no recurrence of the Trich. She is currently on the honor roll at school and in the gifted and talented program. These techniques were nothing short of a Godsend for us. I wish you all the best! Let me know if you have any other questions!
I noticed yesterday while i was with my 9 yr old daughter that she had only a few eyelashes left. I asked her if she was pulling them out and she told me yes. Then i asked her why and she said she dsnt know. I thought right away that it was one of her weird phases she goes through until i googled eyelash pulling. I started to get really worried about this “phase” when i came across trichotillomania. I called her dr right away and we made an appt. for monday. I cant wait that long im so worried for her. Someone please tell me it could just be a phase. I feel sick to my stomach! I cant stop crying. Help!
-Stephanie
Stephanie,
Take a deep breath. I felt just as distraught. You’d had thought my daughter had just been diagnosed with cancer or another horrible disease. I can assure you that now that we have figured out the cause and found the solution for her – it is hardly ever a thought. My only concern is making sure that she takes her vitamins and supplements on a daily basis and eats a gluten free (or as close as we can get to gluten free) diet. She is a beautiful, healthy, intelligent child who is just thriving. There is absolutely help for your daughter. However, bear in mind that a regular doctor or pediatrician may NOT be your answer. At least it wasn’t in our case. Many doctors are at a loss when it comes to Trich and they will simply revert to all they know – to write a prescription for meds. That has been proven to only aggravate Trich in the long run. I assure you, we never resorted to any meds – just made changes to make sure her brain was getting the nutrition that it needed – and removed everything that it DIDN’T need (gluten, artificial colors, preservatives, etc.). Mind you, although we have not removed these things 100% (she still can have birthday cakes, treats, etc.) – but we keep them to a minimum. For example, purchase lunch meats that are natural (not loaded with nitrates/nitrites). It’s so worth the effort. You cannot put a price on something like this.
Keep us posted and know that you are not alone in this.
Wow it can’t be any coincidence of how much this story makes sense.
This is the first time I’m telling anyone this, so here goes.
I’ve been pulling hair for at least 10 years (I’m 23), but before that I recall having a neck tic. I’ve always had problems with school, not my grades but my teachers. They would tell my parents that I never paid attention, was always day-dreaming, never did in class assignments, or took notes. I always felt like I had ADHD but never wanted to tell anyone because I didn’t want any crappy meds like Ritalin.
It got worse in college because I would day dream in class then fall asleep, so I stopped showing up to my classes out of fear of angering the professors. Despite this, my grades have always been excellent, when I took an IQ test during high school my score came out to over 150.
Yet more and more recently my trich has gotten worse, people have started to notice bald patches. At first it was just the back of my hands so few people ever took notice (if they did I would say it’s just like that) but lately its extended to my eyebrows and eyelashes.
I love my eyebrows and really want to stop. I’ve tried many things. For a little while when I smoked weed it helped (I guess because it lowered my stress) but after I became chronic I would just go into frenzies of pulling.
So I stopped that and finally turned to seeking help on the internet yesterday.
Thank you so much for posting this, I’m going to try what you mentioned. I don’t expect to see results as quickly because I’ve been doing it for a while, but it is definitely worth a shot.
P.S.I also heard about something called the John Kender diet which has worked for some people. I’m not going to follow it religiously but cutting out caffeine, refined sugars and egg yolks can’t be bad
Hi Trixie,
Please also look into a gluten free diet. That has made a HUGE difference for my daughter. She had absolutely NO signs of a stomach/digestive issue with gluten, it only seems to affect her brain. So if anyone thinks that they are not gluten intolerant – simply because they don’t have digestive issues – it’s simply not the case. Gluten intolerance will manifest in ways that affect the brain and behavioral issues. PLEASE don’t overlook it! It will be worth the effort. It’s much easier these days to go gluten free – because so many people have finally realized the benefits to it. It’s not a trend = please are educating themselves!
All the best!
Wow, I’ve never heard about gluten intolerance before. I will definitely try that then since our stories are so similar. I already went out and bought Omega-3 fish oil
and I’m going to pick up the other supplements you mentioned along with the book (since I can’t afford the doctor yet)
Thanks so much for all your help and quick response!
All the best to you and your family
body I am in my twenties and has suffered with Trichotillomania since
before a teenager, I do strongly believe it’s more than an OCD, and
that it has to do with a brain imbalance. I am tired of working with
therapists or psychiatrists who are very unfamiliar with the disorder.
I am so happy for your family that you were able to get real effective
help for your daughter, thank you for taking the time to reach out and
share with others. Once I get the help I need I had always vowed to do
the same, because it’s an extremely frustrating situation, and there
is not enough resources for those suffering with Trich. Now I have to
ask what advice can you give me to get the help I need, I live in
Massachusetts, also I plan on getting the book you mentioned. Thank
you again.
Im 22 and have been biting my nails and picking skin since i was a toddler. When i was around 15 my barber accidently clipped the edge of my right eyebrow. As it started growing back i became distracted by how different the hairs felt and thats when my trich kicked in. I couldn’t stop touching it and fiddling with the hair and it let to me pulling them out. It slowly progressed to pulling hair just to pull the hair.
I seem to be in the minority because every site I find is girls/women with trich. After doing a lot of research I see that guys are a lot less common with trich. I’ve been really looking for help recently because my eyebrows are getting progressively worse. I only pull eyebrows, facial(bottom of chin), and rarely eyelashes. My eyebrows look thin and people are starting to notice. I can’t afford therapy and frequent doctors visits. The one time I talked to the doctor about it she automatically recommended talking to a therapist for OCD. The only things I do are bite nails, skin pick, and pull eyebrows and facial hair but that’s it. I really don’t feel any OCD type behaviors so I was kind of put off by her advice. Ive heard about fish oil treatment and other similar concepts but the whole right brain/left brain thing seems fascinating. I’m going to look more into the info provided and I’m glad I stumbled upon this site.
I never really realized that what I’ve been doing for the past 4-5 years is a condition. I started researching it today after I found out, and quite frankly, it scared me. I’m 14 (almost 15) and I’ve had trich since I was in 5th grade. I’ve always had a horrible self esteem, which added to my anxiety and, I guess you could say, “jittery-ness.” it may be add or ADHD, but I’ve never been tested. I’m literally afraid to talk to my parents about it because we’ve already consulted a dermatologist, and he concluded it was hair loss (I was to nervous/scared to say that I, infact, was pulling my eyebrows and eyelashes off). It’s affected me horribly at school, and just talking to people, face to face. I always shy away to people looking at me, I live in a constant fear that someone may just say something. I also have a nasty nail biting habit, that seems I’ll never be able to overcome. I’ve been happily pick free for months, but I had another relapse tonight. I’m scared, and afraid, I have no where to go. I feel depressed, often and have tried cutting, multiple times. I don’t like being a self harmer and I wish I could stop, I just don’t feel in control, and I need help.
Shannon´s last [type] ..Turning OnTrich Into A More Helpful Resource For Trichsters And Family
Thanks for sharing your story. I am really a newcomer to pulling–only about 5 years–but it seems like an eternity. I have tried various therapists, but no one seems to know much about this disease. I hate the time I waste and the destruction I do to myself. I wear hats all the time. I have anxiety for which I take Effexor, but it has no effect on the trich impulses. I would love to find a doctor who can perform the brain balancing you described. I just need something that will stop the impulse to pull. Thank you.
Thank you to everyone who has shared their stories. The more we communicate, the closer we are to finding cures. I’ve been pulling eyelashes and eyebrows since I was in middle school. It’s so very hard to stop just by “will-power” when half the time I do it is just a habit/impulse and don’t know that I’m doing it until the hairs are gone. As an adult I finally reached a point where I thought I looked more normal with eyebrows than without. I want to stop pulling for good. I’m tired of being told it’s alopecia or ocd. I never thought it might be a brain imbalance, as I’ve always done well in school/sports/art and didn’t have symptoms of any attention disorder.
Best of luck to everyone and their kids that are struggling with this. No one is alone.
I will keep checking back for others progress and encouragements.
I’m a teenager suffering from hair pulling and have been since I was 14. I’m writing this anonymously because I feel more scared than I would if I had to tell right-wing parents that I was LGBT, to use a metaphor to try and some up the feeling.
When I was 14 I moved to a really exclusive school, I am an academic scholar and have just been offered an academic scholarship to university because of my high attainment grades and vast array of extra-curricular activities. I have an IQ in the top zero-point-somthing percent and am also fairly creative. I had been bullied for being clever and different at my previous school and was so happy once I moved. There people I am around are likeminded and inspirational. Although, unfortunately, aged 14 some of them had nits. I don’t know if my extensive nit paranoia (I mean they’re pretty discussing to be honest!) lead to me pulling my hair out, but I do remember constantly searching my hair for nits and once finding one. I don’t think I’ve stopped running my hair through my hands since.
I first noticed I pulled my hair our when I started removing split ends, I have curl hair and was a young teenage kid, lots of my friends did it. As that first year progressed a friend pointed out that while we rehearsed for a drama exam I would pull hairs out and run them across my lips – rehearsals were pretty intense and the cast tended to point out each others personal faults during rehearsals!
As I went through my first big exams I don’t remember pulling my hair out but I was very ill. Then when I went through my second set and my third year at the school I couldn’t stop and everyone I was close to knew I did it. Since then I have not stopped and I am now in my final year. It’s been 4 years and I’m amazed I’m not bald. I fear I’m thinning at the back and that my intricately layered and stylistically cut curly hair will show it, but the tick curls have been a blessing discussing it. People have always told me they want my hair and hairdressers always comment how thick it is. I want to grow my hair, but there are so many negative ramifications of pulling ones hair out that it’s simply not possible. I’m too scared to go to the hairdressers because they’ll just comment again about the uneven layers and shorter hair and the back.
I really can’t help it and think I’m getting worse. Right now I have mocks for the biggest exams of my life thus far and have done no work or preparation. I simply couldn’t focus, almost in an ADD type way. Additionally, I’m extremely dyslexic which explained any spelling errors or typos. I’ve pulled out so many hairs this week and even eaten them unknowingly that there’s a noticeable loss in thickness and length to my hair. I am so scared that this trend will continue and want it to stop. I want to do all theses great things in my life but fear that my noticeable hair pulling will prevent me.
If anyone can help this pathetic teenager who right now feels to desperate to cry it would be greatly appreciated. For reference purposes, I exhibit mild OCD trades and dabbled with self-harm and anorexia when younger, but they were mainly a result of bullying from being an isolated country school full of ignorant, pick up driving, shotgun baring farmers, most of whom already have their own children. (Apologies if I inadvertently offended anyone there).
If anyone can help me, I’d greatly appreciate it. My appearance is vital to me and I’m becoming increasingly self conscious about this. Despite being a broke student, I have little objection to bankrupting myself to cure this, as long as it works.
So this is my ‘coming out story’ as a person who tares out their hair, and my cry for help. Desperation, hopelessness and despair are words I’d use to articulate my feelings.
Thank you,
Anonymous and too scared to post their name
Hi rjsmama,
I am really thankful to you for posting this.
I am suffering from hair pulling disorder for the age of 5, now i m turning 28, i donno how to stop this
in am early 20′s i had stopped it donno how. Again when i turned 24, it relapsed. I am scared to reveal that i do pull my hair to my mom, bec she is a single mother as my dad passed away whn i was 4 yr old. Its sooo embrasing. Cant stop to pull my hair, after pulling feel sooo much guilty.. I tried to cover with scarf/cap, all in vain 
I reside in Bangalore, India. Just want to get rid of this disorder and want to live life like any other person. Please do let me good doctor to consult in India, Bangalore.
Please Help me.
Thanks again
Your story makes so much sense! I have always been a high achiever without really having to work at it. My brain just absorbs knowledge and spurts it out when it’s needed.
Im 28 and I have been pulling out my eyelashes since 9 and a spot on my head since about 6. I get moments of not doing it at all. Everything grows back. Then I lose control and just en up back where I was.
I have recently taken up running and this exercise is helping me no end. Since I have been running I haven’t pulled at all.
Thank you for posting about the book. I’m going to try to find it today!