Unusual disorder - Trich

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Hi everyone

I'm curious as to whether any of you are familiar with a disorder called Trichotillomania. This is a very unusual compulsive disorder, in the family of Tourettes', that cause people to pull the hair from their head, eyebrows, eyelashes.

I'm 55 years old and started pulling hair from my head when I was 13. At that time, no one knew what wa going on. Only in the past 15 years or so has this disorder been given a name.

Have any of you seen young children with these obvious signs? How do you follow up on it if you do?

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Specializes in Neuro ICU, Neuro/Trauma stepdown.

I knew a girl in middle school that pulled out her eyelashes. Only recently did I see it on TV and realize it had a name. I haven't done any research or anything, but it seemed to be more of a OCD type of disorder.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i had a patient in my psych rotation with trich. its an OCD-anxiety related disorder. he said he didnt know why he did it but he thought it was b/c he was bored. he said the urge to do something led to the urge to move his hands and then the urge to pull out his hair... part of his tx was using his hands ALLL the time. he had to fold napkins, stack cups, do puzzles, anything to keep him busy so that he didnt pull out his hair. he was also on some antianxiety meds. but like with any OCD.. he had triggers we had to be aware of. it definately was a difficult road for him, but eventually his hair did grow back.

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Specializes in OB/peds (after gen surgery for 3 yrs).

I had a preschool child with this. Her mom wanted her to wear a hat all the time at school, but the child didn't want to. She had very close to no hair. After the first couple of days of school, she did take that hat off and the other kids didn't say a word. Preschoolers just accept people as they are. The child was under some sort of medical treatment, I don't remember now what was prescribed. I hope she can continue to get the acceptance in life that she found with her peers in preschool.

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I was in Junior High School when I started this and I had obvious bald patches on my scalp. Other kids in school were brutal with their teasing. The embarassment and subsequent isolation had lasting impact. I'm only now, 42 years later, beginning to talk to people about it, my brother and sister included.

I hope that kids now can get some support. There is a lot of research being done and behavior modification therapies directed towards it .

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

I knew a girl in high school that pulled out her hair and ate it. Not sure if it is the same disease or not.

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Specializes in SICU, MICU, CICU, NeuroICU.
I knew a girl in high school that pulled out her hair and ate it. Not sure if it is the same disease or not.

Eating it is the tell-tale sign. It's a psych disorder.

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Specializes in Assisted Living, Med-Surg/CVA specialty.

I've not been diagnosed with it, but I am fairly certain I could be dx with it.

Actually, technically you could say I started when I was a little kid (like 3 years old), although a lot of cases start in adolescence or older childhood.

My parents said I always stuck my hair in my mouth when I was a kid and thats how they knew I was tired.

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I had 2 friends that I can remember started their hair things in grade school, later like 4th or 5th. Anywho, both had really long hair, like to the middle of their backs. One used to twist it round her fingers in class CONSTANTLY and usually had some type of bruise mark on her fingers from twisting so hard. The other girl used to pull her hair around her shoulder and chew on it. I don't recall either actually pulling it out but this continued on up until we graduated high school. They both even did these things while driving and when they would go on dates would HAVE to wear their hair in pony tails or back so that it could not be pulled round to do those things. If I recall the one who used to chew her hair, her mom finally started cutting her hair short enough she couldn't chew on it, she just started biting her nails.

I too think its a nervous tick of some sort. No one made fun of them in school, as there were only 11 in my class all through school, little hick town. I don't know if this has been a later in life issue, but they did it so long I don't know how they don't still show signs of some type of ticks now as adults.

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Specializes in Oncology, Research.

My husband has this. It does not affect him very much so we have not sought consultation over this. He does display other OCD related behaviors as well but they also have not interfered in his daily life. The only drawback is that his hair pulling is not limited to his own head! Every once in a while I have to slap his hand down when I notice he is getting ready to pull my hair.

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My 8 year old daughter has this. It is a horrible disorder. I am trying everything I can before the med route is all we have left. We started her in with a therapist and are doing small rewards daily if she can control the impulse...with the promise of a new puppy if she can kick this thing on her own (chit--I'd buy her a horse if it would work).

I'd elaborate more, but Im exhausted at the moment. I will def. be watching this thread for ideas and support though!

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MuddaMia, please check this link. It contains information that will help your daughter.

www.trich.org/about_trich

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