becky_texaschic
07-04-2002, 02:01 AM
My 10 year old son has been pulling out his hair on top of his head for about a month now. I have heard of this before but can't remember what it is called. Can anyone help?!
Thanks Rebecca
Thanks Rebecca
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4given1
07-05-2002, 01:04 AM
Hi Becky! Compulsive hair pulling is referred to as Trichotillomania. I think there are a couple of discussions about the disorder on the Obsessions and OCD board.
friend
07-05-2002, 03:14 AM
My son did that for awhile when about eight years old. In his case the school announced an epidemic of lice, and he kept thinking his rather course hair had nits (lice eggs), so he was pulling them out to see.
He had quite a bald spot before we noticed, and by then he had become compulsive in pulling the hair out.
We made him wear a cap, and kept watch of him until he quit thinking about it. It was around Christmas, and he looked like a monk! We just matter of factly told our son that he had gotten into a bad habit, and we were going to help him stop it. We did not make a big deal about it, but of course it really looked silly, and we showed him with a mirror.
All kids are different, so you might have a talk with him and ask what has been bothering him that he has been pulling his hair out. He may be anxious about something you can help him with. You probably can help him stop the behavior, if you are accepting and not stern, but firm that it has to stop. I would not involve a professional, which can
give it too much attention and unecessarily humiliate him as though he is a strange person, and it can then become a matter of resistence.
In fact, doing this behavior at some time is not at all uncommon for kids. They may do all sorts of things, like tapping a lip, scratching the skin, blinking eyes, biting nails, etc, without even realizing it.
[This message has been edited by friend (edited 07-05-2002).]
He had quite a bald spot before we noticed, and by then he had become compulsive in pulling the hair out.
We made him wear a cap, and kept watch of him until he quit thinking about it. It was around Christmas, and he looked like a monk! We just matter of factly told our son that he had gotten into a bad habit, and we were going to help him stop it. We did not make a big deal about it, but of course it really looked silly, and we showed him with a mirror.
All kids are different, so you might have a talk with him and ask what has been bothering him that he has been pulling his hair out. He may be anxious about something you can help him with. You probably can help him stop the behavior, if you are accepting and not stern, but firm that it has to stop. I would not involve a professional, which can
give it too much attention and unecessarily humiliate him as though he is a strange person, and it can then become a matter of resistence.
In fact, doing this behavior at some time is not at all uncommon for kids. They may do all sorts of things, like tapping a lip, scratching the skin, blinking eyes, biting nails, etc, without even realizing it.
[This message has been edited by friend (edited 07-05-2002).]
Kirsty
07-05-2002, 07:52 PM
Hi,
For disorders like this you should try a scientific search engine, I suggest scirus.com
It is specificly for scientific searches and I think it is very useful.
I have heard of the disorder for and often the children themselves don't know why they are doing it, it is a way of coping with stress or a specific problem and is a form of self harming.
Find out everything you can and good luck
Love Kirsty
For disorders like this you should try a scientific search engine, I suggest scirus.com
It is specificly for scientific searches and I think it is very useful.
I have heard of the disorder for and often the children themselves don't know why they are doing it, it is a way of coping with stress or a specific problem and is a form of self harming.
Find out everything you can and good luck
Love Kirsty
becky_texaschic
07-08-2002, 12:14 AM
Thank you all so much. My son says he does this because his hair feels dirty and tangled. I wanted to cut it shorter, but he won't let me because of the bald spot. He obsessively combs his hair ripping out the knots. I have hidden all the combs, and offer to do it for him now. So hopefully this will work.
Thanks again,
Rebecca
Thanks again,
Rebecca
friend
07-08-2002, 07:56 PM
becky_texaschic:
I'm glad you discovered the problem...you can always make him get his hair cut if he refuses to keep it clean and combed himself. You can get him a brush that won't break or pull out his hair so much while he self-grooms, too.
I really think you did the right thing not to make anything of this kind of action, UNLESS you can't discover what is wrong... There is no reason to assume it is for the purpose of self-harming.
All the best.
I'm glad you discovered the problem...you can always make him get his hair cut if he refuses to keep it clean and combed himself. You can get him a brush that won't break or pull out his hair so much while he self-grooms, too.
I really think you did the right thing not to make anything of this kind of action, UNLESS you can't discover what is wrong... There is no reason to assume it is for the purpose of self-harming.
All the best.
Sinnrah
07-09-2002, 03:33 PM
Hi,
I pull out my eyelashes. I did the search on Trich and found a really good support group. I have been completely bald on both eyelids. And had to wear fake lashes. I know for me, social anxiety is what triggers me to pull my lashes out. However, for the last 1 1/2 months I have been doing really well. I have a full set of lashes now. And am actually able to put make up on if I want to. But i never do for fear of me pulling the masacara from my eyes.
Sinnrah
I pull out my eyelashes. I did the search on Trich and found a really good support group. I have been completely bald on both eyelids. And had to wear fake lashes. I know for me, social anxiety is what triggers me to pull my lashes out. However, for the last 1 1/2 months I have been doing really well. I have a full set of lashes now. And am actually able to put make up on if I want to. But i never do for fear of me pulling the masacara from my eyes.
Sinnrah
Theresa15
07-09-2002, 08:15 PM
This is a common disease, or disorder called Trichotrillomania. This is when the person has this powerful urge to rip out, or pluck the hairs from their body, and sometimes other people's or animals body's.
Someone mentioned not going to a doctor, but I would recommend it, considering I was and am a victim of this disorder, and still to this day, without any help, continue to do it. Telling the victim not to do it is not going to help. It is like a person addicted to cigarettes, they just have this unbelievable urge to do it, and no matter what the circumstances, they WANT to and fell they HAVE to do it so badly.
It usually is a chemical imbalance within the person that causes them to continue pulling or plucking, and it is NOT, I REPEAT *NOT*, a form of inflicting pain, as in most people with Trich, they do not feel pain whatsoever. So don't start thinking your son/daughter is trying to cause pain for themselves, as this is not true.
Since I am not a doctor, and do not remember everything about it, I suggest that you go to a search engine and type in "Trichotillomania". A lot of sites will come up, and you will see that your child is not as "weird", or "strange" as you think they are, since hundereds of thousands of people have this all over the world.
Please don't think that "telling" him/her not to do it is going to help, because you are severely wrong! Your child needs to see a professional, so that he/she can get back to thinking about regular 10 year old things.
This is all coming from a person who has it, and I am sure that if you ask anyone else who is or has gone through this, most will say that they need more help then being told not to do it. It isn't something they do willingly, or awaringly, it is just a comulsive disorder that is caused by an imbalance.
Someone mentioned not going to a doctor, but I would recommend it, considering I was and am a victim of this disorder, and still to this day, without any help, continue to do it. Telling the victim not to do it is not going to help. It is like a person addicted to cigarettes, they just have this unbelievable urge to do it, and no matter what the circumstances, they WANT to and fell they HAVE to do it so badly.
It usually is a chemical imbalance within the person that causes them to continue pulling or plucking, and it is NOT, I REPEAT *NOT*, a form of inflicting pain, as in most people with Trich, they do not feel pain whatsoever. So don't start thinking your son/daughter is trying to cause pain for themselves, as this is not true.
Since I am not a doctor, and do not remember everything about it, I suggest that you go to a search engine and type in "Trichotillomania". A lot of sites will come up, and you will see that your child is not as "weird", or "strange" as you think they are, since hundereds of thousands of people have this all over the world.
Please don't think that "telling" him/her not to do it is going to help, because you are severely wrong! Your child needs to see a professional, so that he/she can get back to thinking about regular 10 year old things.
This is all coming from a person who has it, and I am sure that if you ask anyone else who is or has gone through this, most will say that they need more help then being told not to do it. It isn't something they do willingly, or awaringly, it is just a comulsive disorder that is caused by an imbalance.
jem4
07-10-2002, 09:21 PM
My daughter had/has this disorder. It was about the time puberty set in for her. Do a search on your computer for Trich and you will find a lot of information. I took sugar away from my daughters diet, and that helped a lot!!!! She doesn't "pull" any more, but she still twirls or twists her hair, which is another "thing" that people with this disorder do also. She did it more when she was anxious about something. Good Luck!
Tree Frog
07-10-2002, 10:10 PM
I have to add that this problem may be exacerbated by vitamin/mineral insufficiencies, but science has yet to show any evidence at all of true chemical imbalances...behavior modification does indeed help, esp. when done soon.
Evidence: the several cases I know of neither got worse, and did permanently stop.
I used to experience a great deal of anxious feelings, which were helped considerably by B complex vitamins, eating right by cutting out fast and processed "food", drinking plenty of water, and taking magnesium. One should definitely rule out and/or solve relational-coping problems, physical disorders such as thyroid imbalance, and anything else that may be adding undue stress to the person.
Trichotrillomania is certainly not a disease, and to label behaviors as such only encourages helplessness to gain any control over the undesired behavior. If one chooses a certain expression such as pulling hair when anxious, one can learn to exchange other more beneficial behavior instead. For instance one can create the habit of exercising or deliberate even breathing when feeling anxious.
Behavior modification is a very effective treatment and it does not require an official label to practice it or treat one's child. It absolutely is unecessary to get a doctor involved if one does not wish to.
[This message has been edited by Tree Frog (edited 07-10-2002).]
Evidence: the several cases I know of neither got worse, and did permanently stop.
I used to experience a great deal of anxious feelings, which were helped considerably by B complex vitamins, eating right by cutting out fast and processed "food", drinking plenty of water, and taking magnesium. One should definitely rule out and/or solve relational-coping problems, physical disorders such as thyroid imbalance, and anything else that may be adding undue stress to the person.
Trichotrillomania is certainly not a disease, and to label behaviors as such only encourages helplessness to gain any control over the undesired behavior. If one chooses a certain expression such as pulling hair when anxious, one can learn to exchange other more beneficial behavior instead. For instance one can create the habit of exercising or deliberate even breathing when feeling anxious.
Behavior modification is a very effective treatment and it does not require an official label to practice it or treat one's child. It absolutely is unecessary to get a doctor involved if one does not wish to.
[This message has been edited by Tree Frog (edited 07-10-2002).]
Theresa15
07-10-2002, 11:38 PM
I very much disagree! This is not something that should be dismissed. It is a serious disorder, and should be addressed before it becomes a problem in this childs life. A person can become "obsessed" with this and may struggle with this all of their lives if it isn't taken care of now. Sure he might not be pulling the hair on his head, but what if he goes to a place that you cannot see, such as the pubic area, legs, arm pits. Things less noticable. This is not a "bad habit", this is a disorder that is done UNAWARINGLY in most cases, and cannot be replaced with something else. It is A LOT like smoking, you cannot replace the urge to smoke by chewing gum like that. It isn't that simple. It is something that a doctor or therapist must help with, and the child needs support and understanding from his family. Please do not take this as something lightly, something that should be dismissed or ignored. You and your child will regret it later if it progresses or worsens.
Here are some sites that I suggest looking at, and I also recommend that you please do a search on a search engine yourself. This is something you should personally learn more about to help understand what your child is going through.
http://www.trichotillomania.ab.ca/rwpeta/myths.html http://www.trichotillomania.net/ http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0UMR/9_21/65714216/p1/article.jhtml http://www.trich.org/v1/index.htm
These are just a few of the MANY MANY sites available to you.
Here are some sites that I suggest looking at, and I also recommend that you please do a search on a search engine yourself. This is something you should personally learn more about to help understand what your child is going through.
http://www.trichotillomania.ab.ca/rwpeta/myths.html http://www.trichotillomania.net/ http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0UMR/9_21/65714216/p1/article.jhtml http://www.trich.org/v1/index.htm
These are just a few of the MANY MANY sites available to you.
friend
07-11-2002, 04:03 AM
Theresa15:
From the first site you posted:
("Myth" means it is not true.)
MYTH: Trichotillomania is a sign of a deep-seated psychological disorder.
So that is not true.
MYTH: Once you start pulling, you will never be able to stop.
Not true, either.
From another:
Patients complaining of itch without visible cutaneous signs
Which means if there is a physical reason like being told that one may have bug eggs in their hair or has dirty, uncomfortable hair, it is not the same as to compulsively to pull out hair with no reason for it.
There is no reason to believe that everyone that pulls their hair has to get professional attention.
If it were something that always has to be taken to mean a serious disorder, no one would ever get over it without professional intervention, but plenty do.
I am so sorry that in your case, you didn't.
No one can predict who has a serious, lifelong problem and who has a minor and temporary bad habit.
If a child is bothered by something external like fear of nits or discomfort with dirty, uncombed hair, those external things can be altered and managed. Children can be allowed to have temporary bad habits without alarming them about themselves, unduly, which can in itself create a lifelong anxiety about themselves.
If a problem persists without any change and nothing helps, then that is plenty of time to consult a professional. Each case is different.
[This message has been edited by friend (edited 07-11-2002).]
From the first site you posted:
("Myth" means it is not true.)
MYTH: Trichotillomania is a sign of a deep-seated psychological disorder.
So that is not true.
MYTH: Once you start pulling, you will never be able to stop.
Not true, either.
From another:
Patients complaining of itch without visible cutaneous signs
Which means if there is a physical reason like being told that one may have bug eggs in their hair or has dirty, uncomfortable hair, it is not the same as to compulsively to pull out hair with no reason for it.
There is no reason to believe that everyone that pulls their hair has to get professional attention.
If it were something that always has to be taken to mean a serious disorder, no one would ever get over it without professional intervention, but plenty do.
I am so sorry that in your case, you didn't.
No one can predict who has a serious, lifelong problem and who has a minor and temporary bad habit.
If a child is bothered by something external like fear of nits or discomfort with dirty, uncombed hair, those external things can be altered and managed. Children can be allowed to have temporary bad habits without alarming them about themselves, unduly, which can in itself create a lifelong anxiety about themselves.
If a problem persists without any change and nothing helps, then that is plenty of time to consult a professional. Each case is different.
[This message has been edited by friend (edited 07-11-2002).]