hair cutting, is it OCD? - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

dorri · 02-05-2003, 11:17 PM

My friend cuts her hair when she gets stressed. These are not nice clean haircuts. She cuts to the scalp leaving uneven patches, sometimes only one sided. After she does it, she is extremely depressed and becomes overly obsessed with the look of her hair, to the point of not going to work or out of the house for weeks at a time. It usually takes months before her hair grows out, only to have it happen again. If you hide all the scissors, she will use knives, clippers, anything that will cut. She says she can't help herself, that she has this incredible urge to cut her hair. She says she doesn't even know what she is doing or what she is cutting, until it is over. Her doc has her on meds, but I am concerned because they knock her out, where she can't function at all. Does anyone have a similar problem like this? I am so worried about her.

heavenz · 02-06-2003, 12:16 PM

it sound like borderline ocd and some kind of nervous breakdown. What med's is she on? and do you know the dosage?

dorri · 02-06-2003, 12:50 PM

As far as I know, she is on Celexa. She is also on another drug, I think starting with Z, it could be zoloft but I am not sure. Sorry I don't know the dosages.

imshell · 04-05-2003, 12:10 PM

I can't believe I'm not alone. I have been cutting my hair since last summer. I have alot of stress in my life, which seems to bring it on. I feel sick about what i do, and I am very sneaky about it, like noone will notice. I feel like my hair is never even so i cut one side than the other until ther is barely nothing left. I feel very anxious, and don't want to leave the house. I feel like everyone is staring at me. I am on Zoloft which worked for awhile, then i started cutting again, just whe everyone was telling me my hair was looking good. If your friend finds help let me know please. Also I would like to talk to her if possible. Thanks Alot

bda · 04-09-2003, 08:10 AM

I was beginning to think that I was the only person out there who cuts their own hair. I have done this my whole life (off and on) and have started cutting again in the past 6 months. I don't know why I do it and everytime it starts to grow I will cut it again. I am on meds for depression and anxiety (within the past two weeks) and hope that it will help. I am so frustrated with myself and hate to go out of the house and do things that I used to love. It is starting to feel hopeless. It's nice to know that there are others who understand.