Trichotillomania: Examining A Rare Disease

[MsNatashaNirvana]

Oh and there IS a way to stop. I stopped.

[MsNatashaNirvana]

Dear god! IT ISN'T RARE! It is caused by STRESS or BOREDOM! Like biting your nails. It IS not like Tourettes At least not for me.

[ShowStopperRLSH]

I've had Trich since I was about 12 years old. I talk with people that have it all the time, I wish that more could be done to tell people about this, and to help find the answers.

[trichgirl16]

I am 16 and have had trich for 8 years now. I have never talked to anyone that is like me. I really need someone to talk to. I wear a wig to school, but before that I wore a hat. I'm still labelled as "the hat girl". I am bullied and picked on EVERY DAY. There are days when I want to give it all up. I truely believe that no guy would want me to be their girlfried. I had a boyfriend not to long ago, but he did not want to hold my hand anymore in school because he was embarresed of me.

[spanishpapi187]

That's what you think. Im have trich and its just as hard. Sure us guys can shave it off, but i know i won't look as good as i do now if i did that.

[SilverSpades123]

I think it's easier for guys, because they could shave their head if they wanted :/ it's difficult for us women!

[farah2619]

it all started my freshman year of highschool when i noticed an eyelash was out of place.... and after that it just got worse

[farah2619]

wow i agree so much with this video especially at 1:21- 1:29 that is me!!!!

[ariejoyify]

I have Trich and I hate it. I pull out my eyelashes, and it's absolutely difficult for me to help. I'm trying to resist the urge and it's so hard, but we can all battle through this. Stay strong!

[foxgirl1300]

@ariejoyify i hav trich 2. iv had it for 2 years now I NEED MAJOR HELP!!!!

[ariejoyify]

@foxgirl1300 I've had it for 8 years and I'm still trying to battle through it. I would definitely trying to get help now while it's still early because it will be easier to try and get better. You can definitely get through it! Good luck :)

[foxgirl1300]

@ariejoyify thanks! i'll do my best 2 stop! good luck 2 u 2. :)

[AshGleek98]

@foxgirl1300

you dont need mayjor help, i suffer from it too and we are normal people just living with a disorder. have you ever considored counciling? Ive now started that and its just starting to help a bit but i know im never going to fully stop. you shouldnt feel ashamed we are normal people and it doesnt matter what others think:)

[foxgirl1300]

@AshGleek98 i am taking counsling. i also have some emotional probs after my dad died 2 years ago, 1 month later i started to pull my hair out all because of a stupid scab in the back of my head (it was an old misguto bite thank god itz not cancer) =D

[AshGleek98]

@foxgirl1300

im sorry for your loss i started because of family problems:L

[harrypotteriscool123]

@ariejoyify hey i have been on this ride for almost 3 1/2 years...we can get thru this crap!!

[ariejoyify]

@harrypotteriscool123 Yes we can :) Good luck!

[welcome159ify]

Trichotillomania is not rare.

[666blindrider]

I wake up with my fingers pulling on my eyebrows, shit hate it.

[slicexpaperxwrist]

i started pulling my hair out when I was in 3rd grade...my mom also had trich when she was in highschool. 5th grade was HELL, there was no way I could part my hair to hide the bald spot anymore, I had pulled too much hair...I was bullied to hell for it...im in 10th grade now and I don't do it as often but every once in awhile, I catch myself searching for a hair to pull.

[Kuroro2345]

I have trich too; I don't agree with it being medical -- I think mine was caused by psychological depression, and it doesn't help that my parents r scolding me and yelling at me... I used to pull at my eyelashes when I was a child (around 6 or 7); I was able to stop, but at 12, I started to pull at my own hair due to my stress at 6th grade (because of being psychologically abused by my teacher, and I was 1 of 3 children who were white) and feeling out of place -- like I was a freak...!!!! :-(

[XOwingsXO]

I meant that I can't leave the house

[XOwingsXO]

I have trich. Luckily I don't pull out the hair on my head. Just me eyebrows and eyelashes. I recently stopped with my eyebrows and they are almost all in. And it's Been about 2 or so years that i had Trich so I know they all feel. I can leave the house without filling in my brows with a pencil. My mom said that I might be able to get a bird when I grow my lashes back so I've gone 3 days without pulling. Gosh, it feels good to get all that out.

[elizabeth880]

@XOwingsXO god bless i have this

[sylscl]

i had trich , and i had no idea what was happening to me . im so thankful that as soon as i found out it was a condition ( by googling it :P ) that i stopped . just like that . never pulled again . for like , 2 1/2 years or around that ..? well , im just really happy that i have my hair back :) and this actually made me a stronger person . im glad i know this condition exists . i also never told anyone about my trich until about a month or so ago . it felt really good . stay strong !!!

[DevilButtKicker]

Don't ya just love it that some people think ya can just stop? If it was that easy, wouldnt people with trich have done that by now? It is one of those Duh moments or Here's Your Sign moments.

[RebbieSnowAngel0505]

stress is indeed a trigger. depression is too, feeling nervous. any intense negative feeling is a trigger to pull hair... and there are 4% of each country who do it. thats many people... im 16... for as long as i can remember i was obsessed with hair. i played with my hair since i was 2 years old, through my childhood i cut my own and my barbie dolls hair 2 or 3 times.. inside my head ive always thought about hair. i pulled my eyelashes by age 12. stopped at 13, started again at 15.

[Since1907baby]

i did this from 12-17 in high school (which is like the worst possible time to have it)...everyday going to school was dreadful, pretty much anyone who saw me saw a freak. When you think like that for like 1600 days straight, believe it or not...even when you stop...you still see a freak when you look in the mirror. Girls think im hot, but I can't see it, it really fucks you up. Anyways, now that i dont have the physical symptoms anymore, hopefully i can fix my attitude and enjoy life again.

[lizziechick16]

does it count if i pull my eyebrows but not the point where they are completely gone? i stop myself but when they grow completely back i start again..... =/ hmm?

[ubergoofball]

@lizziechick16 yes. that counts. people pull from many different areas of the body. from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, pubes and legs. i've never met anyone who pulls from everywhere, but those are all common places to pull from. i pull from my scalp and legs.

[lizziechick16]

@ubergoofball Even if its not THAT noticeable ?! agh! i can link it up to stress because i have midterms tomorrow and i keep pulling at my eyebrows while studying =0(

[ubergoofball]

@lizziechick16 sounds like a mild case. i don't think you need to worry too much. lots of people pluck their eyebrows anyway. Even I pull at my eyebrows occasionally, but they're a bit busy so i can hide it. if you don't want to pull out your eyebrows, you can find something else to do with your hands. i finger weave, but there are other methods. i used to have a rabbit foot keychain and a rubbing stone. some people snap hair ties on their wrists. try to find your own method :) you'll be fine.

[phantomslittlelottie]

@theskythatyougaveme I started in 3rd grade too and I am now a freshman in college. No matter how hard I have tried I simply cannot stop. I have tried so hard and back in 3rd grade I was a model student. Pulling from elsewhere doesn't help either. It simply makes it worse. All I can say is to look forward to the next day and always consider a pull-free minute, hour, day, week, or month a success!

[MsPippi2011]

I never told a soul back in the 70's when I started pulling the pubic area first at 11. Obviously it became more and more apparent on my head but I would not divulge what I was doing to anyone (Dr thought I was a mental case) With a lot of help and self control I finally stopped, oh about 27 yrs later. I have done so much damage to the crown that my hair has never completely grown back. It was extremely difficult to stop but I still continue with the pubic area only now with tweezers.

[annieiscool77]

Well,I have Trich, too. Its hard. I know. Ive stopped. Its hard, I still want to pull. Really bad. To all you girls out there. I got it when I was 2 and stopped until I was 12 and thats when most of my hair dissappeared. My 7 month old cousin died right before it got worse. I just got my first haircut scince my hair grew. I am so excited. I love all of you people with it. It will get better, I promise. Im now 13 and April 5 2010 I started to get better.

[theskythatyougaveme]

@TheZines who's saying it's caused by stress. I started pulling in 3rd grade. I was under no stress at the time, I had excellent grades, nothing stressful was happening within my family. But I started pulling my eyelashes and hair. I still do, and I'm now a freshman in college. And people suggesting pubes, for someone with trichotillomania, it really isn't a pain sort of thing. Trying to pull from elsewhere is not a cure, that just makes it worse.

[hotboi28]

Yes, I do have Trichotillomania. I had it since my GrandMa pasted away Two Days after my 14th B'Day, & it Sucks Big Time. This is a Secret I had for the Past 19 Years. I had to come out about this. This is my Story. Thank You for Reading this. From Ray "J"

[jovicatmad]

@Izone508 I am also only 11 and I pull my eyelashes, head hair and pubic hair out , I have been pulling for 5 years now, and I have just this year found out that I have trich :(

[Izone508]

I am 11 and I have trich. I have it everywhere except my head. So that leaves my eyelashes eyebrows, arms,legs, armpits, and pubic hair. It sucks.

[dennisisawesome]

why dont they try pubes? 1 pluck of those fuckers and your DONE! cure!

[asalways19yrs]

hey guys out there i suffered for 20 yrs also and i need to stop this stupid habbit. pls. help me. i challenge those who suffer from trichotellomania to join me and my idea we need to compete each other that within 3months our hair will get better. find ur match and will going to meet in the net with cam. whoever will failed on this contest will give a gift to their opponents and treat us in a classy restaurant. pls join its for our own good. h who will be my match? add me shynes24@yahoo.com

[BRINGINDATKRYPTONITE]

disease disorder wateverrr..

[keeleysian]

its not a disease. i have it and i dont even know why i started to be honest but i pull every day and i cant stop, people think it would be so east to stop but it isnt. its become a habit and i dont even realise im doing it. i dont have any bald patches but i know if i dont somehow stop then i will get them. i need to stop before i do cos i really dont want patches. unless you have to live with this, you have no idea..really.

[animeloverZstarclaw]

I saw this on tv when I was eating with my family. everybody looked at me. i seriously bad

[shaynaokane]

i pull like 24/7 almost, i dont have any bald spots thought because i have been wearing extensions for years, because my hair just doesnt grow, i think from all the pulling, you can see the difference in extensons though, there are really long thick ones, which are the newest, then really thin short ones that dont even make a difference when i put them in, that i have had for a while and have been pulling at, wearing extensions has saved me from a bald spot

[JeNNiLiOnArE]

I think I have this disorder...I've been pulling hair since I was 11 and I'm now 16. It sucks that I tell myself I'll stop but I don't.. I usually pull out my hair around both of my ears.. I wanna get cured but I'm scared that I can't get cured.. :(

[breezy501]

@JeNNiLiOnArE go to tlc.org you can stop, not over night, but they helped me understand it, and there is hope, trust me you can get better! I did.

[lolapeace14]

@JeNNiLiOnArE hey i have trich to and iam scared that i cant get cured i cry ever day becose of my hair i really hope there is a cure good luck

[MsEmoness13]

I HATE IT

[abandonnez]

It's found is almost 2% of the gen. pop. so 1 or 2 out of 50 people. Likely hood is you know someone who has it or has dealt with it.

[iRyaan]

This isn't a disease lol... the uploader is an idiot -.-

[Christiannemarie]

@iRyaan  It's classified as a mental disease

[ChristinaDeBacker]

@iRyaan yeah i know i hate when people are like" u have a disease?" and then i'll be like "no i have a DISORDER"

[Calimariyum]

beanies don't work, they sometimes do, but never during the summer. The causes for me now are sleep deprivation, and overheating, perhaps when I'm sick as well. the wrst thing about trich is parents. I've started pulling arm hair now, because nobody really cares about it, plus, Who wants arm hair anyway? It's one of those inbetween hairs that's "Ready to pull." I hate my eyelashes, I think they might never grow back.

[sbrave]

I only do my eyelashes too (tops), and have been doing it since I was probably 8 or 9? I'm 45 now and still doing it. Seems like there are worse moments when I really get bad with it, but I have never been able to figure out why. I'm sure people notice, but they never say anything. There's really no way to cover it up, and I can't imagine wearing fake eyelashes...lol I have to admit there is a certain satisfaction and even pleasure of doing it, as weird as that sounds.



[ChristinaDeBacker]

@sbrave same here

[WinningStreakFTW]

It is so easy to stop this, I have trich but ive stopped for awhile now, You need to tie your hands down by doing something different as in Typing, Football, Things that make your hands active and keep yourself from even touching your hair only when u take a shower. Message me if u think this helps.

[mmmbad]

Such brave souls! Kudos to these ladies for making a difference for other folks who suffer from this addiction.

[spiderpig00S]

I'm so glad I don't have it that bad, I have an extremely mild case, I have some sort of a bald spot on the back of my head, near my crown. I never knew how bad it could really be, thank you for this video

-Daniel

[shoesan]

Oh my gosh...I am now 23 and started this when I was 14. A few days ago, I pulled out my eyelashes and it was hurting longer than the instant pinch so a day went by and I knew somethign wasn't right. This morning I woke up and my left eye was swollen. It is so irratating. That's what made me decide to look it up and bam...google finishes my sentence for me. I cannot believe that there are other people like me. (I only pull my eyelashes out). I want to stop so bad!!!!

[spleeWaffle]

I apparently had Trichotillomania when I was 3 or so, but it started up again when I was ten. At one point it got so bad that I had a bald patch on the lower right side of my head that was 4" by 2"! I've been on an antidepressant for almost 9 years, and am being weaned off of it. I don't pull as much as I used to, but I still do once in a while although not nearly as extreme as the people shown in this vid.

[chocolatae83]

I can definitly relate to these two women No one has ever seen my head except for my sister. Its so hard because people see hair as beauty but I learned to live with it Im 26 now but i had this problem since 13 years old(tramatic childhood set it off) I got teased as a kid for wearing weaves but now I dont care. I LOVE FAKE HAIR its fashionable

[janellc122]

i've learned to live with trich. honestly, she said they are disfiguring themselves. i say live and let live, i don't even let it bother me anymore. i've tried meds and therapy and have come to realize that it's not my fault. i don't care what people think, i like pulling now. it feels good and who gives a crap what other people think about it.

[winglessdove]

I've had trich for about 16 years. I'm careful not to let people see me pull, but I don't mind talking about it anymore.

[TheZines]

it is caused by stress.

and it's not rare. just not that known

[HeroFlame]

@TheZines It's not caused by stress, but it is a factor..

[Calicofilmz]

i have trich...bad

[Vinya]

oh good lord...not a good way to start a newscast with the headline:

RARE DISORDER: TRICH

Trich is short for Trichomoniasis, an STD. The proper shortening of Trichotillomania is TTM.

and if you have it, or think you have it, please go see a doctor. I've had it since I was 12 and even WITH help and support its rough, but feeling alone must be even worse.

[illcommentu]

sometimes i pull out my hair, now im fucking scared to do it, my hair is too beauitifull xD

[spastic505]

it's NOT a disease; it's a disorder.

[arturazoo]

oh no, I have the disease, and I realized this is genetic since my 7 months little daughter was pulling out her hair being unconscious of what she did. God, how I should prevent this for her

[heyysimone]

does anyone know how many times you can pull out your eyelashes before they dont grow back, and how long it takes for them to grow back? because ive been doing it for 5 years (with a few breaks in between of no pulling) and im worried that soon theyre jsut gonna stop growing back.

[Vinya]

eventually the root bulb will be so damaged that it may not, but it would take awhile. I've been pulling from the same spot above my ears for 10 years but the hair is still growing back; however the follicles are damaged and the texture is different. Also, I used to pull out my eyelashes in high school and for some reason I just stopped feeling the urge to pull there all the time, so maybe you will too :)

[SammyyBABY69]

Me and my mother have this disease[I guess you can call it genetic].I've lived with it since I was 2 and now im 16.Its very stressful and hard living with Trichotillomania.

Just wish I could stop.='[

[hierophantmy]

you should get the doctor or someone who is close enough to share you problem. I do have this matter since I was high school. Because I felt that my hair is ugly. I'm chinese that have a very very curl hair like negro. Serious and that time many people laugh my hair and say ugly.

[hierophantmy]

So I pull it out each time i look at the mirror or watching television. It become a habit, What a painfull life I had that time... Now I can Overcome it realized that every part of my body is beautiful.. and stop hating it......by loving it ^.^

[tomastomas11]

i feel really sad for u : ( hopefully there is a cure soon, so u and your mother can get help .

[BareMySoul4u81]

Thats crap. It IS voluntary

[gamgeegirl87]

Do you have Trich? Because it definately isn't voluntary. Sometimes I can't sleep or do anything else until I pull out my eyelashes. You keep telling yourself that you don't want to, but you feel uncomfortable and distracted until you pull again. This is a serious condition and if someone is just pulling their hair out voluntarily they don't have it.

[BareMySoul4u81]

I did, for 14 years and i made a decision to stop and i have been pull free for a year. We can control it in public and places where we know we cant pull. If people did it in public it wouldnt be such a hidden disorder. I mean no disrespect by saying it is voluntary, but if we can control it when we NEED to, then we have choice:) All my vlogs are about trich, i know how hard it is.

[Vinya]

I agree that in public its easier not to pull, but that I think is because people hyper-aware of their surroundings (or I am.) its when I space out at home relaxing or by myself where I can get lost in thought easily that it happens and I don't even realize it until I've already got some of the hair pulled and in my hand. This is when behavioral therapy really comes in handy.

[BareMySoul4u81]

Noone like this comment i see. ITS TRUE! Stop being victims and be free and happy

[groverhateselmo]

This wasn't too bad, but it is frustrating to see trich still compared to Tourette's - I know Dr. OSullivan was trying to make the connection back in the mid- 90s and I thought it had been totally abandoned. Trich is closer to an allergic reaction than anything else. Try the diet - eliminate sugar, legumes and caffeine from the diet for 2 weeks, give it a chance. Google "JK Diet trich" - this is the closest we have to a "cure". When I follow the diet restriction, I can regrow hair.

[KizzyBizziBoo]

thanks for this..

ive had this since i was around 10..even tho i only pulled my eye lashes out till i was 12 but i started on my hair when i was 12

[heyysimone]

i pulled and still do pull my eyelashes. i started when i was about 10 and i am now 15. sometimes i just dont pull at all for months and they all grow back, they end up pretty weak but are there, but right now i have basically none left but the ones on the inner corner of my eye. :s

[MangoBurn]

My trich is bad right now, because of stress. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[carabear45]

I promise it will get better. You can't have success without failure. (:

[wendyromero77]

You guys have to try hypnosis it really works. I had this problem and I haven't pulled for months. I first heard of it of a person who had tried it due to the same reason and it worked for him. Everyone that has tried hypnosis please leave a comment in order for others to try it. Good luck for all

[BOMxAgonyxScenex]

hypnosis only works if you believe it will. its a placebo effect. it didnt do shit for me

[briantaz1]

ill admit im one of the rare men that does this and i remember when i first started i was 12 years old on christmas break and came to school with a ugly bald spot and i quit for along time and then in my 20's i started back and now im 35 and cant stop i even pull my hair out while im driving but i dont do it in front of no one i need help bad

[devilindisguise78]

I wish my doctor would even acknowledge that it is a very real problem. He actually told me to just stop pulling out my hair!

[McManda73]

I wish my MD showed better understanding. She keeps trying to get me to take higher doeses of prozac! I have horrible joint/wrist/finger problems and have messed up my neck....but still can't stop!

[briantaz1]

hey im 35 and im a man that does that and have since i was 12 i wished i could stop

[nicholh001]

thanks for the vid, but I have to comment. It is a DISORDER not a disease. We're not sick...and I know you know that. just a poor shoice of words..its a mental health issue...a condition...but its not some viral disease. theres no bacteria collecting or whatever lol its a problem. And people might start thinking 'omg im sick!!' if its called a disease.

[weKRAZY]

Thank you so much for posting this video....now that i know that people out there are really trying to fix this i feel better...i didn't know people actully cared until this....Thank you so much

[roliusbeau]

interesting video. i've never heard of trich being refered to as a physical problem before, not a mental illness.

[GobbyRocks]

Thanks for posting this!