Trichotillomania is the OCD-like disorder which compels it's sufferers to pull out their hair; whether it be eyebrows, eyelashes, head hair, pubic hair or any other type. Basically if it grows on you, 'trichsters', as they are commonly known, will pull it. Be warned, however, that having this condition does not mean that hair is pulled from everywhere, most only feel the urges on one or two places on the body.
Trichotillomania gives sufferers the physical urge to pull out their hair, and speaking from experience, the urges are strong and inconsolable. The more you pull, the more your body itches for 'just one more hair' to come out.
Although the causes of the disorder are technically unknown, it is generally accepted that a chemical imbalance within the brain is the main culprit.
My case could be a lot worse, and I don't suffer nearly as bad as some of the powerful men and women I've seen as part of the Facebook group for the condition. Although I can't remember exactly how old I was, my case started around the age of 12, 13 or 14, when I first started properly wearing makeup, specifically mascara. Twiddling my fingers over this foreign substance lacquered onto my eyelashes often caused two or three eyelashes to come out by accident. This slowly led to physically pulling the mascara off, which meant four or five lashes would come out. I quickly progressed to inspecting every inch of the hair, to the point where I could no longer blow them of my finger, but I had to stick them onto my mirror so I could see them in more detail. This is when the urges started. Imagine you have an itchy foot, but you can't itch it properly because you have big, heavy boots on that take ten minutes to undo. You have to try and deal with the urge to itch in every means possible without trying to take off your boot. This is what resisting an urge feels like, it's never truly satisfied.
I started pulling my head hair out when I became deeply unhappy at my job as a Legal Secretary. I fell into a rut and got involved with all the wrong people, and hated the woman I worked for because of the way she treated me. Before I knew it, there were bald spots emerging on the top of my head and my trich had spread to a whole new level.
Personally, I find that stressful experiences, such as too much college work, arguments with people close to me, or thinking too deeply about something cause me to pull out my head hair, most of the time it's a response that happens automatically, and I don't even notice I'm doing it. This has resulted in loads of little tufts of hair all down my parting. However, I can so much as rub my eyes and feel the need to pull out eyelashes, no stressor involved. I can hardly remember a time where there wasn't at least a gap along my eyelids.
The condition does affect me everyday but I'm thankful that I've never had to shave my head or take medication to stop myself, although behavioural therapy is on the cards. I would urge people to educate themselves on conditions like this because they are taken far too lightly.
Next time you see a bald woman, don't automatically dub her a lesbian, or a drug addict. Next time you see someone who has obviously drawn on their eyebrows, don't call them a 'chav' or 'slut' for wearing 'too much makeup.'
Think twice, life is trichy.
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