|
 Trichotillomania
One of the worst things to befall a young woman or
indeed a man is Trichotillomania. They are reminded constantly every
time they see their reflection in a mirror or passing a shop window
or even wanting to go swimming or to sit in a Hair salon that the
‘Trich’ seems to rule over their choices and lives.
Watching someone close to you suffer from
Trichotillomania was at times the most agonising and painful time of
my life or anyone’s life especially when it is your loved one.
My loved one first suffered from Trichotillomania at
the age of 12 and she is now in her 20’s she has been suffering with
this disorder for many years now and there is no miraculous cure
She longed for a full head of hair, which looked like
her own so I took her see many Hair Extension Specialists and spent
hundreds and hundreds of pounds over the years.
Another member of my family has been a ‘Trichy’ for
over 30 years and has suffered with a terrible loss of confidence
So I decided to get the qualifications needed for a
Hair Extension Specialist so I can help my loved one and support
other Trich’s and their families who are going through the heartache
of this affliction and can not pay the ridiculous amounts of money
that Salons and other Hair Extentionists charge.
I can now offer a service which will give you
a hair style that looks natural and feels like your own hair and can
give your own hair a break from pulling and a chance to grow
This is by no means a cure for Trichotillomania but
will give you the confidence and a little more freedom to do more
daily activities
So
what
is Trichotillomania (TTM)?
In
1889 A French physician called Francois Hallopeau saw a young male
patient who had pulled out patches of his hair. In his case report
Hallopeau gave it the name Trichotillomania. The word is made up
from three Greek words
Trich,
meaning Hair Tillo, meaning pull Mania,
which has a number of meanings including frenzy, crazy, madness or
excessive activity. Trichsters are certainly not mad or crazy so the
word Mania is seemingly irrelevant
There
are many answers to the question of what Trichotillomania is and
there are many different views as to what causes it and how it is
best treated. Sadly, here in the UK there is little awareness about
Trichotillomania within the medical profession and amongst the
general public but it is slowly gaining a greater understanding by
the medical profession and attracting increasing attention,
particularly from the internet. A website I found particularly
informative is
www.trichotillomaniauk.com
Trichotillomania support, treatment and research is much more
advanced and developed in the USA and there are many websites and
support groups where people who suffer Trichotillomania can go, and
are called “Trichs” “Trichy’s” (pronounced Tricks or Trickies) or
“Trichsters”
The
true prevalence of TTM is unknown, mainly because many Trichsters
are often ashamed and consequently reluctant to discuss it or let it
be known to their loved ones or even their doctor, so it is
difficult to get reliable statistics. Historically Trichotillomania
was thought to be rare but today with the fairly new and popular
Hair Extension industry it is becoming increasingly known about
because more and more people are seeking help. More recent estimates
are approximately 2-4% of the population depending on the definition
used and the nature of the study. Trichotillomania is not exclusive
to the pulling from the scalp some Trichsters pull or pick from
their arms, legs, beards, lashes, eyebrows and generally any site of
bodily hair
Sometimes it is done quite consciously, other times it is an
unconscious thing and often a Trichster doesn't realise they are
doing it. Some Trichsters often describe the experience of pulling
as being in a trance like state; it can be a response to
overstimulation like stress, excitement or anxiety or a response to
under stimulation maybe out of boredom or inactivity.
Research has found that Hair pulling most commonly begins in early
teens, though it can start much younger or older. It has been known
of in very young children (although this is much rarer)
The
onset of TTM is often linked to a stressful life event but this is
not always the case. Hair pulling creates a short term distraction
from other emotional distress such as anxiety, depression or
aggression. For some Trichsters pulling brings immediate relief and
comfort but later there is embarrassment, distress, anxiety and
frustration that more hair has been pulled leading to a vicious
circle
The
impact of TTM on people’s lives is huge. It includes feelings of
shame and isolation, low self-confidence some Trichys feel ugly,
like a freak and very isolated. sometimes difficulty in having a
close relationship and not being able to participate in normal
activities like swimming, going to the hairdresser’s salon even
employment in certain jobs, where wearing a hat would be
inappropriate.
Tel: 01494 580695 Mobile: 07931 892396 |