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Trichotillomania

kevschickee2kevschickee2 member
in Special Needs
Has anyones toddler been diagnosed with this?  What were the signs and symptoms?  What is the treatment?
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Re: Trichotillomania

  • hannah&benhannah&ben

    My best friends 5 year old daughter has this.  Her "symptoms" started in infancy - she sucked her thumb and simultaneously twisted her hair all up in knots.  Eventually as she came to be an older toddler she started actually pulling out the hairs... at first on her head then she moved to her eyebrows and eyelashes.  Her mom tells me they consider it an anxiety disorder and since she's so little she's not on any meds for it - they got her into therapy with a child psychologist... they do play therapy and also teach her different ways to cope with stress/anxiety instead of pulling out her hairs.  I know one thing that has helped is giving her this toy with feathers all over it... she fiddles with those some instead of pulling out her eyelashes.

    HTH,

    Hannah

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  • MissyOlivePantsMissyOlivePants

    I just came to SN to read another post.... and honestly, only a few people know - but I have trich. My first memories were when I was a kid (elementary school) I used to twist my hair a lot. Then when I was junior high age, I started pulling out my eyebrows. I am now in my older 30's and still have it. Mainly it is just my head that I pull from. I do it when I'm bored, anxious. Sometimes I do it without realizing it, but sometimes I do.

    If you'd like to email me, just let me know & i'll send you my email.

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  • mamaoftwingirlsmamaoftwingirls

    Hi there

    I too have suffered from this since I was about 10..I am 28 now. It was so bad that I pulled out all my eyelashes, eyebrows and I had a huge bald spot on my head! For some reason I just stopped pulling from my face and I still pull hair from my head, I just do It in ransom places so It isn't noticable....It somehow makes me feel good...IT's a stress reliever for me and I notice I also do It when I'm bored and am not busy with my hands.....

    I have tried so hard to stop but I just am having a really difficult time.

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  • sparky88sparky88
    hi, i have had trich since i was 9...and am 27 now. there is no ?cure? for trich, as the cause is not understood 100% (there are many theories). there are many national/regional support groups for kids/parents/and their family members. trich has only made me a stronger person, and i live a full, thriving life. your daughter will find her way, regardless of the outcome from treatment.
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