I have trichotillomania, it’s on my medical records, I have seen it. Yet I have never been offered formal treatment for it, probably because I also suffer from depression. It makes me wonder, depression is seen as a more serious illness and trichotillomania seems to be seen as a ‘side illness’ or co-morbid. I personally see it as separate. Ok so I pull when I am anxious and stressed but it does feel different. It feels to me like biting your nails….except more embarrassing.
I am not really sure what my point is. I don’t think I will ever stop. Like the Dresden Dolls song ‘Bad Habit’, the lyric ‘even if I quit there’s not a chance in hell I’d stop’. So true.
Having said that I have had one achievement recently. I have the habit of peeling off my nail cuticle (disgusting I know!). I do it when I am anxious and it leaves behind a white mark, a little like calcium deposits (or whatever they are!!!!). They make my nails look awful, just white lines all the way up. Anyway I have been trying hard to stop to try to have nice nails as people are noticing. I seem to be doing well.
On the CMHT front…I have heard nothing. It has taken a London CMHT a year now to accept my referral. I have been advised to make a complaint, but as I work in mental health, I really don’t want to be seen as ‘one of those people’.
Hmph.
pulling out hair 
From the CBT point of view (for what it’s worth) there is no such thing as a ‘side-illness’. The idea is to treat the whole person, no matter what collection of symptoms the person might have. The system of diagnosis we have in mental health is mainly for the convenience of drug companies.
My experience has been that people who make a complaint get better treatment afterwards, even if the complaint is not upheld. There are also other strategies for encouraging a CMHT to do its job, such as going to a rival CMHT or paying privately for an assessment.
By: cbtish on August 7, 2010
at 10:22 pm
I suffered from Trich from the age of 8 or 9 till 35 or so. I know it’s a rare disease. However, I’m sorry but for years not having eyelashes/eyebrows etc. cam make a person extra anxious and depressed! I was never offered treatment either-but by chance i was put on Effexor XR for GAD/the compulsion began to become something I could control. So, through my research, Effexor does help some people with Trich.. Not all, of course, but some. Just thought I’d pass it on because then with what I learned to help alleviate my BP II symptoms. Reduce stress, get enough sleep, avoid over stimulation,relaxation breathing etc.. Now, I’m in total remission-I have all my eyelashes, eyebrows and not one bald spot on my head. Maybe Effexor could help you?
*hugs* Trish
By: Trish Austin on August 11, 2010
at 10:02 am
I think you can beat it. I really do. I think too many trich sufferers think they’re to blame, when it’s really an underlying neurotransmitter imbalance. I going to include a link to page where we have a report on <a href="http://stoppullinghairout/blog/freereport"Why You Can't Stop Pulling Hair Out." I hope you publish this comment and visit the page, and read the report. I hope you do this because I think you can be helped. I really do.
By: Greg on August 11, 2010
at 9:14 pm