I have suffered from trichotillomania on and off since I was 13, I am now 50. I now know this was caused by childhood trauma but didn’t know this at the time. When it started, I was unsure why, but it just happened.
I can remember being in a school assembly and scratching my head. From there I started to pull a few strands until I was pulling so much hair out that I started to get bald patches. At the time I had short hair, so it was very noticeable and other children started to laugh and bully me about it. I remember my mum took me to the doctor and I tried to deny what I was doing out of shame, but I think he knew. After that, I did actually manage to stop and it lasted until I was about 20.
This time it was quite bad and I suffered from folliculitis and bald patches on my crown. I did have long hair at this stage, so was able to cover it by wearing a ponytail. This carried on until my mid 30’s when I had a volumiser (Enhancer) attached to my hair. This worked initially and within a year my hair had grown back and I enjoyed having a headful of hair and thought I was cured, but I wasn’t.
I started to pull again and have not stopped. My trichotillomania is the worst it has ever been and I don’t think I will ever be cured. There are no resources out there and the NHS will fund hardly anything, trichotillomania is an illness, but still so unrecognised. However, I now have Simply Wigs, who have totally transformed my life.
I have a very loving and understanding husband. So at home, I go wigless and proud, but when I go out, I reach for my wig and know that I can be confident and that no one suspects my illness. Everyone comments on my lovely hair and I smile to myself! I will be buying a new wig in time for my brother’s wedding in October and I look forward to picking it from the great selection available at Simply Wigs x
Thank you for your story. It’s trich for me too. It’s been on and off 20 years + now and indeed Simply Wigs has been a life saver, until further notice.
Love
Dee xx
I think I’ve mentioned on here before that I have pulled my hair out since I was a little girl ( @ 7yrs old ) I’m 64 now and still do it almost subconsciously when stressed / anxious.
My mam never took me to the doctors about it ,it was about 50 p sized but now I have large patches that have never grown back .
I wish I could’ve talked about it to someone . I’ve always felt SO guilty about doing it .Thank God for wigs to put on ….feel so much better when I put .I’ve on and love being able to change styles . I’m glad I’m not alone with my ” secret ” anymore x
Hi Samantha – I started pulling pretty much the same age as you. My mum also took me to the doctors and then a private doctor which I felt massively guilty about but was in total denial. I had times when I would stop for a few months and my hair grew back beautifully but almost the moment I went to the hairdressers and got my hair styled I would start pulling again. Anyway over the years (am now 64) a few patches just don’t grow anymore so I am semi permanently bald but I have stopped – I have had gel nails for the last 12 years and because of these I cannot get proper purchase on a hair – the overwhelming urge to pull has not gone away but when I try to pull it just isn’t the same. I discovered Simply Wigs a few years ago and although they are lovely and have had some gorgeous wigs I found them to be too hot on my head. During lockdown I had a bit of an anxiety crisis and shaved all my hair off – it grew back, apart from the permanent patches, so I shaved it all off again!! Anyway, today it has grown back (again, apart from the patches) so I had it bleached and dyed pink so my patches are disguised! It works really well but I know I can always depend on my lovely wigs when I need them and can cope with the occasional hot head! Good luck for the future – I hope you can find a way to stop pulling. Kim xx
Thank you for sharing this, it touched my heart..
While I don’t understand your illness, I can relate to the stress of hairloss, trying to cover it etc..
I’m so grateful for Simply Wigs, and their help in getting it right for each of us..
You look stunning in your chosen wig, and yes, having an understanding husband and family is fantastic..
Thank you for sharing..xx
Hi Samantha, I wear a wig as well, Universal alopecia I do thanks wigs
It would be impossible for me to get out bald. I started when i was 38years old now I am 56. We have both fantastic husbands and my family too. Your wig Is beautiful and you too. Never give up!!!
Bless you for sharing your story, you look amazing such a pretty wig and colour. Someone said to me yesterday, you look nice, love your hair! I just said thank you. We are definitely blessed with Simply Wigs as our stockist. Enjoy and be confident. I love my wigs, better than the hair I used to have.
Thank you for your story. It’s very brave of you to ‘come out’ like that because, as you say, there’s very little/no help available.
This type of obsessive picking/plucking is a well recognised indicator of stress in domestic or captive birds and animals – and there seem to be more help and advice available there than for humans!!
My story is much the same as yours, by the way. Started pulling in school, where I was stressed and bullied, and at about the same age – but never made it as far as the doctors. Like you, my urge to pull comes and goes. But, heavens, aren’t wigs a joy!!