study/test group for Trichophagia?

I am a 44 year old male living in New York, and I have been dealing with Trichophagia for over 2 decades. Not only am I looking for some sort of support forum, but I was wondering if their might be now (or in the future) a study/test group being formed. I am more than willing to be a subject for research/testing/etc.

I won't go into a full biography on myself in this post, although I may do so in my next post..but basically I do NOT have the normal symtoms of pre-anxiety / post-satisfaction that seems to be the norm for trichotillomania. Because this problem started so long ago, it no longer manifests itself during depressive/anxiety/stress stituations. At this point, I am almost totally unconscious of the actual pulling/eating...

It happens most frequently when I am actually reading or watching television...during non-stress situations. I assume this is do to the fact that it has become an unconscious habit as opposed to a symptom of stress...

I can post more about my history and present condition assuming any of you are interested (or share the same age-group)

EDIT: I just noticed that under my "name" it says "Consumer"...LOL ...why, yes i am.....sorry, i couldn't resist the joke...

Hey,

We are all 'consumers' in one sense or another. Don't let the prooducers take advantage of you though - Shop around for the best bargains and save that hard-earned cash of yours.

Anyway - yeh - it just sounds like a habit that you have. Do you suffer much hair-loss because of it? I do know of a few girls who chew their hair when they are nervous but your situation is different because, well, you claim that you aren't nervous or stressed when you do it. Did it even start-out as a response to stress/anxiety in your youth?

I don't know of any research groups being formed about this. My suggestion is to contact universities in your area about it. This particular forum isn't very active.

Take care,
Kevin

Chucky wrote:Hey,

Anyway - yeh - it just sounds like a habit that you have. Do you suffer much hair-loss because of it? I do know of a few girls who chew their hair when they are nervous but your situation is different because, well, you claim that you aren't nervous or stressed when you do it. Did it even start-out as a response to stress/anxiety in your youth?
Take care,
Kevin

Yes, when i was a child I am pretty sure it WAS a symptom of my mental problems. I had Compartmentalization, which then became a full blown Multiple Personality Disorder. I was under the care of a psychologist and psychiatrist (of course) ..and i assume that my "shrinks" didn't focus on the symptoms because they assumed that once the main PROBLEM was dealt with...the symptoms would vanish.

Unfortunately, I guess that the symptom became an unconscious HABIT...not good. At present, I only pull/eat from the chest area and pubic area (gross/nasty..yes i know). Almost in every instance, i am not even aware that i am doing it. I guess that even tho the actual pulling is producing a bit of pain/discomfort....i assume that because i have been doing it so long now...i dont feel it in the slightest.

If i DO happen to catch myself during the pulling...i stop and throw away the hair, instead of eating it. This is NOT something i enjoy doing. It is very embarrassing/frustrating

Okay, yeh, I had a feeling that it stemmed from something like that. I guess, if it doesn't truly bother you, then there is no point in trying to stop it. However, it may become a problem in social situations. So, why don't you try some simple methods to break the habit like:

Sitting a different way
Sitting on your hands
Putting gloves on

??

Kevin.

You're kidding, right? Of course it bothers me. I can't stand the fact that I am de-nuding myself unintentionally. I also assume that you don't suffer from this problem, otherwise you would know that your suggestions don't really help. In a sense, it's sort of like breathing...I.E. you don't really realise your doing it..it happens automatically without you having to think about it. It's only AFTER you pull that you realise that you pulled.

as for your suggestions, sitting on your hands is kind of uncomfortable after a bit of time (try it yourself and see if you can watch a movie at home that way.) Sitting a different way would not stop a person from yanking hair out of their head or chest or wherever. As for gloves, yeah that might work in the winter, but right now its over 90 degrees where i live.

I appreciate your effort to be helpful, but honestly, you should read up or try to understand Trich a bit more. I don't think that ANYONE with Trich is COMFORTABLE with it...or that it doesn't BOTHER them...

Peace...

Chucky wrote:Okay, yeh, I had a feeling that it stemmed from something like that. I guess, if it doesn't truly bother you, then there is no point in trying to stop it. However, it may become a problem in social situations. So, why don't you try some simple methods to break the habit like:

Sitting a different way
Sitting on your hands
Putting gloves on

??

Kevin.

Hi,

Might I remind you that you were the one who said there were no pre-anxiety symptoms before doing this thing. So, sorry, I therefore assumed that it was something that doesn't really bother you. Plus, I am familiar with this sort of thing as I used to do something similar. My suggestions worked for me. If they don't work for you - or you are just not willing to try them out - then that is fine.

You may do this unconsciously but, in order to stop it, you are going to have to think of conscious ways of overcoming it, aren't you?

Wait, actually, you did use the word 'problem' - So, I suppose I misinterpreted your first post. I admit that I don't know everything about Trich. but I only replied because no-one else would have. I felt that any reply was better than simply ignoring your post.

Take care,
Kevin.

Chucky wrote:Hi,

Might I remind you that you were the one who said there were no pre-anxiety symptoms before doing this thing. So, sorry, I therefore assumed that it was something that doesn't really bother you. Plus, I am familiar with this sort of thing as I used to do something similar. My suggestions worked for me. If they don't work for you - or you are just not willing to try them out - then that is fine.

You may do this unconsciously but, in order to stop it, you are going to have to think of conscious ways of overcoming it, aren't you?

Wait, actually, you did use the word 'problem' - So, I suppose I misinterpreted your first post. I admit that I don't know everything about Trich. but I only replied because no-one else would have. I felt that any reply was better than simply ignoring your post.

Take care,
Kevin.

1. If it was something i was 'comfortable' with...why would i bother posting that i was looking for a test/study group?

2. If it was something i was 'comfortable' with...why would i bother even coming to a site where other sufferers of 'trich' are..?

3. I HAVE tried your suggestions...and many more..over the YEARS...your presumption that i am not interested in hearing YOUR suggestions...suggestions that worked for YOU...is wrong. I appreciate the fact that you even though you do not suffer from 'trich', you are trying to help out. That is fine. You admit that you dont suffer from 'trich', and dont know everything about. That is a statement that shows you lack certain knowledge about this problem. Because i have to deal with this day in and day out, i would say that i have a great knowledge of my own personal experiences in this subject. Again, i appreciate your willingness to help, but dont patronize me or try to use some pseudo-psychology that you learned in "abnormal psychology 101"

4. You admit that you didn't even read or interpret my FIRST post correctly, and in doing so, you went off on a tangent about my lack of concern about my own problem. This goes full circle back to point one of my little ''rant''...sorry about that...

I would not have come here and posted if I didn't want to either:

A. share my story
B. commiserate with my peers
C. find a qualified professional team that might be starting a study on Trichophagia


You may be right...maybe NOONE else will post a reply...maybe this site is slow...but I didn't come here to get in an arguement with a MODERATOR that does not even know the full facts about Trich

Maybe it will take a month for someone with my same problem to post a reply...i am willing to wait..if only to talk with someone that can fully understand my problem and can RELATE to it intimately...

Hi,

Okay, I will no longer offer input because I know only too well how annoying it can be to hear suggestions from people who don't genuinely understand a condition. It is like my mother trying to tell me how to not be Bulimic - It just annoys me so much.

I never took any 'abnormal psychology 101' classes, by the way. In fact, I have no qualification in that area at all. I am just a simple guy who gives up his time each day to listen and respond to people. It hurts me when I realise that I have given bad advice. So, I am sorry to you, my friend, for I never meant any ill-harm to you.

Take care as always,
Kevin.

Edit - I did actually read all of your original post but I have ADHD-like symptoms and some things go in one ear and out the other. I apologise for that, too.

Richard,

I am confused as to exactly what your problem is. You say you pull your hair out...is that what you are referring to or is there more? I assume from your inferences that you also eat the hair you pull out. If so, you are a rare case in an even rarer sub-classification of the disorder

Trichophagia is a type of trichotillomania that specifically deals with the eating of hair. Children, especially under stress, often exhibit it but it is often replaced by other types of trich as the child reaches adulthood and social stigmas prevent the overt behavior. Trichopahagia usually is most commonly observed in children and rarely in adults and generally in adults, it is women who display this condition.

Trich of any kind very rarely occurs in a vacuum and there are usually other stress-related disorders that are working along with the obsession with hair. I had trichophagia as a child with long hair, but now tend to attack cuticles or display other OCD behavior. Recently, however, I did go through a full-blown trich (hair pulling) phase.

As far as a study group, your best bet is to try to locate one through a Trichotillomania specific website. Waiting for one to just happen to show up here is a long shot and might not even be legit.

Medically, trich patients often respond to SSRI's as I did. There is also specific therapies designed for trich sufferers. You indicate that you don't see a connection between stress and your behavior, in that case I think a more specific diagnosis needs to made as to why you have developed this apparently unconscious, but self-gratifying behavior.

One last point--no one on this board is a professional and no one knows exactly what anyone else is going through. When some one offers you some compassion, try not to be critical if their response doesn't fit your needs. You are a consumer--you can take the advice or leave it, but you are no worse for their effort to help you.

Good luck,

I have suffered with Trichophagia for over 20 years. Originally it manifested during my childhood, when i was going thru mental difficulties. After therapy/meds I regained control of my life, BUT the Trich continues..

I do not suffer from anxiety/stress (no more than the normal person...I.E. paying the bills, getting to work on time, sitting in traffic)....and i tend to pull/eat during periods of quiet/calm (watching television, reading a book, etc.) AND I AM UNCONSCIOUSLY DOING IT...i dont even notice it until after the fact...IF THEN...

I understand that for Adults...Trich tends to manifest in females more than males...but this is not to say it doesn't occur in adult males..im living proof of it.

I was just looking for some people to talk with that share my problem...exchange ideas/frustrations...etc....and ask if anyone knew of any study/research groups being formed to study this 'problem' professionally...

I assumed, considering that this was a 'mental health support community' that other people might be aware of any university study programs going on....

I consider myself to have both Trichotillomania AND Trichophagia because i pull incredible amounts of hair off my body every day...and i tend to eat a lot of it....

This is a problem that is embarrassing/frustrating and was just looking for peers....was that so wrong of me...?