"Stop Pulling Your Hair"

People are so rude and insensitive around this disorder! It makes me so angry. I have an ex-boss who used to hit my hands away because it 'annoyed' her. It annoyed HER? WHAT?! Do people really think that I have any control over this disorder? Don't they think I would stop if I could? Do they think I like pulling until my scalp hurts? Do they think I like walking around with damaged hair?

I've heard people compare it to an addiction, but I feel with addictions, there's a little more choice involved. When I smoke, I'm aware that I'm stepping outside and lighting up a cigarette. I don't always notice when I tug my hair.

And then there's the people who try and make me feel guilty for it. 'You're ruining your hair'. Gee, really? I was completely unaware I had bald spots, thank you so much for pointing that out! /sarcasm.

Or the people who say it's all in my head and I should just think my way out of it. You can't think your way out of a mental disorder, geniuses.

I'm so sick of this. I get it from most of my family, but mainly my parents and my aunt. It makes me want to freaking hit people.

If I could stop the disorder, I would. But people just expect me to drop it. It takes time to overcome an illness.

And I'm sick of being made to feel guilty about it. Why not make me feel guilty for all my other illnesses, while you're at it?? How about you make me feel guilty about my scoliosis and the fact that I can't be as active as most people my age? Because I didn't chose that?

Don't chose to pull my hair, either, not really. Choice implies that I'm consciously deciding to tug, and yeah, sometimes I am because my hair's texture is bothering me. Other times, I don't notice I'm doing it.

I wish everyone had to go through this disorder just for a day. I wish everyone had to experience how painful and frustrating it is. I wish they had to go through the days I have to go through, where my scalp is killing me and I'm desperate to stop tugging, but I just can't.

It's gotten pretty bad... my husband can't even really bring it up with me anymore, because I'm so sensitive to it. He actually makes an effort to understand, but most people just tell me I have to get over it.

I'll get over my trichotillomania when you get over your illness just by wishing it away, how about that? I am SICK of being blamed for this disorder, I am SICK of being told to stop - obviously, people telling me 'stop tugging your hair' ISN'T WORKING, SO MAYBE YOU SHOULD STOP ASKING ME TO STOP, REALIZE THAT I AM DOING MY BEST WITH THIS DISORDER, AND JUST LEAVE ME BE!

Sorry that this rant is so long, this is the first place I've found where I can write about this and people will understand!! The disorder is distressing and upsetting enough, where the heck do people get off on making it worse for me?

I actually love it . I control it into some degree . I am not bald anymore . I just learned how to say no when it asks me . I pulled whole my scalp hair when I was 10 years old . I am 35 years old now . I just pull 1 eye brow . It is amazing it grows back again Amazing thing scalp doesn't bother me anymore . Just center eyebrows .

I love this post, my mom always bats my hand away from my head and tells me I am ruining my hair. Ya, I love damaged hair too!

OMG you are so right! Its so annoying when people tell me to leave my hair alone...like I'm doing it for my own amusement or something. My parents and brother are the worst...if my hands in my hair for even a second they yell at me or (in my brothers case) throws something at me. IT DOESN'T HELP!! In fact, it makes it worse. Urggg! Just thinking about it makes me mad.

My husband tries to understand and help but he can only do so much - he's kind of taken a backseat in yelling at me about my hands...cuz it just makes me grumpy and accomplishes ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! It is so unhelpful! He's finally figuring out that doesn't work but now he's new help is "take a pill". I swear I can't handle that and I don't know which is worse. It's like I'm just being reduced down to an annoyance...well how the F does he thing I feel? Cuz I guarantee you i'm much more annoyed then him!

Speaking of 'taking a pill' my drug doctor (as I like to call him) actually up'ed my dose because he was 'annoyed with my lack of progress'. Well, so sorry to annoy you doctor, didn't realize I was...guess I'll stop then. I swear even doctors don't get it, its so uncommon to everyone that they can't fathom the inability to stop. Maybe they should all try to Stop telling us to Stop and see if they can manage that for a while!