I bite & swallow my hair

This is my first post. I have struggled with trich for 11 years. I used to have long, thick beautiful hair. Now it's so sparse & all different lengths because I can't go to a hairdresser to have it cut (how do I ever explain my hair loss?). My friends & family have noticed the hair loss & I don't know what to tell them. The funny thing is that I don't pull as much as I used to. The hairs just fall out on their own so there is always more than enough in my brush or hair bands or even if I just run my fingers through my hair some will come out in my hands. I have a ritual with these hairs. I run them through my fingers & my teeth & then I bite them into little pieces & swallow them. I know this is disgusting, but I assume this is a safe space where I can be completely honest. It is so calming & therapeutic when I go through this ritual. Others might drink, smoke or over eat, but this is my release. I often wonder what the cumulative effect of constantly swallowing the hairs will be. I feel so hopeless. I feel like the hair will never grow back - does it? That would give me some hope.

I think that what you are describing is Tricophagia, when you eat your hair that you pull. And unfortunately there are some negative cumulative effects of doing this, like hair balls (trichobezoar) that form in the stomach and bowel because we cant digest human hair. Studies I have read on this usually require the person to have surgery to remove the mass of hair. However, this is a rare complication. If you want more information, try searching for Rapunzel's Syndrome or trichobezoar in humans.
The following link has a case study of a young girl who ate her hair as well and has some interesting information. http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/con ... /162/2/242
I think the important thing to know is that there are lots of other people out there who go through this same thing, and its important to seek help in those you trust.

I didn't realize that this aspect of the disorder had a separate name. I will definitely take the time to read up on it. I have experienced some abdominal pain & discomfort since & started pulling & biting & swallowing my hair 11 years ago. I have really been in denial about this, but now it has gotten so bad that everyone has noticed. I hope this is the start of the healing process for me.

Thanks again.

Hopefully you can find some helpful information! There is literature on the subject but its definitely an understudied condition, same goes for trichotillomania in general. Its hard to say if you abdominal pain is due to this, could be a variety of factors. But I would get it checked out...and would mention to your doctor that you have trichophagia. I wish you all the best!