Living in shame

[Jeannie58]

any news for trichotillamania suffers?  I have almost no eyebrows due to picking, pulling, plucking.  I usually have a sore that I have to use liquid makeup on, then I use eyebrow pencil to make it look like I have some hair there.  I take Lexapro 20 and Buspar 15 2x/day.  I have been doing this since 12/13 years old with no relief ever.  I've used the rubber band on wrist, etc.  I'm so tired of this.  I have to protect my eyes during massage, swimming, love making.  I can't let anyone get ear my eyebrows for fear they will see I don't have any (to speak of).  

[aggie68]

Hi, My daughter was just daignosed with Trichotillomania.  I have been devastated by this and am trying to wrap my brain around it.  She is 10 years old and has been pulling her hair out of her head.  She starts therapy next week and her pediatrician wants to put her on Zoloft.  After doing much research I realize how hard this is for all of those who suffer from it, and my heart breaks for anyone who has this disorder.  My thoughts for you are to never give up, and do what is necessary to heal yourself.  I know my road is long with my daughter, but we have to do all we can.  Good luck and take care of you

[Northcoast]

Hi, I had trichotillomania when I was a pre-teen and through my 20's.  I wish I had gotten help then since I have done damage to my eyebrows and the hair on my head due to the constant pulling.  And the hiding and lying about it takes a toll too.  People would ask about my eyelashes and I'd make us some stupid excuse (I actually told someone in high school that a hot marshmallow had burned them off!).  It caused me such shame and anxiety to try to cover up what I had done to myself.  I used to use an eyebrow pencil to color in my scalp so I could try to hide bald spots.  I don't think I was fooling anyone.  But at some point, it all just went away.  Or most of it anyway.  I still pull eyelashes when under stress.  But never so many that I am embarrassed by the look of my eye after I've done it.  I started giving myself permission to pull just three.  That's it.  
And now I don't feel it is a problem at all.  I'm not pulling eyebrows or the hair on my head at all anymore.

I'm wondering though if this is due to some chemical imbalance in the brain since I've suffered from episodes of mild depression and anxiety most of my adult life.  I kind of put the trichotillomania out of my mind and forget that it must have been caused by something, either chemical or emotional.  It makes me wonder if I should be on some type of medication due to a long standing chemical imbalance in my brain that has caused the trich, the depression and the almost constant mild anxiety.  My dr. just put me on Klonopin, but I have read that it's for panic disorder, which I don't have.  So I'm thinking about seeing a psychiatrist to get better information.  Anyone have any feedback on this?

[jdtm]

I believe panic disorder and trichotillomania are both anxiety disorders.  Depression is often co-morbid with anxiety; so, it appears that the Klonopin ( I have not used this med nor do I know anyone who has) might be of help to you.