Posted by Janice on March 14, 2000, at 0:23:43
In reply to Re: noa - self injury, posted by Cindy W on March 13, 2000, at 21:08:19
hi everyone,
Geez...I never considered my trichotillomania to be self-injury before reading this thread.
I'll share my story...it's kind of a success story.
Okay, I have 2 distinct parts to my trichotillomania, the compulsive touching & the pulling
I started trichotillomania at 5
At 12, the pulling increased
I cannot remember a day that I did not do it since age 5.I have learnt that it is a coping mechanism for my ADHD. I do the compulsive part when my mind is out-of-control. I do the pulling when the tension mounts and I need to pull the hair out to get relief...and then the pressure begins to build again. I suspect I have to pull it out when the discomfort from the ADHD gets really bad and I need to take my mind of it.
The GOOD NEWS is that since I've started the Dexedrine, I don't pull anymore--nothing. Dexedrine gives me impulse control.
I still do the compulsive part (singling out and touching a hair) any time my body is STILL (ADHD).
I believe it's mostly a coping mechanism for my ADHD--to take my mind off the discomfort of living in my skin.
Everyone of my siblings has something weird going on with their hair, so I imagine it has a genetic component too. One sister has to get home (this is episodic) to pluck all the hairs off of her legs. This sister also picks at her face alot.
thanks for sharing your story kellyR. I'm sorry life has been so hard to an innocent child.
Janice
poster:Janice
thread:26764
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000312/msgs/26937.html