Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania is a not very well known disease. Trich is related to OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and it is when someone repeatedly pulls hair from their scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or other areas of hair growth, to the point where it is very noticable. Trich is the same kind of habit as biting fingernails, twirling hair with fingers, etc, although it is much more acceptable to engage in these behaviors than it is to have Trichotillomania. People with this disease find that it is extremely hard to stop this destructive behavoir. Even if they do stop pulling, they will always have the disease, kind of like if you are an alcoholic but stop drinking for years, you could still become addicted again at any time. A good friend of mine has this disease, I put up this page for her. She has struggled with it for years and has had very little support. The only people who have been there for her are myself and a few other friends, and occasionally her mother. She has been constantly tormented by classmates, strangers, even her own family. In a desperate attempt to stop her habit, 3 years ago she shaved her head and bought a wig. Since then she has not grown it back to the long, beautiful hair she used to have. She's tried, but can't stop her hair pulling. In school she's been tormented endlessly by almost everyone. Her wig has been pulled off numerous times, thrown in trash cans, mud, etc. It is just this kind of cruel behavior that can ruin a perfectly good person. I put this page up in hopes that it will educate people who don't know about this disease, and bring the disease out of the darkness it is in now. It is not a new disease, it's been around for many many years, but only recently have people been "coming out" about it. If you would like to know more about Trichotillomania, there is a link to a site about it in my links page. There are very few sites on Trich out there, the link I've put up is very helpful and informative. But please, if you go and are interested in signing the Bulletin Board, please be understanding and kind, don't be cruel as these people are vounerable and misunderstood. Thanks.