Has anyone experienced trichotillomania?

[Neytiri]

I started pulling my hair at 13 years old and I still do it when I am overwhelmed. I didn’t know that it is a way of stimming in autism. Please feel free to share your experience with me.

Trichotillomania: When Stimming Turns Self-Injurious

One day, she saw a curly hair among what was otherwise straight. And she plucked it. That was the start of years of pulling out her own hair and before her autism diagnosis.

neuroclastic.com

 

[Forest Cat]

There was someone here on the forum who talked about that earlier this year, but she's not here now unfortunately.

 

[Storm Hess]

I tend to scratch my scalp when my anxiety level goes up, not so much pull at my hair.

 

[Neytiri]

There was someone here on the forum who talked about that earlier this year, but she's not here now

 

[Neytiri]

I tend to scratch my scalp when my anxiety level goes up, not so much pull at my hair.

Yes. I also experience the same. I also do the nail and check bitting and skin picking

 

[tree]

Related to the topic:

Obsessively pulling at my split ends.

I used to style my hair with heat, wash with sulfates and nasty things, rip it to shreds towel drying it, ALL daily. I have since stopped using heat completely, wash with friendlier ingredients a few times a week, condition my hair daily, and take my vitamins. One thing I cannot conquer is...

www.autismforums.com

TRIGGER WARNING - Self Harm

TRIGGER WARNING If you are triggered by self-harm discussion, please do not read this post. If you feel you can read this post, please scroll down. I am 55 years of age. As a child my meltdowns involved me flailing around on the floor, making strange noises voluntarily, pulling...

www.autismforums.com

 

[Neytiri]

Related to the topic:

Obsessively pulling at my split ends.

I used to style my hair with heat, wash with sulfates and nasty things, rip it to shreds towel drying it, ALL daily. I have since stopped using heat completely, wash with friendlier ingredients a few times a week, condition my hair daily, and take my vitamins. One thing I cannot conquer is...

www.autismforums.com

TRIGGER WARNING - Self Harm

TRIGGER WARNING If you are triggered by self-harm discussion, please do not read this post. If you feel you can read this post, please scroll down. I am 55 years of age. As a child my meltdowns involved me flailing around on the floor, making strange noises voluntarily, pulling...

www.autismforums.com

Thank you so much.

 

[Tom]

I don't but I have read quite a few people on autism forums share that or similar repetitive behaviors.

But it made me wonder why in the world do they come up with names like Trichotillomania, which is practically unusable in everyday conversation? Why not just call it Hair Pulling? Are those that coin these terms paid by the letter?

​

 

[Neytiri]

I don't but I have read quite a few people on autism forums share that or similar repetitive behaviors.

But it made me wonder why in the world do they come up with names like Trichotillomania, which is practically unusable in everyday conversation? Why not just call it Hair Pulling? Are those that coin these terms paid by the letter?

​

So funny. Probably the same people that name worcestershire sauce

 

[Aspychata]

I over scratch my scalp, so that tells me l am stressed because it gets sore. I do pick at skin when stressed. But the biggest one is l grind my teeth. I seem to rotate between these.

 

[Neytiri]

I over scratch my scalp, so that tells me l am stressed because it gets sore. I do pick at skin when stressed. But the biggest one is l grind my teeth. I seem to rotate between these.

Thank you for sharing your experience with me

 

[Gerontius]

I do tend to pull out eyelashes/eyebrows if they are there when I am stressed. I think my hair loosens and begins to fall out when stressed, too, and at my age that looks patently ridiculous. I'm not old.
So I try to stay more chilled out and that leaves me looking a bit like a chia pet.

 

[Neytiri]

I do tend to pull out eyelashes/eyebrows if they are there when I am stressed. I think my hair loosens and begins to fall out when stressed, too, and at my age that looks patently ridiculous. I'm not old.
So I try to stay more chilled out and that leaves me looking a bit like a chia pet.

I had to look up what was a chia pet. So funny. Thank you for sharing your experience.

 

[Suzanne]

Yes, I do have that tendancy, but having been diagnosied with sleep apnea, I have to wear my hair up, for the tube and seems to have cured that need to pull my hair out. It felt so relaxing to run my hand through my hair, and have loose strands coming out, but boy, the floor was covered in the morning with my loose hair and would have to clean it up.

 

[Homulilly]

I think my hair loosens and begins to fall out when stressed, too

If it makes you feel better—a lot of people also experience that when they are stressed…

 

[Neytiri]

Yes, I do have that tendancy, but having been diagnosied with sleep apnea, I have to wear my hair up, for the tube and seems to have cured that need to pull my hair out. It felt so relaxing to run my hand through my hair, and have loose strands coming out, but boy, the floor was covered in the morning with my loose hair and would have to clean it up.

I’m glad that you have it resolved. I do it involuntarily when I watch tv, I’m bored or I’m stressed. I stop for several months and then it comes back. It is debilitating and embarrassing.

 

[SusanLR]

I'm always chewing at or picking my lips when watching TV, when concentrating
on doing a chore like writing, paying bills, or trying to understand the "fine print."

I looked into this habitual type of stimming, and it said the reason it feels good is
because the lips have so many nerve endings in them that it releases endorphins.
I think that is the same reason for pulling and twisting hair. Endorphin release.

Look at the contentment and bonding picking at each other's hair produces in
animals. Especially primates.
I also have the tendency to pick at skin or press on a sore place on the skin.
It hurts so good.

 

[Knit Hat]

I started pulling my hair at 13 years old and I still do it when I am overwhelmed. I didn’t know that it is a way of stimming in autism. Please feel free to share your experience with me.

Trichotillomania: When Stimming Turns Self-Injurious

One day, she saw a curly hair among what was otherwise straight. And she plucked it. That was the start of years of pulling out her own hair and before her autism diagnosis.

neuroclastic.com

When I was in 4th grade I had this habit pretty bad, but then kinda morphed into mouth chewing/lip biting, which I still do to this day. I sometimes pull my hair when stressed or upset, just not out.

 

[Neytiri]

I'm always chewing at or picking my lips when watching TV, when concentrating
on doing a chore like writing, paying bills, or trying to understand the "fine print."

I looked into this habitual type of stimming, and it said the reason it feels good is
because the lips have so many nerve endings in them that it releases endorphins.
I think that is the same reason for pulling and twisting hair. Endorphin release.

Look at the contentment and bonding picking at each other's hair produces in
animals. Especially primates.
I also have the tendency to pick at skin or press on a sore place on the skin.
It hurts so good.

Hey, I’m so glad that you mentioned that. The feeling is like an stress reliever. (It hurts good) , that’s how it feels like

 

[Neytiri]

When I was in 4th grade I had this habit pretty bad, but then kinda morphed into mouth chewing/lip biting, which I still do to this day. I sometimes pull my hair when stressed or upset, just not out.

Im glad that you got out of the habit.