My Struggle With Hair Pulling And How To Look (And Feel) Fine With It

My Struggle With Hair Pulling (Trichotillamania) - Health Council

I started pulling my hair when I was fifteen. One day, during my first year of high school, my mother found me in my room, sitting on my bed unknowingly yet furiously ripping strands of hair out of my scalp. With a blank face, I seemed to be unaware of what I was doing.

What I have is called trichotillamania, classified as an “impulse control disorder” in the DSM-IV. About 4 percent of people may have trichotillomania, according to the National Institute of Health, and it’s mostly women who have the impulse to pull or rip out the hair on their bodies.

Read full article: Trichomania