Sufferer New Here. Ptsd With Ocd & Trichotillomania.anyone Else?

[natalya]

Hello. I suffer from trichotillomania caused by ptsd.been suffering for 8 yrs now. At my wits end here. Can anyone relate?

 

[Viosinger]

I don't anymore, but throughout my childhood, I pulled out eyelashes. In the middle of a stressful year in elementary, I had none left. I was scared into stopping, but still have days where I itch or tug at them and have to resist the urge to rip them out.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Hi,
Welcome to the forum!

 

[Barconian]

My son use to do that and he doesn't any-more! You can beat it!!!

 

[intothelight]

Hi Natalya,

Welcome to MyPTSD forum! :)

PTSD is so complex and how people cope with stress is varied. There will be other members here who can relate and share. I hope you find the information and support here beneficial to your healing.

Take care.

Debbie

 

[natalya]

Thanks guys. To barconian:how did your son beat it? Who do I see regarding this? I'm lost need direction.thnx

 

[Barconian]

to barconian:how did ur son beat it?

I'm not sure natalya. All I know is that when he would pull at his hair, I would pull his away and remind him. He may have just stopped because his confidence grew, I don't know!

 

[Sami13]

Hey there! I have PTSD amongst other things, including a very similar condition called dermatillomania (I may have spelled that incorrectly haha) which means I pick my skin (my fingers and lips predominantly-- yuck right?!). That said, I have been doing it for longer than I can remember and before most of my traumas. For me, it doesn't hurt and it relieves tension… I think part of it is a sensory thing and part of it is just that I need some type of dopamine fix and picking my skin does that. Considering the connection between skin picking and hair pulling, I would venture to say that it seems like the hair pulling has become a way to cope with the issues you've been facing. It definitely helps with mine. While I've been in and out of therapy for 11 years, I only recently started seeing a specialist in this realm. I suggest if anything looking for someone who has a background in trauma, but also in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, as a large component of trich is behavior based and CBT seems to be the treatment of choice. As a side, my psychiatrist recommended trying NAC which is a type of vitamin/supplement. For some reason it made me break out, but there are studies that show it can help.

 

[Barconian]

Considering the connection between skin picking and hair pulling, I would venture to say that it seems like the hair pulling has become a way to cope with the issues you've been facing.

I agree!

 

[Hashi]

Welcome to the forum, natalya.

I'm healing from PTSD and OCD. I also do skin-picking but it's still hard for me to see that as a disorder because I'm so used to thinking it's just me doing something horrible that's unacceptable to other people.

There's a lot you can do to recover. What have you tried/what are you trying?

 

[Barconian]

I also do skin-picking but it's still hard for me to see that as a disorder because I'm so used to thinking it's just me doing something horrible that's unacceptable to other people.

I see it as a way of burning off energy like fidgeting, sort of!

 

[Hashi]

For me it's different from fidgeting. Fidgeting doesn't have a before and after feeling. With skin picking, it's an immediate release of stress.