I think I used to have Trichotillomania-- and it's scaring me.?

Question:

3 years ago, I started a new school, I was stressed and freaked out by the school's size, I was only in 5th grade, but was as stressed as ever. Then--I started pulling my hair. It was a stress release, I would do it in between classes in the bathroom, at home, in bed, and my mom soon caught on when she noticed me side parting my hair to cover bald spots. I also would pick the skin on my head until I had scabs all over, then I would pick those. This continued for a while, but after my mom told me I was going to go bald if I didn't stop, I started to stop my hair pulling. It took a while for all my hair to grow back, and I used to sit and envy the heads of the girls sitting in front of me. Even when I was beginning to not pull, I would still pick the scabs on my head. My mom told me that that was not normal and she knew people who pulled their hair, but not people who "picked". I have had anxiety issues since Iwas in 1st grade, but I just recently saw an article on thisand think I had it

Answers:
It definitely sounds like trichotillomania.
It also sounds like something else: dermatillomania.

I've got the latter. I pick my skin. There's a great website that you should look through. It's http://www.stoppickingonme.com and it tells you more about it and gives you option on what to do about it.

I know I answered the other question. Why not this one, too?

Mom needs to take you to the doctor for a anti stress/ anxiety medication

You poor thing.

Your mom should be more concerned and get you some help.

You need some counseling sweetie. Maybe you can tell your mom that you can't do this on your own and you need to talk to a professional.

Yea. That was definitely trichotillomania. Pulling hair of whatever kind and picking at skin over long periods of time are symptoms. I've had it since I was about 5. I pulled out all of the hair on the right side of my head and patches everywhere else, pulled all my eyelashes out and my eyebrows too. I still haven't gotten completely over it and it's been more than 10 years, although my hair I haven't touched in years except when I'm very nervous. My eyelashes and eyebrows aren't so lucky. Anxiety is a big part of the condition. I had therapy and was on medication for depression and anxiety for quite a while when i was younger. The therapy definitely helped. It is very possible that you could start to pick again if you get too stressed out. You should keep your hands busy, i like finger knitting myself-easy and ties your hands up...literally. So if you start again i would definitely talk to your mom and ask her to get you some help. Having trichotillomania is bad for self-confidence and having someone to talk to is good.

I think I used to have Trichotillomania-- and it's scaring me.?

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