08/31/2025
“I understand the curiosity; not many people know what ✨Trichotillomania✨ (aka hair-pulling disorder) is.
As is the case for many trichsters, I was once terrified of openly talking about my disorder. I was afraid of answering people’s questions.
But a lack of discussion and recognition means that even a well-intentioned question can be received as offensive and hurtful.
Education and awareness are the first step to promoting a positive perspective of the disorder and eliminating any stigmas surrounding hair-pulling.
Today, I’m breaking down some of the most common questions and statements that people with Trichotillomania do not like to hear.
➊ Why don’t you just stop?
✨Trust me, if people with trich could ‘just stop,’ we would. Trichotillomania is a ‘mental disorder that involves irresistible urges to pull out hair, despite trying to stop.’ Asking this questions assumes it’s easy to stop pulling; however, by definition, trichsters fight their urges to pull.
➋ Maybe you wouldn’t do it if you weren’t so stressed out.
✨Yes, stress might be a contributing factor to some people’s trich, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only reason we pull. We pull for a variety of reasons. When we’re fighting the uncontrollable urge to pull, we usually need more than relaxation to reverse them.
➌ Have you seen a doctor? There’s probably some medication you can take.
✨There is no cure for Trichotillomania. Most of us have seen a doctor for our disorder, but there is no one pill we can take to get rid of our urges. It remains a mystery to many in the medical community.
➍ It’s just a habit. You’ll grow out of it.
✨If that were the case, then I haven’t done enough growing in the last 20 years. Disorders are not habits.
➎ Why do you want to hurt yourself?
✨Pulling out our hairs is pleasurable for us, not painful. We pull to relieve an urge, not because we want to hurt ourselves..... The damages caused by hair-pulling are a result (not the goal) of pulling.” -
Thank you very much for sharing, Dorin! We value your educational post for raising awareness.
Featuring a in the color .
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