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Pull My Hair… Please…

November 12th, 2006 | Category: Weird Words

Did you ever have one of those days? Ever feel like this? Of course you have. So have we all. We even use a common expression to describe the peaking of our frustration level — “pulling my hair out.”

But that’s not what this post is about. I just ran across this strange word that I had never seen and thought it might hold interest for a reader who has or knows someone with the problem, or who is a world-class Scrabble player. The new word for the day is

trichotillomania

This is not the pulling of hair out of frustration, but an abnormal desire to pull out one’s hair. People suffering from trichotillomania will routinely pluck hair from their scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or other parts of their body. Sometimes the plucking is  done impulsively, other times with studied deliberation. The word derives from the Greek trich (”hair”) and tillein (”to pull or pluck”). That combo is then suffixed with -mania (”to be mad”).

While the word was thought to have first been used in the early 20th century by a French dermatologist named Francois Hallopeau, only recently has the medical community paid any serious attention to this potentially serious health problem.  One popular book on the subject is The Hair Pulling Problem by Fred Penzel. This book contains a lot of self-help information. Anyone with more serious conditions are advised to seek competent medical help, if such can be had in your little corner of the universe.

 

14 Comments so far

  1. Joy November 12th, 2006 10:08 am

    Yikes! I am so sorry to HAIR that. Another word I’m not familiar with….but, I am now. Ouch…just thinking about it makes me cringe. Thanks Winston.

  2. Rhea November 12th, 2006 10:14 am

    There are some really strange conditions out there and this is definitely one of them. If you read Oliver Sacks’ books there are bunches of these things.

  3. debra November 12th, 2006 12:58 pm

    I actually knew a teenage girl with that problem. Within the course of a year or so, she had plucked her head almost completely bald. She had only a few stray wisps last time I saw her.

    Incredibly sad…I always wondered if was a condition in and of itself or a symptom of something else.

    At least I now know there’s a word for it. Although I would be hard pressed to spell it correctly if the opportunity presented itself in a game of Scrabble!

  4. MaryB November 12th, 2006 1:28 pm

    My cousin’s daughter (my second cousin??) had this problem a few years ago. A smart, popular, seemingly well-adjusted kid - so, go figure. All is fine now. She’s happily married and has a babe on the way. Never sure what triggered the hair-pulling incident.

  5. Paul November 13th, 2006 7:05 am

    Fortunately I have never felt that urge ! :)

  6. ainelivia November 13th, 2006 7:25 am

    Oh I am at the moment….

  7. Always Question November 13th, 2006 10:09 am

    Coincidentally we had a referral come through my office just this past week for someone with this condition. Naturally, our discussion was centered around whether this was a medical condition or a mental health condition and thus who was liable for her care. I’m probably going to hell for finishing my career working for a managed care company in any capacity.

  8. Junebugg November 13th, 2006 1:54 pm

    And then you have tricophagia, actually eating ones own hair

  9. Winston November 13th, 2006 6:24 pm

    Tricophagia? Yuuuuch… Hairball…

  10. Liz November 20th, 2006 5:29 am

    Does playing with, and trying to pluck, hairs from one’s chin make one a sufferer? My name is Liz and I’m a trichotillomanic.

  11. Mary December 9th, 2006 12:00 am

    Is Tricophagia reversable for the damage it has done? I am scared Ive been doing this since i was 10. I just recenlty came acrost what the serious damage is. Ive been a suffer and am sorry to say that. Trust me this is a disease that does isolate you form swimming,running social activities dating everything!

    Ive learned to somewhat curb my urges without medical attention trust me the urges are there.

    Id like any feed back please.

  12. Briana June 26th, 2007 2:24 pm

    I had this for a good 2 years of my life, I went to a therapist though, and I still slighty suffer from it, but I’m allot better with controlling it now.

  13. Briana June 26th, 2007 2:25 pm

    Oh, and for Junebugg,

    I then ate the scalp of my hair, so I guess I had Tricophagia too.

  14. samantha September 13th, 2007 1:03 pm

    I am sufering with this disease. I had every since i can remember. First it stated with the hairs on my leges then it went to the hairs on my scalp.I allways was emberised of it.In school every one would make fun of me.My mom would even tell me not to go to the store or any where with her because she was ashamed of me.