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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suffering From Severe Trichotillomania. Seeing A Therapist But Not Much Improvement. How To Treat This Condition?

I am 22, I have trichotillomania since i was 11. I have recently started biting my taste buds off and I also pick pimples constantly and pick off dry skin from my body, I have dermatitis and eczema. I can't seem to stop any of this. When I pull my head hair out I eat the follicles and this can go on for hours and hours.. I just do it because I enjoy eating them. Sometimes it makes my stomach hurt after eating so many and I have to stop. I'm obsessed with the hair follicles. Sometimes I find ones that crunch a bit when I bite them, they are my favorite.. I have had my head shaved since I was 11 and I wear wigs.. Why do I pick so much? How can I stop? I see a therapist and I'm on meds but I just love to do it.
Thu, 14 Nov 2013
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Psychiatrist 's  Response
Hello
Welcome to HCM

Trichotillomania is compulsive biting of hair and individual get relaxation on plucking up and biting hairs. This is a disorder that is related to anxiety spectrum disorders of psychiatry. Usually there is some underlying distress or anxiety that cause individual to pluck hair and this result in relaxation. With time there occur a repetition of habit and it becomes a disorder. Treatment of anxiety disorder can result in improvement. Medicines like SSRI in high doses are needed for trichotillomania. Fluoxetine in high doses is useful for better outcome.

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Suffering From Severe Trichotillomania. Seeing A Therapist But Not Much Improvement. How To Treat This Condition?

Hello Welcome to HCM Trichotillomania is compulsive biting of hair and individual get relaxation on plucking up and biting hairs. This is a disorder that is related to anxiety spectrum disorders of psychiatry. Usually there is some underlying distress or anxiety that cause individual to pluck hair and this result in relaxation. With time there occur a repetition of habit and it becomes a disorder. Treatment of anxiety disorder can result in improvement. Medicines like SSRI in high doses are needed for trichotillomania. Fluoxetine in high doses is useful for better outcome. Thanks