What is Trichotillomania

What is Trichotillomania

Episode 32

What is Trichotillomania?

Heather-Brooke-032-blog

In this episode of HairPod, we shine a light on trichotillomania (also known as trich or TTM), a condition that causes people to compulsively pull out their hair. We are honored to have Heather Brooke, a licensed professional counselor and an individual with lived experience of TTM, join us to discuss this often misunderstood disorder. Heather shares her journey with TTM, which began in childhood, and provides valuable insight for both those living with the condition and their support networks.

This episode is an essential listen for anyone looking to better understand trichotillomania—whether you or someone you love is affected by this disorder, or you’re simply curious about it. Join us as we explore Heather’s personal story, her professional experience, and strategies for managing TTM.

What is Trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania is a hair-pulling disorder that leads individuals to uncontrollably (and sometimes unconsciously) pull out their hair. The disorder can manifest differently depending on the person—some may pull hair from their scalp, while others may focus on eyebrows, eyelashes, or other body hair. The intensity of the condition varies greatly; some individuals may experience mild episodes, while others may struggle with more severe, daily compulsions. There is also no single age of onset, though it often begins in childhood or adolescence.

The causes of trichotillomania are still not fully understood, and research into the condition is ongoing. However, many experts believe that a combination of factors—including genetics, trauma, anxiety, and stress—could contribute to its development. Heather Brooke believes that her own TTM was triggered by traumatic experiences in her early childhood. At just nine years old, Heather began pulling out her hair and relied on the adults in her life to notice and intervene. Unfortunately, due to a lack of awareness and understanding about the disorder at the time, Heather did not receive the therapeutic help she needed right away.

Despite years of therapy and now being a licensed professional counselor herself, Heather still deals with the effects of trichotillomania. Her personal journey underscores the challenges many face: living with TTM is a continuous process of managing symptoms rather than a quick fix. However, this also means that even though a cure may not be available, there are ways to cope and live a full life despite the condition.

Coping with Trichotillomania

Currently, there is no known cure for trichotillomania. However, there are numerous tools and strategies that can help reduce its impact and manage its symptoms.

For Heather, stress and anxiety are key factors that exacerbate her TTM. Like many people with the disorder, she has found that finding ways to release stress is crucial for managing her compulsions. Regular exercise is one of her primary outlets, and she finds that going to the gym is a powerful way to channel her energy. However, during particularly stressful times, even this form of stress relief might not be enough. It’s in these moments that having multiple coping strategies becomes essential.

In addition to exercise, Heather emphasizes the importance of therapy. Working with a licensed professional, especially one with experience in TTM, can be incredibly beneficial. A therapist can help individuals identify the triggers that lead to hair-pulling episodes and develop personalized techniques to address them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, and even medications may be recommended as part of a holistic approach to managing trichotillomania.

Heather also advocates for self-compassion and patience. The path to managing TTM is not linear, and setbacks are part of the process. For those living with the disorder, learning to forgive oneself and recognize that recovery is a journey is crucial.

Supporting Someone with Trichotillomania

One of the most important themes of Heather’s conversation is compassion. For friends, family members, or partners of someone with trichotillomania, understanding and empathy are essential. It can be easy to suggest to someone with TTM to “just stop pulling your hair,” but this kind of response can be damaging. Hair-pulling is not a conscious decision, and the compulsions are often driven by deep-seated psychological factors that require understanding, not criticism.

If you’re supporting someone with TTM, start by educating yourself about the condition. Ask questions and listen without judgment. Remember that the person struggling with trichotillomania likely feels a great deal of shame or embarrassment about their behavior, so it’s vital to create a safe and supportive environment for open communication. Rather than focusing on the physical symptoms (like hair loss), show concern for their emotional well-being.

For children with TTM, Heather has written a children’s book called “Where Is My Hair? A Trichotillomania Story For Children.” This book helps kids understand what they’re going through and introduces the idea that they are not alone in their struggles. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or friend, this resource can help foster empathy and understanding for young ones dealing with the condition.

Additionally, if trauma or emotional distress seems to be at the root of someone’s TTM, it may be helpful to gently recommend counseling. Healing from trauma can be a key step toward reducing compulsive behaviors. However, it’s important to approach these conversations with care and avoid pushing someone before they are ready to seek help.

Resources for Managing Trichotillomania

If you or someone you know is living with trichotillomania, there are a number of resources available to support you on your journey:

  • Therapy: Seeking out a licensed professional counselor who specializes in TTM or related disorders can be incredibly helpful. Therapists can offer individualized treatment plans, coping strategies, and emotional support.
  • Stress-Relief Strategies: Identifying healthy outlets for managing stress is key. Whether it’s exercise, mindfulness, or creative activities, finding what works for you can make a significant difference.
  • Support Networks: Connecting with others who have similar experiences can be a source of strength and validation. Consider joining a support group for people with TTM or participating in online forums to share your journey with others who understand.
  • Educational Materials: Books like “Where Is My Hair? A Trichotillomania Story For Children” by Heather Brooke provide an accessible way for younger audiences to understand the condition. It’s also a great tool for parents and caregivers to start conversations with children about their experience with TTM.

Conclusion

We hope this episode of HairPod has offered a meaningful and compassionate look at trichotillomania. While living with TTM can be challenging, hearing from people like Heather Brooke reminds us that we can navigate life with this disorder through self-awareness, therapy, and the support of those around us.


Empowering Resources
As the episode draws to a close, HairPod extends a generous offer of a complimentary hair loss consultation, providing a tangible step towards reclaiming confidence and control over one’s appearance. Book a Free consultation with HairClub Today!

Thanks for listening to HairPod. We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to share your story, check us out on Instagram @HairClub. HairPod is a production of TSE Studios. Our theme music is from SoundStripe.

Episode.32 Transcript

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Heather Brooke: Overcoming Trichotillomania

Heather Brooke: Overcoming Trichotillomania

Episode 02

Heather Brooke: Overcoming Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a hair loss problem that many face, most have never heard of. It may not be well-known but this hair loss issue transcends age and gender. It is a hair-pulling disorder, and involves frequent and irresistible urges to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body. At just nine years old, our guest, Heather, began experiencing the overwhelming urge to pull out her hair.

Join host Kevin Rolston as he engages in an enlightening conversation with Heather Brooke – a licensed professional counselor, beauty pageant champion, and the mind behind the children’s book, “Where’s My Hair? A Trichotillomania Story for Children.”

Effects of Trichotillomania

After experiencing a traumatic event at 9, Heather’s coping mechanism manifested as pulling out hairs—starting from her eyelashes, moving to eyebrows, and eventually her scalp. Because she had naturally long eyelashes and voluminous hair, the impact remained concealed from her family for a while. When her family began to take notice, Heather hid the truth – that she was pulling her hair out. A discernible bald patch on Heather’s head was the turning point, prompting her family to explore possible remedies.

Opening Up About Trichotillomania

Unfazed by her hair loss challenges, Heather Brooke courageously participated in beauty pageants throughout her life, from childhood and into her adult years. As a young contestant, wigs and clip-in extensions became her trusted companions to help cover the bald areas. In 2017, Heather competed in the Ms. Woman Colorado United States pageant. Her association with HairClub provided her with optimal hair solutions and she ended up taking home the crown!

Looking for Trichotillomania Solutions

Throughout her life, Heather has explored various treatments. It is an ongoing process, as she still struggles with trichotillomania today. Not much research has been done on Trichotillomania, though it is a recognized mental health disorder. Her hair system from Hair Club covers the “trigger points” caused by her Trichotillomania which reduces her urge to pull her hair out.

Where is My Hair? A Trichotillomania Story for Children

Heather is now a licensed professional counselor and has worked with kids who also have Trichotillomania! One of her young clients inspired her to write a children’s book that could help them understand Trichotillomania better.

Empowering Resources

As the episode draws to a close, HairPod extends a generous offer of a complimentary hair loss consultation, providing a tangible step towards reclaiming confidence and control over one’s appearance. Book a Free consultation with HairClub Today!

Want more information on our guest? Pick up a copy of Heather’s book, “Where Is My Hair? A Trichotillomania Story for Children” on Amazon

Thanks for listening to HairPod. We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to share your story, check us out on Instagram @HairClub. HairPod is a production of TSE Studios.

Episode.02 Transcript

Heather [00:00:05]: When I was a kid. I was probably about five-years-old when I started competing in pageants. But when I was around nine- or ten-years-old, I was sexually abused by an older cousin. And it wasn’t long after that I started developing a disorder called trichotillomania. So the person who has the disorder actually pulls out their own hair. And the best way that I can describe it is as a coping mechanism for all the trauma that I was going through and experiencing.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:57]: Welcome back to HairPod, the podcast where we dive deep into the personal stories, the struggles and the ultimate transformations of those facing hair loss. I’m your host, Kevin Rolston, and we’re here to shed light on this experience so many people share and most importantly, the solutions that have brought confidence back into their lives. If you’re dealing with hair loss, remember, you’ve got a community right here. Follow us on Instagram, and if this is your first time listening, please subscribe to get notified whenever we have new, inspiring stories to share. Our guest for this episode is a beacon of hope for people facing hair loss due to trichotillomania, a disorder that causes individuals to pull out their own hair. Heather Brooke is a therapist, beauty pageant competitor, and children’s book author. So whether you’re going through your own hair loss journey or simply here to understand and support, we know you’re going to find Heather’s journey inspiring. Hello, Heather.

Heather [00:01:58]: Hi, how are you?

Kevin Rolston [00:02:00]: I am doing great. Tell me a little bit about your… Hair journey, because you’re started in a different place than what most people do. You were doing beauty pageants as a child and you started having hair loss issues. Why was that?

Heather [00:02:18]: Yeah, so actually, when I was a kid, I was probably about five-years-old when I started competing in pageants. But when I was around nine- or ten-years-old, I experienced some trauma. I was sexually abused by an older cousin, and it wasn’t long after that that I started developing a disorder called trichotillomania. So unlike a lot of people with hair issues, hair loss issues, theirs are usually natural or medical or something. Trichotillomania is actually a hair-pulling disorder. So the person who has the disorder actually pulls out their own hair. And the best way that I can describe it is as a coping mechanism for all the trauma that I was going through and experiencing.

Kevin Rolston [00:03:06]: What did that look like? How noticeable was it? How did your parents deal with this situation?

Heather [00:03:12]: Yeah, so my journey, it started out it wasn’t super noticeable, super quick. I could actually remember the first time that I pulled, and my trichotillomania began with my eyelashes, not from my head. And I was in the hallway at our house, and I had an eyelash that kept poking me in the eye. And I went to a mirror in our hall and was just trying to straighten out the lash and as I was pulling on it to try to straighten it out, it came out. And when it came out, there was like this release. I’m a therapist as well, and so the one thing that I can compare it to is for people who do self harming and cut. There’s that release that people get when that happens. And that was kind of what that felt like for me when I pulled that lash on accident.

Heather [00:04:06]: That wasn’t even intentional, but that sudden release that came, it was like, for a brief moment, all of the stress and anxiety that I had been holding inside was gone. And it almost creates, like, endorphins, like a high, but like any high, you have to continue the behavior to continue to get it. And so for me, that started with my lashes, and it took probably months before anybody ever noticed that. When that became noticeable, I moved to my eyebrows thinking, oh, if I pull from somewhere else, then maybe I’ll stop pulling from there. That didn’t work. So my parents thought that I was shaving my eyebrows. And it probably wasn’t until three or four years after I actually started pulling that I developed enough bald patches on my head, because at that point, I had started pulling from my head that I had developed enough bald patches that it was noticeable.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:04]: About what age were you at this time?

Heather [00:05:07]: 13 or 14.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:09]: And was it your parents that stepped in and said something? Did you hear anything from kids in your school? How was it that it really kind of first came to light to them?

Heather [00:05:18]: Yeah. So my grandmother, I believe, was actually the first person who noticed. I always had really long eyelashes, and I had, like, Brooke Shields eyebrows as a kid. And so when my grandmother was looking at me one day, and she was like, what happened to your eyelashes? And I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know why I was doing it and why I couldn’t stop. So I was just like, oh, I was trying to curl them with one of those eyelash things. So I lied about what I was doing. And then when I moved to my eyebrows and my parents thought that I was shaving my eyebrows, I just allowed that to continue because I didn’t know what I was doing.

Heather [00:05:56]: I felt so weird that I was doing this, and I couldn’t stop, and I didn’t know why. And so it was when I was 13 or 14, I was up really late one night watching a, it was like an infomercial or something that was on television, and it was about wigs. And as I was sitting there watching this infomercial, there was a woman on there who started talking about pulling her hair, and then she started talking about these fake eyelashes and different things. But as she was talking, she said, trichotillomania. And a couple of days after that, my mom noticed a bald patch on my head in the pool. We had been swimming, and I wore at that point, I was wearing I had always had super thick hair, and I think that’s one of the reasons that other reasons that it took so long to notice. But I’d always had super thick hair, and so I just got to the point where I was always wearing my hair in a ponytail. But this one specific day, she was coming out of the pool behind me, and my ponytail had moved enough that she could see the bald spot.

Heather [00:07:09]: And so when she said something to me about it, I was like, okay, I saw this commercial. I think this is what I have. And I told her, and she said, okay. And so she scheduled an appointment with me to see the doctor that she worked for. And so I went in, he diagnosed me, and then he made a referral to a psychiatrist and put me on some medications, and that was kind of where the treatment for it started.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:41]: Even though the trichotillomania was causing some bald patches on Heather’s scalp, she never let that stop her from competing in beauty pageants.

Heather [00:07:50]: I competed off and on throughout high school, even with my trichotillomania. I competed some years with a wig, some years with glue-in extensions or clip-in extensions.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:05]: In between pageants and trying to be a normal kid, Heather started to receive different treatments for trichotillomania. Trichotillomania isn’t one of those things you treat once and just move on from. It’s a chronic issue that Heather still deals with to this day.

Heather [00:08:18]: Yeah, it was a lot. It’s still a lot because it’s still something that I struggle with, because there’s so little research done on trichotillomania, so there’s still a lot to be learned about it. And I’ve actually been part of a couple of different studies that are looking at how genetics can be involved, how other mental health issues can play into it, but there’s just so little known about it. So when I was diagnosed, I was put on an antidepressant that didn’t help, just made me sick. Then there was points where when I was under really high levels of stress, I would pull more. There would be times where I would pull subconsciously or unconsciously, like I would be pulling and not even be aware until after I had already been doing it, that I had done it. Sometimes it was conscious, so there was a mixture of those, but I tried everything that I could to hide it. By the time I was a junior in high school, I was almost completely bald.

Heather [00:09:12]: I had to wear a wig, I’m wearing a wig in my senior pictures. But by the Christmas of my senior year, I was able to let my hair grow out enough that I had this short, cute pixie cut. And it’s been more manageable since that point. I still struggle with it, it’s still something I struggle with on a daily basis. And I’ve tried covering it up, like I said, with ponytails, doing ponytails, doing wigs, wearing extensions, all different kinds of things. And when I got ready to compete for Ms. Woman Colorado, United States, I was looking for alternatives to help hide some of the spots that I had at the time. And I found HairClub.

Heather [00:09:53]: And HairClub was actually one of my sponsors, and so that kind of helped a lot with my journey.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:59]: Oh, wow, that’s so cool. Tell me a little bit about that. How did you exactly find them? Just the name popped up and you decided to go. And how did that all come about?

Heather [00:10:08]: I was just Googling hair salons that did extensions and looking for sponsors and HairClub popped up. At the time, I’d only heard of HairClub for Men, so I thought that it was just for men. But I did a little bit of research and found out that women used HairClub as well. And so I just emailed them. The manager at the Denver location messaged me back, emailed me back. We set up an appointment. I went in for a consultation, and then the next thing I knew, I was a HairClub client, and they were one of my pageant sponsors. And it was awesome because once I won the pageant, right, I was going to compete for Ms. Woman Colorado whenever I got HairClub as a sponsor. And when I actually won the title for the state, I jokingly, with my stylist, was like, I wish I could take you with me to nationals for you to do my hair at nationals. And so they were like, yeah, we’ll send her out there with you. So they actually sent her to Florida with me for nationals, and she did my hair for the competition.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:31]: Now tell me, with the Xtrands, how does that work with your trichotillomania that you still are trying to recover from? Do you pull out the Xtrands? Is there a desire to do that?

Heather [00:11:41]: Yeah. No, actually it’s really interesting because I have what I call trigger spots. So there’s specific areas that when I’m stressed or bored or not even paying attention, that I pull from. And so what Xtrands does is it covers the areas that are lacking hair, and then my own hair is still used in addition to that. So all of the edges I pull from the sides and the crown of my head. So all of the edges is my hair, and just the crown and the sides is a system that is glued to my scalp. And so I shave underneath the system so that the system fits snug on my scalp. That’s just a personal preference. Some people don’t do that, but I choose to do that. But it covers those trigger spots for me. So I don’t typically have the desire to pull anymore.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:38]: How about that? And tell me how do you feel with your system when you look in the mirror and you see that you’ve got a full head of hair and you don’t have those bald spots that you had had before? What is that like for you?

Heather [00:12:52]: It’s amazing. I wanted to cry when I saw myself in the mirror for the first time when they did the reveal, because it had been so long since I had seen myself with a full head of hair. Right. So when I look at myself, like, I don’t see the clips from the extensions, and I don’t see it’s really hard to tell where your hairline is at and where the Xtrands is at. And so it just gives me so much confidence to know that I can do whatever I want to with it. If I want to curl it, I can curl it. If I want to straighten it, I can straighten it. If I want to cut it, dye it, like, whatever I want to do to it, I have those options again. And I’m not just stuck with one hairstyle or fixing it just a certain way, because I have to worry about hiding the clips or the different things from the extensions. And so it really gave me back a lot of my confidence.

Kevin Rolston [00:14:02]: Listening to Heather today, it’s hard to imagine her lifelong battle with trichotillomania stemming from childhood trauma. Now, as a licensed professional counselor, Heather commits herself to assisting those grappling with mental health challenges. She’s even authored a children’s book on trichotillomania to help young clients facing the same struggle.

Heather [00:14:22]: Yeah. So I wrote, “Where’s my Hair? A Trichotillomania Story for Children” in 2018. And actually, I wrote it because where I was living at the time, people got to know me as a therapist who worked with people with trichotillomania because of my own personal experience. And so I would get a lot of kids. And so I had this young girl come in, she was 13 or 14, and she was on the autism spectrum, and she was nonverbal, and she started pulling her hair, and her stepmom brought her into me, and she said her occupational therapist says that she has trichotillomania. And she started giving me all of this information that the OT had given her about trichotillomania. And I looked at her, and I was like, the only thing that’s accurate about any of that is the name of the disorder.

Heather [00:15:18]: And so I use, with kids a lot, books, to help them understand what they’re going through, what they’re experiencing, that they’re not alone. And so I went online and started looking for a book that I could share with her in session, and I couldn’t find anything. There was stuff for professionals, there was stuff for adults, there was stuff for parents, but there was nothing specifically for children. So I sat down and wrote my book loosely based off of my own personal experience, and then I sent it to my mom and was like, I’m going to write a book. I’m writing this children’s book. Here it is. And my mom likes to draw. And so I was like, will you illustrate it for me? So my mom grabbed some pictures of my oldest daughter and some friends and she sat down and she illustrated the story for me.

Kevin Rolston [00:16:13]: Wow. That is so cool. What a great full circle story that you have to share with so many people. What an inspiration. And I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. If you had to talk to any other women out there for whatever reason, because hair loss, your story is unique. I don’t know how many other people are going to say that they have what you do, but hair loss is something that so many men and believe it or not, so many women are going through. And it’s hard to probably hear from another woman that’s got hair loss and is open about it. What would you say to them if they just feel kind of lost and they’re listening to this conversation saying, okay, what are my next steps? What do I do? How should I feel about this?

Heather [00:16:53]: Yeah, I would definitely say that you are not alone, first of all. We all experience hair loss in some form or fashion and are going to at some point, whether it’s from hormone issues, medical issues, mental health issues, medications, all of these different things that we experience and deal with in life can create hair loss at some point. Doesn’t mean that you won’t get it back. But we all struggle with something. And so the first thing would be that you’re not alone. The second thing would be that there is options and whether that is a treatment that HairClub has that will help your hair regrow or you’re doing something like I am with like Xtrands+. There are options out there and you just have to seek them out. 

Kevin Rolston [00:17:55]: We’re so lucky to have Heather on the show. Her resilience in the face of her own struggles and trauma and her commitment to supporting kids experiencing mental health issues is such an inspiring story for all of us here at HairPod. If you know a young person struggling with trichotillomania and you want to pick up a copy of Heather’s book, you can find a link to it in our show notes or search for “Where’s my Hair? A Trichotillomania Story for Children” on Amazon. Thanks so much for listening to Hairpod. If this episode made you think of someone you know who needs to hear this story, consider sharing it, for before and after photos of our guests and other announcements, check us out on Instagram. Until next time.

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