Eating Hair
Posted September 13th, 2006 at 10:04PM
now ihave a 10 inch scar on my stomach im in pain from it everyday my eating habits arent the same ..i was in the the hospital for a week in a half going through so much pain i would cry everyday because of it i would look at myself in the mirror and wanted to kill my self i was bald and i had a big scar on my tummy....i would see these pictures of how skinny i was and dark and how long and beautiful my hair was and now all i see is how swollen my stomach still is and how short my hair is and it makes me sick everyday.......
Its called trichophagia some thinks it is anxiety and some think it is depression but i still dont know and even now i still crave to do it but i dont all i want is my old self back...but i dont think i could ever be the same..
If you know anyone who does this plz tell them to stop it could mean there life and so much more..
trichophagia google image it and see what i mean
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i read up on this disorder and it's TERRIBLE! i'm so happy you got yours caught in time. many people don't. the stomach canNOT digest hair and so it collects in the stomach. it can and will kill a person. i'm glad you refuse to give in to your impulses. as for how you look now ... we all have things in life that change the way we look. i now walk with a limp and due to my condition have gained some weight that i'm unhappy with. but i accept it because there's very little i can do about it and it's who i am now. i had to learn to love who i'd become. it was not easy but ... it was doable. i hope your journey to loving your newself is short and sweet.
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At school was badly bullied, in turn I begun to eat my own hair and had not eating properly, this was almost 20 years ago now. Any advise be helpful as had kept it it a secret, partner now knows and together will be going to the doctors, did not relise how serious how hair eating is, so naturally am worried from long term effects. -
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So, a compulsion is a compulsion, no matter how strange it sounds.....but doesn't it taste nasty, or perhaps I mean feel nasty in the mouth? If I get one tiny hair accidentally in my mouth, I gag or retch. It's horrible, I have to get it out!! I can't wrap my head around how one could swallow it.
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It because ppl get used to this thing , This is severe case of disease called "Trichotillomania. @stephanie05 - Even I am Trichophagia sufferer . It takes a lot of pain , I have been through it. You are very strong and I have faith that you soon will stop eating it. I know how it feels like be a trichophagia sufferer and I still feel bad abt it. Love yourself , like I do it myself . It feels really good..trust me :) take care :) :) -
i know this may sound crazy but it actualy doesnt taste gross at all and sometimes tastes sweet. you may find that gross but it is like a need for some people and it doesnt feel gross either its really not that bad although the effects of it can be disturbing and acasionaly fatal -
Did you ever have an explanation as to why you lost your hair? Did you use to pull your hair out in order to eat it? Then the disorder was desperate more than just an addiction, maybe it was compulsion. You shared this story quite some time ago and it would be great if you spoke more about how your life is now, after several years. Did your hair grow back? Have you ever attempted to do it again? (I hope not). Your story is very helpful for people who want to learn more about mental disorders, compulsions and addictions. Keep us updated, thanks!
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ELO
me too i got the same hair disorder as stephanie.when i was 15 ,i used to pull my hair and put it in my mouth.i even dont no when ive started to do that.one day ,some friends told me that ive put on some weight but i didnt realise that it was the effect of the hair ive ingested .finally one day ,i got a terrible stomach pain ,it was so unbearable.ive started to vomit hair which was not digested in my stomach.then i was admitted to the hospital and got a surgery.ive got 2 scars ,one on my tummy and the other one near the navel.the doctors removed 2 hair ball from my intestines and my stomach.i stayed in the hospital for a week and these types of disorders were quite rare .the doctors didnt notice the 2 balls of hair in my body even after 2 xray.its on the 3rd day that they found out the hair.they did more tests and xray.it was hell and i was suffering so much.the operation last approximately 2hours and they said that if this was not removed in time ,i would have died.
all the doctors and nurses came in my room after the operation to see the 2 balls of hair.it was an unsual and weird case.
after the operation i didnt dare to look at myself in the mirror.I asked myself so many questions which remained unanswered for many years.it was so disgusting .the doctors adviced me to consult a psychologist.ive followed their advice and during 1 year i was got regular visits to a psychologist.But frankly the session with a doc dont really help me.
I think that its only me who can really stop that and definitely after my operation ,ive never pulled my hair again and i have even had my hair done into a bob.
itwas really hard to cut my dark and long hair but ive tried to be positive and think about my health first.
it was an horrible experience and i swear iwont do that again .zats for sure.i want my long hair back.its true that time is a great healer as its almost 7 years ive done my operation and i feel my much better.
I think zat the only reason why people do this, especially girls ,is that they are unable to share there feelings ,sorrows and worries.communication is the best mean to help someone suffering from trichophagia. -
Stephanie,
I am currently a student at the University of Florida striving to get into Veterinary school here. In one of my classes today we learned about Trichophagia in animals. While I agree that animals can have psychological disorders just as well as humans can, the main purpose for animals eating their hair is because their bodies are deficient in something, usually a mineral. Their body needs this mineral, or whatever it may be, to function properly, so they crave their hair and other "odd," non-food items because their diets aren't providing what they need. This is called Pica. And as stated before, Pica is caused by 1) psychological disorders and 2) deficiencies. If you don't feel that it is something anxiety related, I encourage you to meet with a nutritionist to see if your diet is providing your body with everything it needs to function. I hope this helps.
Kayla Parrish -
Dear Stephanie,
I have the same problem, and it lasts for more than 10 years, it is awfull but really idont know how to get rid of it. Normally I have never noticed any psychological problems, I never really feel under stress a lot, but I guess it is some kind of unnoticable stress. It would be great to hear how you got rid of the problem. thanks a lot -
Hi Ayobrezzysig.. I understand how u feel .. i started very young too .. and I bit the root of the hair at times i eat it at times i dont. It depends on the texture of the hair if i pull it or not .. If you would like to talk to someone about it .. im here.
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hi.. can u please email me its very important... please thank you and god bless
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I always thought I was the only person who did this! I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only one and I never thought it could cause blockages.
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I have the same problem! I have been doing this since elementry school and I am now 20! I do it all the time and it's became such a habbit that most times I don't even notice myself doing it! I don't really have any bald spots because I do it all over my head but my hair is super thin! I want to stop more then anything! After reading a few of these post, I see how serious this can be. If anyone has any helpful hints on how to stop, please share with me! I'm so scared that this will be apart of me forever, as it has been most of my life! Is there something I can do to keep my mind off of it? Or something instead so I don't temp to do it? I'm open to any suggestions that anyone may have. I never had the chance to speak with anyone of the same problem because I never knew anyone that did it. Any little tips will be apprechiated, thanks!
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i do this too, ive never shared this problem with anyone. i don't remember when i started but i was probably 10-12 y/o i'm 35 now i do it without noticing, it depends on hair texture if i pull it or not. i eat the root too i'm scarred i didn't know it can be dangerous i have kids =( what can i do?
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i know this would be a sacrifice but you could cut your nails very short if you pull with fingers rather that tweezers, i have tried this and it actually worked a bit for me. better to have no nails than no hair right? also you may not want to wear hats all the time but if your at home and have the urge to pull just throw on a hat so when you reach up you remember that you need to stop. i have tried this and it doesnt always work but it usually does. one last thing you can try is to put coconut or olive oil in your hair. i noticed that its harder to grasp hair when they have oil on them plus they are both good for hair and prevent dryness and breakage. hope this helped peace out.
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also it isnt as satisfying, but pulling out barbie hair helps me. you know i wish they would make bald barbies and bald princesses because you can be beautiful without hair. im so tired of all these women with long thick hair just flaunting it to brag. its just hair. let me repeat that, ITS JUST HAIR! im tired of fealing like i need it to be beautiful. well no more, no more!
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I have Dermatophagia, the sister to this, and basically i chew my own skin /: It's horrible, but i can't stop. And uncontrolable. I'll start doing it, and NOT EVEN REALIZE WHAT I'M DOING!!! like when i watch tv, i just start peeling my skin off my feet, or in class i'll be chewing at my fingers. the only thing that slows me down with this, is that i have braces so it's kinda difficult, but i get them off in 2 months. So i really need to stop!
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if your pregnet and you swallowed someones else's facial hair by accident would that change your babys dna?
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if your pregnet and you swallowed someones else's facial hair by accident would that change your babys dna?
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your pregnet and you swalowed some ones facial hair by accident would that change your babies dna?.sorry i suffer from ocd.=(
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bscutie15..No your babies DNA is determined at conception.(the ***** and egg meet and the ***** cell determines everything about the baby and chromosones and so on)
And about this disorder, I've pulled out my hair since around the summer starting 7th grade because I have dermatitis. Its so irritated. But I was half bald from just constantly pulling my hair out. I'd do it in class and was lucky for carpets in come classes because they couldn't see all the hair on the floor but now that i'm in high school its all tiles. I don't eat my hair, I eat the roots. I'm 15 and don't know how to stop.. I do this in public and around my family(they don't notice me eats the roots because I do when they don't pay attention) But they notice me putting my hair out. I thought oulling it out would thin it. I've thought about using Prenatel vitamins to make my hair grow because some is extreamly short. I've got comments my haair has looked like a mullet. I'm glad it is growing some.. But very slow process. I have naturally curly hair so I'm constantly straightening my hair.. And it all breaks. I'm finally getting length back.
I did used to eat my hair when I was much younger. And around that time I have also ate my skin from clipping my toe nails, at that time I'd also clip the skin from my toes and balls of my feet and heals. I stopped eating the skin off my feet and have always bit my fingernails(which I used to swallow) Somethings make me wonder.. and I don't know what to do. -
hey
i recently lost may father and few days later i found myself pulling one strand of hair and chewing it fine then swallowing it . i realized i got a problem after one month of doing this i googled it and found many answers so im forcing myself out of this bad habit i picked up cheers ! -
Ok, In the summer of 1995, I started pulling my hair. Now I am 27 years old and I have 3 wonderful kids. I still pull, and I as well eat the roots. I have had bald spots on the top of my head, on the right side of my head and on the left. I have covered these bald spots by wearing bandanas. I also use black colored hair spray (WORKS WONDERS!). I refuse to wear any kind of wig unless on holloween. Now do I look at this as a shameful thing? Sometimes yes, BUT I have decided to see the up side to this disorder.
I would just imagine, how many friends would I have actually have if I didn't have this disorder? Right now I have friends who have known me even before I started pulling. And as well as after. As my hair pulling got worse during my school years so did the bullying. I have went through being bullied and picked on Mon-Fri, 9 months a year for 8 years. Every single day I was scared to even show my face at school, but I did it. At the end of each day I came to the same conclusion, at least I know that my bullies think of me everyday. Only because if they hated me soo much, why would they even waist their time on just me instead of just acting like I didn't exist? IDK that's my thought on the friend subject.
Or how bout this one, does he really love me for me? I have been open about this to my friends and family. Even Co workers. I never really just blurt it out. The way I see it, I will tell if need be. But when it came down to relationships, I saw the true colors in every man that has walked into my life. I have never kept it from them. There have been 2 men who have excepted me for me. The father of my children and my hubby. I get told I am beautiful every day. If my hubby see's me pulling he gently moves my hand away from my hair. He even went and hid my tweezers.
I have never searched to see if there was a name for it, never really asked for help, and I have never spoke about this to strangers, not even my doctors. I guess I just excepted who I was.
But to me this is a step closer to getting the help that I need to stop. -
As one reads through this, you can tell that this is a big issue. I have the same problem. It started around 5th grade and now I'm 20. i can't believe its been so long. I was never in depression, so i dont really know how it started. in the beginning, my head was always ichy so I realized that if i pull the hair out, it stopped. Some how it led to my mouth. I think slowly it just became a habit. Once I realized how bad it was, I tried to stop but I couldn't so I just limited myself to the roots. Its amazing to just read over it now. To think that I do that. You know you do it, but its different to see it written out..makes it more real I guess. This disorder is quite embarrassing. I've never told anyone. My parents know, but I think that they just accepted it, since they dont quite know how to deal with it. I always think about going to the doctors and checking myself out, but i feel that it would incredibly embarrassing. Since this disorder is not very typical, the doctors might all gather and talk about me. But I have to go. This is my life and health we're talking about. You are in charge of your life, and you have to take care of the one chance that you have at it. Stay strong, and remove yourself from the clutches of this compulsion.
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As one reads through this, you can tell that this is a big issue. I have the same problem. It started around 5th grade and now I'm 20. i can't believe its been so long. I was never in depression, so i dont really know how it started. in the beginning, my head was always ichy so I realized that if i pull the hair out, it stopped. Some how it led to my mouth. I think slowly it just became a habit. Once I realized how bad it was, I tried to stop but I couldn't so I just limited myself to the roots. Its amazing to just read over it now. To think that I do that. You know you do it, but its different to see it written out..makes it more real I guess. This disorder is quite embarrassing. I've never told anyone. My parents know, but I think that they just accepted it, since they dont quite know how to deal with it. I always think about going to the doctors and checking myself out, but i feel that it would incredibly embarrassing. Since this disorder is not very typical, the doctors might all gather and talk about me. But I have to go. This is my life and health we're talking about. You are in charge of your life, and you have to take care of the one chance that you have at it. Stay strong, and remove yourself from the clutches of this compulsion.
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I begun starting eating my hair secretly when I was a teenager twenty years ago, only now discovered its an eating disorder. Although self controlling it am concerned about any after effects, and embarrassed will see my doctor. Any advise please be most appreciated, thank you.
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Omg, i just chew on my hair...then like little hairs i think i might swallow o.o...but i hope it doesnt do anything o.o im just 14 ;(
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Omg, i just chew on my hair...then like little hairs i think i might swallow o.o...but i hope it doesnt do anything o.o im just 14 ;(
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I have this desease too. I don´t remember when I´ve started, but I was a kid, maybe 11 or 12, now I´m 32 and still do it... I don´t pull my hair, but I cut the tips and chew into little pieces, and end swallowing them... since now I haven´t had stomach or digestive problems, but I´m frightened about having a ball of hair in my intestines!!! I didn´t know about the consecuences of this disorder, I found out recently, no one ever told me, my family or friends, I´m so mad!!! I´ve tried so many times to stop doing it, but I only can control myself for a couple of days, eventually I start doing it again... it´s so discouraging, I don´t know what to do...
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I have this desease too. I don´t remember when I´ve started, but I was a kid, maybe 11 or 12, now I´m 32 and still do it... I don´t pull my hair, but I cut the tips and chew into little pieces, and end swallowing them... since now I haven´t had stomach or digestive problems, but I´m frightened about having a ball of hair in my intestines!!! I didn´t know about the consecuences of this disorder, I found out recently, no one ever told me, my family or friends, I´m so mad!!! I´ve tried so many times to stop doing it, but I only can control myself for a couple of days, eventually I start doing it again... it´s so discouraging, I don´t know what to do...
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I have the same problem of pulling my hair out an eat ie
It feels so good I can't stop I'm worried can it be harmfull since its been 19yrs
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Hi, my name is Sam. I am looking for participants for a new documentary series. If any of you would be interested in potentially exploring this disorder with a therapist we might be able to help.
Send me a private message, everything will be personal and confidential. I can address any questions or concerns. -
Okay, So i'm not the only one. I noticed that I started doing this about 5 years ago. Thinking back to that time, it was pretty eventful-- got married and had a baby. Perhaps the stress caused it? I don't pull from my head but do pull and eat shorter thicker pieces like from my eyebrows. Scares me to think a hair ball is forming down there...
That makes me want to stop. I don't feel any differently from it, but i'm sure the long term can add up to being dangerous if not life threatening! But I was wondering...Wouldn't the hair come out in your poo? I mean, i've never looked , and im sure it would be hard to spot smaller pieces. -
im 13 now and i've been doing it since yr 5 and i am really scared that im going to die, i don't want to tell my parents about this disorder, my mum has the same problem but i don't know if she eats her hair like me and shes now 33. i thought by vomiting it would all come out so i went to the toilet when py parents were out of the house and stuck my finger down my throat , i couldn't do it and felt like crying. my friend spotted me ding it once and my other friend noticed my bauld spots and told my whole class i was going bauld :'(. i have told my mum that i pull my hair out but i dont know if she knows i do this, i have also told my nan and my aunties that i pull my hair out. i so afraid to go to the hair dressers that my aunti now cuts my hair. im so glad i found this page.
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tug123, honey, you need to tell your mum. You might feel scared to tell your parents, but you should not feel silly or embarrassed. You are special and they want to help you take care of it. You can ask for help!
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thank you for the advice but how would i tell them im too afraid to go up to my mum and say i eat my hair and also, i wasnt doing it at the time i was just playing with my hair and my little cousin said i was eating my hair and my auntie said u i hope not a big ball of hair will grow and you will die which freaked me out. so what should i say??xx
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tug123, honey, you need to tell your mum. You might feel scared to tell your parents, but you should not feel silly or embarrassed. You are special and they want to help you take care of it. You can ask for help!
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