Recurrent pulling out of one's hair resulting in noticeable hair loss. An increasing sense of tension immediately before pulling out the hair or when attempting to resist the behavior. Pleasure, gratification, or relief when pulling out the hair. The disturbance is not better accounted for by another mental disorder and is not due to a general medical condition (e.g., a dermatological condition). The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Tracy is a 30 year old born with profound mental and physical retardation. She was born with a hole in her heart, life threatening seizures, and a failing resperatory system. She wasn't expected to live. Diagnosed with Partial Trisomy 6;20 shortly after birth, she is the only known person living or otherwise with this unbalanced translocation. After the first 3 years of her life the medical health problems simply started going away. Now she had to start working very hard in an all special education setting on the things most of us just learn and take for granted (communicating, sitting, standing, feeding self.)
For the many years that followed Tracy just continued to work very hard. She can feed herself, wipe off a table, sit herself up, walk with assistance, communicate (with out talking) and so much more. Tracy's body begin to bloom in 1995 (and rather quickly too) it was at that time things with Trich began (even though we had no idea it was Trich.) She also developed Raynaud's Phenomenon which is a severe circulation disease that effects the hands/fingers & feet/toes (and only seems to be a problem in the wintertime.)
Today she is nearly pull-free. She enjoyed wearing a hat, on occassion, during the day. I think by letting her pull, letting her wear a hat to cover the bald spots she had (for her not me), telling her she's beautiful and I love her (I have always done that though), making sure she has extra potassium (but not too much), and keeping her sugar, caffeine and chocolate intake low, is a good start to helping her battle Trich. I recommend you looking at the John Kender (JK) Diet.
I found out how to spell Trichotillomania and went to the internet where I found Amanda's Trich Web Guide. WOW! Not only is Tracy not alone in her pulling but I am not alone as a parent of a child who pulls. The person that Tracy is, is still the same on the inside. That, I know to be, is God intervening in the life of my whole family. To accept Tracy for who she is, not what she looks like. It's hard to have that realization that she will probably always pull on her hair, sometimes more than others. Tracy was always a gift to me from God...not and easy gift to accept...but nevertheless, a gift from a truly wonderful and loving God. He knew I would be able to undergo the task of raising Tracy with WHATEVER the circumstances would bring. In my opinion, she's alive and has good health...the rest is one-hour-at-a-time and one-day-at-a-time. I will always love my one and only child just as she is...the way God loves us, His children. I thank God for Tracy just the way she is...but I also ask Him for strength and courage and hope to get through each day as Tracy's mom.
Tracy started working at a Center nearby and is enjoying it a lot. She also moved to a group home near her Momma on July 01, 2002. She is still adjusting and will be for some time (so is her Momma) but I can't say enough of how proud of her I am. She is my star, my cherished baby all grown up. She will always need full care and I thank God every day that I found her a good place to continue her journey of living her life to the fullest. She was allowed to move into a much better group home at Star Community (www.starcommunityinc.org) this past year; with horses and a pool and over 140 acres of land and lakes. She is the happiest I have ever seen her and that is a big thank you to God for making it possible! Today Tracy is pull-free and has been for over three years.
This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen? Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation.
As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son... Patron Saint, Matthew" "Forrest, Marjorie, daughter... Patron Saint, Cecillia" "Rudledge, Karen, Twins... Patron Saint... give her Gerard, he is used to profanity."
Finally, He passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child." The angel is curious, "Why this one, God? She is so happy." "Exactly," smiled God. "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel." "But has she got patience?" asked the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother.
You see, the child I am going to give her has his own world. She has to make the child live in her world and that is not going to be easy." "But Lord, I don't think she even believes in You." God smiled, "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasped, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?" God nods. "If she can't seperate herself from the child ocassionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a "spoken word." She will never consider a "step" ordinary. When her child says "Momma," for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or sunset to a blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creation. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see... ignorance, cruelty, prejudice... and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing My work as surely as if she were here by My side." "And what about her Patron Saint?" asked the angel, his pen poised in mid air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice." ~~~author unknown
Trichotillomania...have you ever wondered if there was a name and help for your hair pulling?
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