Dear World,
Good morning! I woke up at 4am this morning because Jessie, our 8 year old Beagle began barking enthusiastically at what was probably a racoon outside the house. After laying in bed for about 45 minutes, trying to slip back into sleep, I finally got up.
Now I have had my morning coffee, and am starting my day. Couple things come to mind. First, a TLC member forwarded this link to me: it’s about a brain scan study on BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) and I found it quite intriguing. I have a hunch that we have dysmorphic perception problems with trich and skin picking, in that certain hairs are wrong, or alien, or different, a patch of skin a centimeter sqaure becomes a huge landscape, any bump “must” be removed, and this is determined by touch or sight. Why does an eyelash feel as big as a toothpick, and why could I find the SAME hair with my fingers if I lost touch with it? Why did I get such relief when I purged a pore of “unwanted” material?
I think I will try to contact the docs who did this study later today!
I hope it works!
What else. TLC is going to be twenty years old in 2011, and we are planning an Anniversary Campaign. We had our first planning committee conference call last night, and I was so delighted. I am hoping that eventually folks all over the country will get involved! Right now, there is room for a couple more people on the planning committee, so if you are interested, pop me an email at Christina@trich.org and I will send you the details on what participating on the committee entails.
Have a great day!
Love Christina
93 Comments
Hi Christina,
I am writing to share with you what has healed my hair pulling. I am taking 1200 mg a day of NAC, which is N-Acetyl Cysteine, an amino acid. NAC can be found in most vitamin stores and on the Web. It is not a drug, it’s an all natural vitamin supplement. It has been studied on people who compulsively pull their hair, as well as compulsive gamblers, and a few other compulsive behaviors with much success. It is not expensive and I have not experienced any side effects. In fact, NAC assists in the formation of protein and collagen, so it helps create healthy skin, hair, and nails. It encourages hair growth.
I have been on NAC for a few weeks and found my urge to pull went away within a few days–truly!! Now it’s weird for me to even think about pulling. It’s like it was never a part of my life, and I pulled on and off for nearly 30 years.
From the web: “There’s growing evidence that NAC may help reduce obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction disorders. The theory is that NAC increases brain levels of glutamate, a neurotransmitter that the body converts to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In a recent report, Jon E. Grant, MD, of the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, described three patients with various pathological behaviors, including nail biting, hair pulling, or skin picking. Their OCD behavior ceased after taking 1,200 to 2,400 mg of NAC daily.”
Perhaps you’d like to recommend, it has been a lifesaver for me.
Feel free to write with any questions.
Best wishes!!
Debbi
I would like to try the NAC, but not sure what brand to try. When I went online, it seemed they were made in India, which doesn’t instill much confidence, sorry to say. Just want to be sure I am getting stuff that will work. thanks in advance….
Amy
Hi Amy!
I’ll reply to your email
For others reading, I use Solgar NAC, 600 mg a capsule, because I am a vegetarian. They make excellent supplements.
Debbi
My 9 yr old daughter has been taking this for about 6-7 months now and has a huge head of hair once again. She had pulled every spec in an area about 3×5″ smack down the middle of her head. We get it at GNC stores.
Hi Connie,
So good to hear your daughter’s hair has grown back! What dosage is she taking a day?
Best wishes,
Debbi
I wonder how the drug effects people who will eventually want to get off of it. I understand there’s probably not too many health risks as it’s a vitamin supplement, but I have a few friends with ADD who cannot function without adderol. If it can be proven to have curative properties for OCD though, it should definitely be investigated as a viable option. Just my two cents.
Hi,
Since NAC is an all natural amino acid, not a drug, I don’t see that there would be any side effects. This month (Jan 2011) is 1 year that I have been taking it, and it has had amazing healing properties for me.
Debbi
NAC converts the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate into glutathione thus reducing the level of glutamate within the brain. Your assumption on the increase of glutamate is false (incorrect).
I have not mentioned Glutamate in any of my posts. I am not sure what you are talking about.
This post really resonated with me. I’ve suffered from both distorted/poor body image (and subsequently the occasional eating disorder) and trichotillomania for the past 14 years (both starting at the same time at the onset of puberty) and once I read your insight about the connection, it made perfect sense to me. I can’t believe it hadn’t occured to me before actually. Typically, I suffer from one or the other, but not both (or at least one will be a much more dominant force in my life– they never go away, just quiet down periodically), which I think is probably significant. I absolutely feel, from some strange sense of damaged logic, that the hair has got to go. It’s not right and if it’s especially kinky, I can’t think of anything else until it’s gone. This has gotten much worse since I started going grey, very prematurely I might add, because it seems more justifiable to remove unsightly grey hairs. Unfortunately, so much of my hair has turned grey that this has amped up my pulling significantly in the past year (there are also a variety of other issues too of course, combined with this to create the “perfect storm” of pulling). I guess, deep down in a strange and damaged place, I instinctively feel like I’m doing something beneficial by removing that stray, ugly hair. Which, after I pull it, looks pretty much like all the others and then I feel like I’m the stupidest person on earth. Then again though, not eating is remarkably stupid too, but I’ve justified that many times with the same illogic. It’s such a strange and sad paradox that in my warped obsession with physical perfection, I’m damaging myself and making myself less and less perfect…
Hi Delilah,
I, too, had eating disorders, BDD, and pulled my hair. I am not sure if you read my post above, but I don’t pull anymore because I am taking 1200 mg of NAC (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine), an amino acid/vitamin (not drug) a day. I researched and there was a lot of evidence that this supplement reduces or removes compulsive behavior. I also picked at my skin. I have been on NAC for 6 weeks and do not pick anymore. My compulsion basically went away within a week. Perhaps you’d like to try it and see if it works. I had disorders for nearly 30 years. One note, though, make sure you take at least 2-3x the Vitamin C as the NAC, as NAC detoxes the body and can cause kidney stones if you don’t take Vitamin C. Vitamin C is good for you anyway, and water soluable. Feel free to write me at namaste319 (at) aol (dot) com if you’d like more info. or just someone to talk to
)
Best wishes,
Debbi
Thanks for the advice Debbi. Once I read your post, I went and searched for articles on the amino acid, and you’re right, it looks promising. More promising than anything else offered up at the moment anyway. I’m happy to report that I’ve been pull free for 6 days now, but the urge is definitely there. I’ve been working on exploring my own background and triggers, and doing so has given me something to focus on besides my hair (while still focusing on my hair, ironically…) I plan to try the amino acid and see what it can do for me in addition to the other work I’m doing for myself. Maybe the combination will help even more. Thanks again!
Delilah
Hi!
)
Congrats on being pull-free for 6 days! I understand what you mean, trying to heal yourself delves you deeper into thinking about the issue, and can trigger more pulling. One thing that helped was for me to squeeze a ball of Silly Putty. If you are in the US, you’ll know what that is, lol..I just used it as a de-stresser and it worked really well! Kept my hands out of my hair. The interesting thing about NAC is that it not only lessens the urge, but it takes away the thought of pulling as being “normal.” I am not sure how to put this but when my hand will go to my hair sometimes, I think, “Why would I want to pull my hair?” It’s created a new mindset on its own, it took away the compulsion as well as the belief that it was OK to pull. This may not make sense, but all I can say is it’s a part of my past, and I hope it will be yours as well
Take care and feel free to update,
Debbi
Thanks for the detailed info above! I’ve pulled on and off for many years, and I totally understand what Debbi wrote above. Pulling felt normal and comforting up to about 2 months ago. Now my scalp hurts, and pulling seems like much more than a “bad habit.” (Gee, think so??!!)
I’ve been researching NAC for a few months, and am about to order.
Thanks guys! Please keep updating.
Mimi
I ordered! Yay! I’m excited. I’m not sure if this makes sense, but I feel like it’s time for me to move on. The physical pain I’m causing is not OK.
Very empowering! Thanks again.
Mimi
Hi Mimi!
Congrats!! I am so happy for you. Just make sure you take the Vitamin C as well, so if you are taking 1200 mg of NAC, take 2400 mg of Vit. C with it. My suggestion is to stay on this for 2 weeks and see how you do. You can always up the dose to 1800 or 2400 mg if necessary, but you may not have to. Please update and let me know how you are doing, you can email me directly as well, if you wish.
Yes, it is very empowering! You just took an important step in your life! You will succeed!
)
Best wishes,
Debbi
I bought some N-A-C and vitamin C tablets today. I was surprised at how many of each I will have to take to meet the number of milligrams, but hopefully it will help. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Great and congrats! Yes, please update. All those pills are definitely worth it, I believe. If you decide that pills are not for you, then NAC does come in a powder you can mix with drinks as well.
Good luck!
Debbi
Well, it’s been two days of NAC and it may be because I’ve been busy with so much else, but I do feel less urge to pull. In fact, I don’t feel the urge to even touch my hair. I was responding to someone in the Yahoo group tonight and shared that my habit includes eating the root of my hair, and as I was writing this I found myself feeling disgust. Not with myself, but at the very thought of doing that. It’s probably too soon to tell, but I’m feeling like this really could work. Fingers crossed!
Hi!
I was so happy when I read your post. I saw an improvement within a few days, like you have, so please don’t discount it. NAC truly works! It just gets better with time.
Please update again.
Have a great day,
Debbi
I will definately get the amino acids. I have been pulling for 7 years now..(i am 53). I am another one who “eats” the pulled hair (actually just pull it between my teeth and then discard it). I seem to pull the right side more than the left, and definately go after the kinky grays as opposed to the still brown hair. I feel a great deal of disappointment if I pull a straight or still brown hair out. I have been on anti-depressants for about the same amount of time as I have been pulling…I will update after a few weeks on the aminos…
Thank you for this site. No one but my husband knows I have this affliction. I am too ashamed to tell my family or doctor.
Hi Angel,
I am so glad you have decided to try the NAC. I do understand what you are experiencing, I am 45.
I was on antidepressants for nearly 15 years and now have been off of them for 6 weeks and feel wonderful. I now do everything holistically. There are many supplements you can take that can improve mood, such as B-complex vitamins, insositol, and fish oils. I have also found that drinking a lot of water and exercising help tremendously. Perhaps when the NAC starts to work, and you lose that anxiety, you may be able to wean off your medications, if so inclined. I truly hope it helps you.
Feel free to write me anytime with questions. I send lots of supportive energy to you
)
Debbi
I’m so happy the NAC is helping some people. I’m on Day 9 of 1200 mg., and can’t say it’s doing anything — yet. I’ll add 600 mg for a few days and go to 2400 mg daily. I’m also taking C, B-complex and other supplements.
Angel, I do the same with the root. I’m 46 and have pulled since I was a kid, and I still don’t talk about it.
Debbi, I agree about water and exercise. I just gave up a gym membership, but can do a lot at home. I’m trying to cut out all processed foods while adding veggies.
Thanks everyone!
Mimi
Hi Mimi,
I am hoping your results kick in soon. The studies did say that results were seen between 1200-2400 mg, so upping yours could help.
Yes, diet is very important, too. I eat mainly vegetarian, with a little bit of chicken and fish.
If anyone is interested, I have also been taking a supplement combination for about a year which has regrown my hair very quickly, and made it much stronger. I take:
1500 mg Alta Silica/day (organic)
1500 mg MSM/day
15,000 mcg (15 mg) of Biotin/day
Silica makes hair grow quickly and strengthens it, MSM helps hair grow fast as well and increases the diameter of the hair shaft, and Biotin prevents hair from falling out. I lost about 1/2 my hair due to stress and now it is back, thankfully. I hope this information helps as well.
Best wishes,
Debbi
Another update on the NAC. I felt like at first it was really helping and then I started to get the occasional urge again (though I still haven’t pulled!). However, I went on vacation and got a little slack about taking the supplement, missing a few days. I then started to get really strong urges to pull and found myself touching my hair and tugging at(but not pulling out)particular strands. Granted, I was under stress at the time which didn’t help, but I definitely noticed a sharp increase in my desire to pull and my retreating to the usual rituals when I was triggered. It was definitely the worst I’ve been about it since resolving to stop and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I had neglected to take the supplement right before that. So, I’m back on it and have resolved to be more diligent and hopefully this will keep me on track for many more victorious weeks without pulling!
Hi!
D
I had the same thing happen when I missed taking NAC for a day, the urge did come back a bit. I have been on it for nearly 3 months and I think the longer you take it, the better it works. I have had hardly a day where I even think about my hair. When I do, I remind myself how long it takes to grow a hair and how important it is to keep it on my head
I wish you continued success!
Debbi
I’m thinking about upping my dosage of the NAC. I’ve been back on it continuously for 6 days and my urge to pull just won’t stop. I still haven’t given in, but I’m torturing myself by touching those “perfect” hairs so much. I found some higher dosage Vitamin C pills, so that I only have to take half as many, and I’ll keep tripling the C against the NAC. Hopefully, this will help me stop driving myself nuts!
Hi,
The studied dosage was between 1200-2400 mg, so you can increase it and see if it works better. For the Vitamin C, I have read that 2x is sufficient, so you may not need to be taking so much. You may want to cut it down, I know that is a lot of pills to take. I only take about 2x.
If you are really stressed, I recommend taking a homeopathic product called “Calm Drops.” They work very well.
Also, I think exercise is very important. Getting outside can take you away from the “I need to pull” mode and it’s great for your mood.
Best wishes to you!
Debbi
When we started the NAC with my daughter, it was about 5 weeks before we noticed a significant change. And one time we ran out and I kept forgetting to pick some up. We went about 3 weeks. Sure enough she started to pull again because she got mad at me. Now she is back on it and no more problems again.
Hi everyone. I went up to 2400 mg of NAC after I posted here, but I’m still not sure it’s helping. I pull only when I’m working at home or on the phone, so I’ve been wearing a bandana at home, and my hands stay off my head. Right now, pulling is more like a comforting habit, if that makes sense.
I’m wondering why the roots hold such appeal? I’ve never thought about this until recently, but I doubt I would pull if I couldn’t get the root. (Maybe why I pulled brows and lashes infrequently?) What a puzzle!
Stress is at an all-time high, so I’ve been running a few times a week and will change that to walking each morning by next week. I’m still hopeful the NAC will help to remove the “pulling is normal” thoughts. Even if it doesn’t, it’s a great supplement.
Thanks for offering suggestions! I hope ya’ll are doing well.
Mimi
Wow, I found this blog quite late. I’m a 16 year old female teen and have been pulling for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been fascinated by the roots (at first it was the white specks then progressed to the whole pigment with casing) and sometimes pulled just to feel and study them.
Now that I’ve studied biology and such, I’m fascinated with the human body in general. When I pull and get a nice root, I get all excited and try to pick it apart, trying to see what it is made of. I even looked up hair anatomy online to try and make sense of what was coming out of my head.
I think roots hold such appeal because they’re located under the skin where we can’t see them. The shaft of the hair can be seen by anyone so it’s not “special” as far as pulling is concerned. When I pull I hope for a root so I can study it some more, so it’s probably that fascination of what lies beneath and out of sight that makes me want to pull it out.
Maybe it’s just my biology obsession? I don’t know any other trichs so I don’t know if other people feel this way as well.
Thanks for sharing about NAC. After taking 2400 mg. for four months I stopped as it had no effect last year. I go through cycles of twisting/pulling from the sides of my scalp, then I stop for months, then I do eyelashes for a few weeks, then I stop completely for many months. these comments are so interesting. I’ve been a puller since I was 7, but its much easier to handle now that I’m in my 40′s. During my childhood, it was out of control. Everyone tried to help, but it was an unconscious thing on my part.
Mimi, I understand about the root. I think about the root before I pull. Finding it is like taking a feel-good drug. That one element has never changed over these years; it’s a powerful ritual. I’ve found that wearing a clip-in hairpiece covers areas of fuzz and serves as a deterrent. In general, the more of a fuss i make, the worse it is, so I’ve accepted it.
Thanks for the honesty and lack of stereotyping. It’s so rare!
Hi Claire,
I wish the NAC did work for you, I am sorry. If I come across any alternatives, I will certainly post them.
I believe pulling is an anxiety disorder. I have found that exercise helps a lot, as well as squeezing a ball of Silly Putty (really, lol!) It keeps your hands occupied. I used it a lot before I started on the NAC.
Take care,
Debbi
Hey Debbi? Have you tried or do you know anything about Inositol? I’ve read about it, and my derm believes it’s beneficial in helping to reduce stress in some people, but I wanted to get other opinions before spending more money.
Thanks much!
Mimi
Hi Mimi!
First, I hope the increase in NAC does help you, please update when you can.
The exercising is an excellent idea! I walk 3 miles a day and it has helped my mood, energy, and attitude tremendously.
About Inositol, I have been taking 500 mg for a few months since I went off all antidepressants. My mood has been pretty stable, thankfully, but I am not sure if it has been this vitamin or one of the others I take. I take about 15 kinds a day, lol…I’d say that it cannot hurt, it’s a B-vitamin and not very expensive.
I just became a vegetarian so I had to switch to another brand of Inositol since the capsules were made of gelatin. I haven’t received them yet, but I will be taking the Solgar brand, the same brand that I use for the NAC.
Also, I’d like to recommend again the homeopathic “Calm Drops” for you if you are stressed, they really help and are all natural and about $5.00 a box. They are like candy, lol.
Take care,
)
Debbi
Hi. I’m 40 years old and have picked my eyelashes for the last 32 years. During that 32 years i’ve quit pulling them only 2 times. The first time i quit for a little over a year. Very few of them at all grew back. Two months ago I quit again. This time i’ve had just a little bit more growth (barely any). A couple nights ago i started using generic latisse. I was wondering if i have success and stop using if they will stop growing back again. I know if you stop using you lose the benefits, but i just wonder if they will stop growing again at all.
Hi. I’ve been pulling my lashes for 32 years. During this time i’ve quit twice. The first time for a little over a year and this time for two months so far. Hardly any lashes came back the first time and not many more this time. I started using generic latisse a couple of days ago. I was wondering if you have good results with this product and stop using it if your lashes will stop growing again. I know if you stop using product you will lose the benefits, but i wonder if they won’t grow again since they weren’t growing much before i began the product.
Hi Dharmalee,
I wish I could help but I have never pulled my eyelashes, and never used Latisse. I have heard, though, that you should be careful with it as it can change your eye color. Perhaps someone else who has posted here can help you.
Best wishes,
Debbi
Hi all. My 7 year old daughter has been pulling for almost a year now. We tried counseling, but that did absolutely nothing for her. She is now on Prozac, which after about 7 weeks now has had little impact – at least not on the pulling. Though I would not have thought it possible, the Prozac makes her even more active. We would like to try NAC, but for a 7 year old 1200mg seems like so much. Does anyone know where we can find dosage info for a child?
Hi Chris,
I agree with Mimi’s reply. I am surprised and shocked that your doctor put your daughter on Prozac as it is a stimulant and can certainly cause more pulling. I spent nearly 15 years on antidepressant medications and they did not help at all. In fact, they made my life miserable. Thankfully, I am not taking them anymore and holistic methods are much more effective and healthy. Please consider taking your daughter off Prozac, she is so young and it can do long-term damage. Plus, it’s not helping her pulling.
Regarding the NAC dosage, I am not really certain what would help a child, so I do encourage you to contact Dr. Grant. His email address is grant045@umn.edu. Or, perhaps call the University of Minnesota and see if you could speak with him.
Here’s a link to his study’s abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19581567?dopt=Abstract
NAC comes in 600 mg capsules, that is why the dosages are 1200 mg, 1800 mg, etc. However, it does also come in powder form that can be mixed in a drink, so I am sure your daughter can try a lower dosage. As far as I know, there are no side effects as it is an all natural amino acid. If you cannot reach Dr. Grant, perhaps try giving her 100 mg and see how she feels. I am not a doctor, so please don’t take this as medical advice. However, NAC has changed my life, as I have been pull-free since February.
Please update here if you can, best wishes to you and your daughter!
Debbi
One, more suggestion, Chris. Give your daughter a ball of Silly Putty. She can squeeze it when she feels the urge to pull. It really works!
Good luck Chris! I hope your daughter finds Silly Putty useful. I always keep some around. Great stuff at any age!!
Hello Chris,
My daughter is 9 and “rubs” her eyelashes out and I now see her “tugging” at her hair but not “pulling” yet. I use a Vit E oil on her eyes at night before she goes to bed , because I heard it helps grow them back faster and it is slippery, so it can make it harder to rub them out. I am very interested in getting my daughter to take NAC, but I don’t know the correct dosage either. I will contact Dr, Grant to find out too. Has your daughter been taking NAC, and have you noticed anything different in her urge to pull? What dosage did you try? Please let me know, I want to do all that I can to help my daughter. She also uses stress balls and a rubiks cube to distract her.
As a hair puller and eye lashe puller myself, I have been extremely reluctant to take her to a psychiatrist, or behavorialist because of my own personal experience. I do not think prescriptions work and I DEFINITELY do not like prozac…it was awful and made me shake. Prescription just don’t work for this disorder. I don’t want a professional to make my daughter feel like she isn’t trying hard enough or that she is crazy. I have personally seen this happen, and been made to feel this way. So trying something natural and of course having the support from her mom who has suffered with Trich for 33 years too, should hopefully be of some help and comfort. I do wonder though about how depressed and anxious she seems, I certainly don’t want her to suffer needlessly. Does you daughter feel like this too in addition to Trich?
Please let me know how things are going for you or if you need to talk.
Mary
Hi Chris & Debbi,
My daughter first pulled her eyelashes out when she was just 5. It’s now a year later and things are better. About six months ago I learned of NAC from another mom and I’ve been giving it to my daughter twice a day (750mg in am and 750mg in pm). Since she’s so young, she can’t swallow the big pills yet, so I open them and put them in a glass of lemonade. It does work. The only time she pulls is if we miss a dose. I use Country Life brand (also vegetarian), it’s what’s at my local health food store. But I didn’t know I was supposed to be giving her the extra vitamin C. I will start that asap. In addition to the NAC I give her Stress X by BioGenisis. It’s a vitamin w/ a few things, but the main ingredient I use it for is the GABA.
I was wondering if anyone did contact Dr. Grant and what he said was the appropriate amount to give to children. I hope what I’m giving my daughter is ok. So far there don’t seem to be any side effects.
Thanks for the posts and info.
Alexis
Hi Alexis,
That is great news about your daughter, I am so glad the NAC is helping. I don’t know if anyone has contacted Dr. Grant about the appropriate dosage for children, if anyone has, please post here. If the 1500 mg/day is working for your daughter, and you have not noticed any side effects, then I would assume it’s OK for her. I haven’t noticed any side effects in over a year, and I take 1800 mg/day.
I wish you continued success!
Debbi
Hello Chris,
My daughter is 9 and “rubs” her eyelashes out and I now see her “tugging” at her hair but not “pulling” yet. I use a Vit E oil on her eyes at night before she goes to bed , because I heard it helps grow them back faster and it is slippery, so it can make it harder to rub them out. I am very interested in getting my daughter to take NAC, but I don’t know the correct dosage either. I will contact Dr, Grant to find out too. Has your daughter been taking NAC, and have you noticed anything different in her urge to pull? What dosage did you try? Please let me know, I want to do all that I can to help my daughter. She also uses stress balls and a rubiks cube to distract her.
As a hair puller and eye lash puller myself, I have been extremely reluctant to take her to a psychiatrist, or behavorialist because of my own personal experience. I do not think prescriptions work and I DEFINITELY do not like prozac…it was awful and made me shake. Prescription just don’t work for this disorder. I don’t want a professional to make my daughter feel like she isn’t trying hard enough or that she is crazy. I have personally seen this happen, and been made to feel this way. So trying something natural and of course having the support from her mom who has suffered with Trich for 33 years too, should hopefully be of some help and comfort. I do wonder though about how depressed and anxious she seems, I certainly don’t want her to suffer needlessly. Does you daughter feel like this too in addition to Trich?
Please let me know how things are going for you or if you need to talk.
Mary
Hello Everyone ,
I have a 1oyr old daughter who has had trich since she was 7. She started out with doing her eyebrows/eyelashes until recently she stopped that and has started on her scalp. I have been reading everyone’s post and I am wanting to start my daughter one the NAC , but I have been nervous as to what dosage etc. I did send an email to Dr.Grant. I havent had a reply yet. Thank you all for your support and ideas.. I will keep you posted to her progress. Anyone going to the san fran conference?
I have had a huge success from the time released
N-A-C pills. I realized that the urge stopped when I purchased a few small bottles of 5 hour energy. After checking the ingredients, the 5 hour energy had 1800mg of the amino acid.I put two and two together and have been pull free ever since, the pills are much cheaper and I pay more for the time released N-A-C pills but still like the 5-hour energy also. Seems some still are not having the results that many of us are raving about. Also I’m male and still can’t believe how well I have responded after trying so many vitamins and other items. I want to thank and credit the research study folks that had the breakthru last year… Thanks a million, wish it was figured out and discovered twenty years ago while I was in jr high school and first pulled. I can be reached in the Austin, Tx area at jamesinaustin@rocketmail.com
Congrats, James! Thank you for posting your story!
Debbi
Very interesting – when we created Hero Energy Shot as an alternative to 5 hour we really didn’t think that some of the ingredients could have additional medical benefits. Obviously with no studies we can’t promote it, but definitely something worth exploring. Thanks and good luck.
Hi Debbi,
Thanks so much for the advice! I found Calm Drops, and they – plus everything else – are helping tremendously. The stress is bad but not incapacitating, thanks to supplements, diet (plant-based), exercise, and awareness. I don’t think I’m an NAC success story, but I’ll finish my supply.
For now, I literally walk away from severe stress for a while (situations, people, deadlines), and run or swim. Inside I often wear a little scarf or bandanna, and I love Silly Putty, pencils with hairy trolls (?!), big paper clips, etc. Pulling occurs only when I’m alone, on the phone or at a computer – but I’m not pulling. It’s like that “pull hair/feel good” switch is off.
At this stage, I agree with you about anxiety disorder. I’m removing pulling as a coping mechanism.
Thanks again! How are you doing? – mimi
Hi Mimi!
Great to hear from you with such an encouraging update! I love the fact that you are so proactive and what you are doing is working! Pencil trolls…lolol!!
I am so happy for you!
Me, I am doing very well, thanks! No real urge to pull. I see you are also a veggie…my dietary change has really helped me, too. I think you also noted something else very important–awareness. Once you become completely conscious of what you are doing, you have the ability to control your actions. Pulling is such an unconscious behavior, so being able to recognize triggers and change the behavior pattern truly works.
Do you meditate as well?
Debbi
Hi Chris,
I believe the U of Minnesota’s NAC study involved adults, but you probably could contact Dr. Grant’s office for information about kids. I also went to a counselor at your daughter’s age, and briefly tried a bunch of medications, which were horrid. You know, I was a “normal kid,” very active, confident and outgoing, but I was totally unaware I pulled, and then unaware when and why I pulled. To this day, I don’t know what might have helped.
I’ll be so happy if NAC helps your daughter. Fingers crossed here!
Mimi
Mimi
I have to thank people for posting here. We seem to agree that stress is a killer. I left a support group because everything was about “one day pull free” ” two days” etc. That’s pressure I don’t need or want.
Mimi mentioned a “switch” going on and off and that’s why part of this must be neurological. Debbie mentioned awareness & as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown aware of triggers and how imp awareness is. I’m also taking supplements (but stopped NAC), eating well, using “calm drops” and I exercise, but what else can I do to reduce stress?
I lost my job almost a year ago, after moving 2500 miles to take it. I’m happy I tried, but since then I’ve been almost paralyzed with anxiety (does that make sense?! i know it’s been so long..) I see friends and do normal things, it’s just that “normal” hardly exists anymore, not in this area that’s been crushed by the recession. I’m looking for jobs all over but my concentration is non-existent. (ADD meds are not an option..) So if anyone can be specific about steps to de-stress, calm down, and regain control, i would appreciate it. – thanks, Claire
Hi Claire,
I am glad to see that this site has helped. I am familiar with the “pull-free fests” and agree that they cause more stress than help. I am sorry to hear about your job. I am, too, undergoing a lack of concentration which is disconcerting, to say the least.
I do some metaphysical things to help me that are kind of unconventional. I don’t really want to mention them here, but if you’d like to email me, I will reply. My address is namaste319@aol.com.
Debbi
sorry about the job loss – i know how that goes. How is your sleep? The paralyzing anxiety is somehting that I have often struggled with. You just CAN’T do stuff, no matter how simple. I don’t think it is anxiety; I think it is depression. I finally found an “Aunt D” that works for me – celexa, but still do have some problems with anxiety, but the anxiety is mostly tied to lack of sleep for me. My doctor put me on a low dose of xanax, and it was just enough to get me to sleep at night. Not being sleep deprived helps significantly with the overwhelmed feeling. Also, for me, fatigue triggers my hair pulling, so I always have to make sure I get at least 8 hours.
Hi Claire,
Sorry about your job. Things are bad where I live, too. I know what you mean about anxiety. It’s been paralyzing me for more months than I care to admit.
Debbi, that sounds fascinating. I’ll write you soon if you don’t mind. My concentration comes and goes.
Mimi
Hi Mimi!
I was away from home, checked my email, and I saw you wrote me but the email disappeared, please write again
Thanks!
Debbi
What are Calm Drops and where could I find them?
Thank you.
Hi Lauren,
Calm Drops are a homeopathic lozenge (like a candy) that helps to relax you. They are all natural, not a drug. I found them in my Whole Foods store, but you can get them on the Web as well. They are like $5.00 for a box of 30 drops.
Best wishes,
Debbi
I’m so impressed with this conversation!! You’re all so kind and helpful and the tips are wonderful. I so relate to everyone, especially about anxiety being really high right now. Someone mentioned an anti-depressant for anxiety? I tried AD’s years ago and they made me sleepy. Do they act as anti-anxiety meds now?
I use Melatonin if I can’t sleep. I pull regardless of anxiety, but I don’t pull daily or weekly. It’s been so long that I refuse to allow pulling to rule my life. As someone mentioned, pulling now (I’m 38) is vastly different from pulling in early childhood. I’m aware now, and I usually stop, but I won’t punish myself for pulling. (No pull-free marathons for me!)
I loved reading these comments! Cammie
Hi Cammie,
Thanks for writing. I am glad that the tips have helped you. For everyone out there, I am still pull-free (over 5 months) and still taking 1200 mg of NAC/day. I feel great!
I am not sure who advocated anti-depressant meds, but I unequivocally don’t. Thankfully, I was able to get off them about 5 months ago and I have been so much happier since. If you can, try holistic means to say calm, and add exercise to your routine each day. It really helps me to de-stress.
Cammie, I am glad you are aware of your pulling and don’t let it control your life. You may want to try NAC as well, as you may become pull-free. If you need further info., just let me know.
Best wishes,
Debbi
Debbi that’s great news! I tried NAC for six months and it had no effect. Do you exercise daily? Somebody above said that paralyzing anxiety might really be depression. I’ve heard that before and found it interesting, but prefer not to try any AD’s. Cammie
Hi Cammie,
I am sorry for the late reply. I just saw your post. I exercise nearly every day. I either bike 14 miles a few days a week or walk 3-4 miles the days in between. I have to say that exercise has definitely helped me keep my head clear. I was on 17 different antidepressant/antianxiety meds (yes!) over the years and have been totally off everything for 7 months. I feel WONDERFUL. If you can, stay off the meds, they do horrible things to your brain, body, and most especially your consciousness. What has helped me most is changing my diet to 100% vegetarian (nearly vegan), exercise, and B-vitamins for mood. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks!
Hi Cammie,
Couldn’t agree more about NOT using Medication. I was curious though, why have you changed to a vegetarian diet? Does that help with Trich and mood disorders?
Thanks,
Mary
Hi Mary,
I think you may have been addressing the question to me, not to Cammie. I became a vegetarian for other reasons, not because of the pulling. However, it has benefited my health tremendously and it does affect mood. When you eat meat, you are ingesting the consciousness of the animal, which is seeped in fear and anxiety. If you are interested, visit PETA.org and take a look at animals confined before slaughter, you may never eat meat, chicken, or fish again. So, when you literally ingest the fear of the animal, you absorb it yourself, and it will affect your mood and consciousness. You can develop anxiety, depression, and other disorders. Pulling is an anxiety disorder.
Plants, however, have a higher frequency and do not resonate fear. Since I became a vegetarian, I have been able to go off all meds and stay off them without any effort. Plus, my mood is much more stable and I have the utmost compassion for all living beings because I don’t believe in killing them. Compassion is very important to maintaining within yourself the higher frequency of love, which is the opposite of fear. Best wishes!
Hi. I’m glad I’ve found this blog. I’ve been pulling since I was thirteen. It initially started because I wanted to find a way of a) having shorter hair so girls at my school wouldn’t make fun of me and b)so that my mother wouldn’t have a chance to drag me across the floor by it in one of her rages. In addition to this I was also anorexic as a teenager. I’m 26 now and I’m just realizing just what a devastating effect Trich has had on my life. It completely ruined my adolescence, my ability to make and keep friends, keep up with my studies ( I took endless ‘gap’ years and justified it by saying I was ‘following my own path’ but now I think I know that Trich and the fact that I was so crippled by my appearance lay behind it) as well as ruining my ability to build my life in the way any normal young adult should have…It’s because of it that I was unable to escape an abusive home, unable to strike out and live in my own right and why I’m stillage 26 living with that same abusive mother who, when I ask her why she didn’t get me a wig to wear at age 16 just shrugs her shoulders and comes out with a whole lot of bullshit self-defensive crap that it’s because I ‘ didn’t ask’ for it.
I need to add for clarity here that she basically let me go bald through all the major, most fundamental and formative years of my life – allowed me to be a freak. I’m a creative person, I wanted at one time to be an actress and am now an on-and-off poet ( i.e when inspiration comes) but I’m still bald and I just feel ‘dead’ inside. Three years ago I finally had a place in a university for foreign languages but didn’t take it… because I knew the eztreme loneliness and ostratization I would have experienced there, just as i did everywhere else. Paradoxically, living with my emotionally twisted, abusive mother is the only acceptance and lasting ‘acceptance’ that I know and I certainly don’t trust other people since my friends basically vanished on me after a couple of years, distancing me from their lives once they were able to move away to new towns and places.
I’m trying to cope with the pain but I don’t think I can.. how do you cope with the pain?
What do you think lies behind trichotillomania? Sp many people here are talking of treatment.. the medication they take.. herbal or otherwise…
what about what MADE you what you are? Why are there so few articles out there about how trich can be caused by childhood abuse and worsened by carers’ neglect of you?
On the other hand though : I’m really interested in the Amino acid treatment named… I think Debbie is probably more a Sales person rather than a real trich sufferer ( i.e all that she says sounds too good to be true and just a little bit too repetitive)but I live in England where people are really backward when it comes to alternative treatment.. especially for this sort of thing.
Hi, Elise -
sorry to hear about your struggle. I can empathize. As for why you have trich – just a wierd biochemical blip. Personnally, I don’t htink the abusive home caused the problem, but I do think it exacerbates it. I was depressed for most of my adult life and that dessimated my life even more than the trich. I do remember being extremely relieved when at 20 years of age (after 13 years of pulling) my stepmother showed me an article in a women’s magazine that diagnosed the problem. that was back in 1990. IT was such a relief! I’m not a freak of nature! (just felt like one). There are millions of us! This past summer I did take 1800 mg of NAC daily (pretty cheap stuff – solgar brand -i think- was like $8 for 30) and found it to help tremendously. It didn’t eradicate it, but I think that after 32+ years, a lot of hte problem at this point is habit. And anytime I am overtired, I pull. So I try to guard my sleep as ferociously as possible.
I also did a lot of reading on mindfulness meditation. One book I recommend is Dancing with Life by philip moffitt. If you start to get into buddhist mindfulness meditatoin and/or mindfulness yoga (like kripalu) you will see that your mind will start to let go of the annoying chatter and judgment. It is the judgment that is holidng you back now –not trich, not abusive parents. What happened to you when you were a child is your parents’ fault, but what happens to you as an adult is YOUR fault. LIke I tell my neice who suffered some severe sexual abuse as a child – you need to get out of victim mode and into problem solving mode. I don’t mean to be harsh, here, so please don’t be offended. I was at the same place you are at age 26. And being in victim mode doesn’t get you anywhere. It just isolates and depresses you more. You have a long road ahead of you. If it is going to take 10 years, then you probably want to get started NOW instead of suffering another ten years before helping your self. If a good therapist is not an option, I definately recommend the yoga and the mindfulness meditation – but be aware that nothing will work instantly. Doesn’t matteer what path you choose, it will take some time. Please keep us posted!
Hi Amy,
I am really interested in trying the buhhdist meditation or yoga. Do you know if the meditation comes in CD form. I do better listening rather than reading how to relax.
Anyway…great advice you gave up there….I have been the victim for many years too. I am 41 and was also abused as a child and the Trich was made fun of by some of my family members and ignored by others. I was alone and I am still trying to find the courage to LIVE inspite of it all. You are very inspiring.
Thanks for the tips!
Mary
Hi, Mary -
Thank you for your kind words…
I recently purchased Amy Weintraub’s CD “Breathe to Beat the Blues” – it has some good exercises that have put me to sleep literally : ) What you want to look for when shopping is either progressive muscle relaxation type programs or yoga programs that have “pranayama” exercises which is “breathing”. The wientraub CD is all pranayama – some to relax, some to energize.
THe moffitt book (and other buddhist books) talks about focusing on your inhalation while counting ONE, and then TWO on the exhalation until you get to 10 without letting your brain wander. As soon as your brain wanders, start back at 1. I think I have gotten to 2 : ). It sounds much easier than it is. ANd the key is to not judge yourself as a failure for not getting past 2 or whatever, and to not get frustrated or mad, etc. You just simply realize youre wandering and start over. It actually gets kind of funny after a while and you start to see how much you judge yourself – I’m sure you know all about that, right? : ) Also, what I am learning from the breathing exercises is that they need to be practiced several times a day every day (they don’t take long). That way, when you are facing an anxious event (Like the other day when I had to have a blood test-i’m a major needle phobe), your body “knows” how to relax, how to make the breathing make you relax. If you only practice once or twice, and then wonder why it didn’t help you when you were freaking out… think of it like this: if you want six-pack abs, will doing 10 sit-ups one time get you those six-pack abs?
Sorry that your family members weren’t a litle more sensitive to your pain and inability to stop pulling. I totally understand the AlONENESS of it. You ARE finding the courage to live – You are alive!
All my best to you, and let me know if you have any other questions!
Love,
Amy
Also, if you go to kripalu.org, you may be able to find a yoga class – group classes are a great, cheap way to get started.
Hi Again Amy,
I can’t figure out how to reply to your new post. I just wanted to say Thanks again …I will definitely look into all of that. It sounds like just what I need. I used to do Yoga and I really miss it…it was so good for me. I can’t wait to try the breathing excercise…I worry like no other person I know….hopefully I can get past ONE… LOL!!
Thanks again for all the tips…I love this site!
Mary
Elise,
I came on this site in February and started this post just to help people, that is it, that was my ONLY intent. I am NOT a salesperson, just someone who is now healed from this condition and wants to impart my experiences to others. You have no right to judge me or my intentions. I hope someday you will be healed as well. Thank you.
Hello Everyone,
I was wondering if anyone knows if it is safe to give Nac to children with Trich? My daughter “rubs” her eyelashes out and I would like to help her in anyway I can. I have also suffered from trich for 33 years, so of course I would like to find a way to prevent her from suffering for years like me. I have only found one place that says children can take 60 mg with Vit C, but nothing else anywhere else. I was so excited to give her this but lack of info has made me cautious!
Anyone tried this with thier children?
Mary
Mary,
Regarding NAC for children, I am not really certain what dosage would help a child, so I do encourage you to contact Dr. Grant, the man who did the NAC study. His email address is grant045@umn.edu. Or, perhaps call the University of Minnesota and see if you could speak with him.
Here’s a link to his study’s abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19581567?dopt=Abstrac
Good to all. Can i share as well? My 11 year old daughter has been pulling for a year now. We already tried counseling, but same that did nothing for her.
Hi Jeffrey,
See if your daughter can take NAC. It’s an all natural amino acid that stops pulling. I have been taking it since January.
I am not really certain what dosage would help a child, so I do encourage you to contact Dr. Grant, the man who did the NAC study. His email address is grant045@umn.edu. Or, perhaps call the University of Minnesota and see if you could speak with him.
Here’s a link to his study’s abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19581567?dopt=Abstrac
I have been on NAC for a few days only 600 mg because you need to slowly work your way up. I’m dissapointed. I wasn’t expecting it to work or it to be a miracle, but it hasn’t really done anything.
And I’m questioning whether or not I do have trich or if I just pull because it’s a habit. I’m so confused. I’ve been diagnosed by a psychiatrist but who knows? What exactly is an impulse? A lot of people seem to have good results with NAC, I guess I’m not lucky or need to give it some time.
This rambled a bit, I’m just confused…
Hi Jade,
I started this post about NAC and I have been on it since January. You need to give it at least 2 weeks to work, please don’t give up so soon. It has been a lifesaver for me. I now take 1800 mg/day with no side effects.
Pulling is an anxiety issue, and the NAC appears to remove the desire to pull. Please don’t get caught up with psychiatrists and diagnoses, you can heal this habit from the inside out.
Best wishes,
Debbi
I will definitely get the amino acids. I have been pulling for 2 years now. also need information about is it safe to give Nac to children with Trich…
Hi Hair Growth,
NAC has been a miracle for me, and I’ve been on it for 10 months with no problems at all. Please give it 2 weeks to work, start at 1200 mg/day.
Regarding NAC for children, I am not really certain what dosage would help a child, so I do encourage you to contact Dr. Grant, the man who did the NAC study. His email address is grant045@umn.edu. Or, perhaps call the University of Minnesota and see if you could speak with him.
Here’s a link to his study’s abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19581567?dopt=Abstrac
Best wishes,
Debbi
Regarding problems like OCD it sounds like there is extra energy or tension with the desire to use that “compulsion”.
Inositol has a calming effect because it regulates the impulses between the nerves.
Simple thought in lamens terms but it makes sense.
Hi Jacob,
I also take 1000 mg of Inositol a day, along with the NAC.
Debbi
I have a question about NAC for my 17 yr old daughter who has been pulling since age 8 and therapy has not helped. I want to start her at 1200mg and increase in increments of 600mg as needed. Should she space the pills out over the course of the day or can she take all the pills(assuming she takes 2400mg) at one time?
Hi Kikki,
I take 1800 mg. (3 capsules) at once in the late afternoon. However, I am sure your daughter can take 600 mg in the AM and 600 in the PM to start. That way the NAC can be in her system evenly throughout the day. If she wants to take them all at once, however, I don’t see a problem with that either, as that is what I have been doing for a year.
Best wishes,
Debbi
I am feeling very encouraged to give my 10 year old daughter NAC. I was giving it to her in a very low dosage, like 200mg a day, because although it is a vitamin, it is still altering things in the body and you can have too much of a good thing. This does seem like a pretty safe alternative though. NOT a fan of medicine. I will go ahead and increase that dramatically! She has been”rubbing” her eyelashes out, since she was five and picking at the skin around her nails. I had heard that you shouldn’t take NAC with any dairy products like milk, because it prevents it from absorbing as well into your body. Does anyone know about that? My daughter LOVES milk and I want to make sure she is getting all of the benefits. I also suffer from Trich for 34 years now and will be upping my dose in hopes that it will help me too. I am also going to look into an earlier mentioned vitamin called Stress X by Biogenisis with GABA. I take alot of Vitamins myself, to include Sublingual GABA ( absorbes better under tongue). Love the info I am getting on here. You all are great!!
Mary
Hi Mary,
I have not heard about the NAC/milk interaction. I don’t drink milk at all as I am a vegan. Make sure your daughter also takes an adequate dosage of Vitamin C with the NAC to prevent kidney issues.
Glad it’s working!
Debbi
I also meant to say that I tried with no success to reach Dr. Grant. Has anyone contacted him?
Mary
Hi Alexis,
This is in response to your post on Feb 10. I looked up Stress X by Biogenisis. It says that you must be a licensed health care provider to get it. Did you go through your childs pediatrician? Did that doctor tell you about this? Are you using a regular doctor or a homeopathic doctor? How did you learn about this product and how much do you give your daughter. I am a bit reluctant to talk to my daughters pediatrician since they mostly deal with medicine ,and are unfamiliar with vitamins. Plus once you tell them about Trich they want you to get into therapy, and on Meds as soon as possible and if you don’t then you are neglecting your child. I AM trying to help her, so if you have any info that you can share that would be great!
Thanks,
Mary
Hi Mary,
I get the Stress X from my naturopath chiropractor, Dr. Keith Erwin in Bethel CT. He’s wonderful, extremely smart and is always researching things. I find that when I go to my daughter’s pediatrician that he’s just a generalist. They just can’t seem to think outside the box. I give her 1500mg of the NAC by Country Life (750mg am/750mg pm). But I’m testing out just giving her it once a day. I’m a bit freaked out that I didn’t know I have to give her the extra vitamin C. She’s been on NAC now since last July. We started the Stress X maybe in Oct or Nov. I give it to her 1 in the am/ 1 at pm. I pull the pills apart and mix the powder in some Simply Lemonade. She just can’t swallow pills yet. This has definitely worked for my daughter but if I miss a dose, then she’ll pull/rub out her eyelashes. She says they bother her, get in her eyes and that’s why she’ll pull. If you ever want to talk, you can call me at 203-798-2780. I know what it’s like to be your kids only advocate and to feel like no one is listening.
Alexis
Thanks Alexis!
I just found Stress X by Biogenisis on Amazon.com of all places! I don’t know how they did that but there it is. Does the medicine make your daughter sleepy or tired. My daughter has been showing signs of not only anxiety but depression, so I want to be careful with what I give her. I may order some. Don’t feel about the Vit C, better late than never. I know what you mean about doctors not thinking outside the box…VERY frustrating. I have been dealing with that for years. Unfortunately my husbands health insurance does not cover naturopathic doctors, or I would be going there for help. I have found help with a book called “Prescription for Nutritional Healing” by Phyliss A. Balch, CNC. I use it for every ailment. I am not a big fan of Meds and have tried therapy for myself for years with no answers for Trich. The Meds made me feel more anxious and did not help with Trich. Most therapists and Psychiatrist really don’t know how to stop the compulsion, much less know why we do it. So we are forced to try new things to help ourselves, but it gets tricky (no pun intended LOL) when kids are involved. I would much rather be the guinea pig. Fortunately for my daughter I have Trich too ( 34 years now). I will do all that I can to help her stop, so she doesn’t suffer. I am so appreciative of all the comments on here and on facebook and TLC. I just LOVE how much information is out there and how this disorder is being openly discussed now. It helps everyone to know they are not alone. Thank you for wanting to talk, I am going to write down your phone number but I don’t really talk on the phone much because the phone is a trigger for me and I don’t want to pull. If you want to find me on Facebook, look for Mary Parrott ( I am in a black top with with white embelishments on the top. I have blond hair and you can see pink streamers and balloons in the back ground. I have quite a few Trich friends on there with children who have Trich too and we can all help each other. Just send me a message to confirm it’s me. Or you can email me at fourcoolbirds@msn.com.
Thanks Alexis!
Mary
i’ve suffered with trich since 13 i am now 26, i’ve been bald many times and now i keep my hair short. the doctors in the UK wont diagnose me they say it will go when my deppression does, but it hasnt . I’m so glad there are others like me, will try this method and update
Hi Jay!
I feel for you and your situation. I have been on NAC since Jan. 2010, still without problems and doing well. I take 1800 mg/day. NAC helps with mood, so you may find relief there, too. I also recommend you take 1000 mg/day of Inositol, an all natural B vitamin that helps mood a lot. Best wishes! Debbi
My boyfriend has been noticing me pulling my hair out while I’m asleep. It’s gotten to the point where he wakes me up and tells me to stop. I’m in college, so needless to say very stressed out usually. I don’t know if this is Trich or not. I feel as though my hair has been thinning, but no bald spots. I don’t want to ignore it anymore, and my poor boyfriend needs a good night’s sleep. Any suggestions?