My sister is pulling her hair out (literally)

[clifffaith]

My sister has had issues with depression and anxiety for years, compounded by a brain aneurysm almost exactly six years ago which caused her to move in with my parents. We saw her and my parents for a brought-in meal around March 15, then again on March 20 when we scoured 6 grocery stores in their area to get everything on Mom's list as our area went into stay-at-home. Didn't see them again until May 8 when we dropped off birthday and Mother's Day gifts and goodies. At that time when my sister left the room I said to my mother "did she cut her own hair?" -- her hair seemed to be somewhat mullet-like, short on top, longer in back. I figured she'd got fed up with her hair in her face and just chopped some of it off. But Mom answered "she's pulling it out". What?! That day we'd picked up some puzzles my sister was done with and they were something that interested us so we decided to put them together before selling them on eBay or Facebook -- thank goodness because the boxes were full of my sister's hair! Didn't see them for a month and forced pizza on them Sunday (Mom is afraid take out food has the virus). OMG, my sister has pulled out so much of her hair that I don't know how she goes out in public. I asked my mother if she'd spoken with her and the response was "she said if she had a dog or a cat she wouldn't be so anxious". Yeah, right. So this is a new development in her mental issues, in spite of continuing with her shrink appts. on the phone each week. Just wondered if anyone has ever dealt with such a thing before.

 

[Tacoma]

My sister in law suffered from alepicia for a while where your hair falls out. She went almost completely bald but followed a diet suggested by a naturopath and it all came back. Pulling out your own hair or cutting yourself is a mental health issue. I hope your sister finds the help she needs. These are difficult times for many people.

 

[chunkygal]

I have had patients with this problem, trichotellomania, which is a form of ocd. I also have a daughter with ocd, cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment, but you have to find someone who really knows what they are doing. Dr David burns has a website that deals with it. My dark says she is 95% better after therapy, but it is work. God bless you. I had to learn more about anxiety than I ever wanted to know, but my family and I look at the whole thing as a blessing. I was much more empathetic to my patients and more helpful.

 

[VacationForever]

I am sorry that this is happening to your sister and how it directly affects your family. Has her psychiatrist prescribed medications to her? I think this is a case where the right medication may help.

 

[clifffaith]

I am sorry that this is happening to your sister and how it directly affects your family. Has her psychiatrist prescribed medications to her? I think this is a case where the right medication may help.

My sister is very closed mouth. Any of us who ask questions get "the look". When she was in the hospital with the aneurysm 6 years ago we cleaned out her apartment and found several Rx bottles for anxiety and other mental issues (also found notes that said 9am make toast, 9:04 butter toast, 9:05 put jam on toast, etc etc -- as if she were trying to quiet her mind). We were mad at my parents for giving her these bottles back before they had a handle on what her issues really were. We don't know what she's taking, or for that matter if she's taking anything, since we don't want to question my mother (who may or may not know) too closely because of her total immersion in all of Dad's hospice issues.

 

[chunkygal]

Meds don’t work as well as therapy, and this is from someone trained to give meds. The advantage when my dry was young was that I could make her do things, with an adult it is different

 

[TravelTime]

Here's a national organization that specializes in trichotillomia. They have a lot of online resources, support groups and a therapist list of clinicians that specialize in it.

https://www.bfrb.org/index.php

 

[Cornell]

I'm so sorry for what you are going through. Heartbreaking & upsetting to read.

 

[clifffaith]

Here's a national organization that specializes in trichotillomia. They have a lot of online resources, support groups and a therapist list of clinicians that specialize in it.

https://www.bfrb.org/index.php

Thanks so much -- I'll print some of the info for my non-computer using mother and then discuss with her how much to pass on to my sister. I'm also hoping that shortly in person shrink appts will start up and when that woman sees what's left of my sister's hair she will step up the therapy.

 

[SteelerGal]

One of my children is a picker and we decided to use a 2 prong approach: medication and CBT. Stabilization was key for us. We are hoping w/ continued support and a change in school environment, my child can wean off of medication.

 

[WinniWoman]

Very sorry about your sister. I hope she gets the help she needs. Terrible.