A woman who has spent over 10 years pulling out her own hair and shaves her head to prevent urges says dates can’t handle her condition – but it’s “their loss”.
Bethany Stewart first developed trichotillomania, also known as trich or TTM, after the heartbreaking loss of three grandparents in quick succession when she was just 11.
The now-23-year-old from Glasgow began to tug at the strands for emotional relief.
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While it has become better in recent years, it affects her dating life in particular.
“I wouldn’t say it’s under control [but] it’s more managed now by shaving my head every few weeks to stop it growing to a length where I can start pulling it out again,” Bethany told Need To Know.
“Some boys are put off by it.
“I’ve been on dates where the man just walks away and that can be hurtful.
“It affects my self-confidence, but I reckon it’s their loss.
“I’ve just come out of two-and-half-year relationship, which ended.
“But it wasn’t because of my condition – he wasn’t bothered by that.
“I’m not sure if I will ever settle down and have kids.
“I’m not really sure I even want to.”
When the condition first arose, Bethany felt “incredibly embarrassed” and it took a while for her to get diagnosed.
She said: “When I was younger I felt incredibly embarrassed by it, but I just get on with it now.
“It started when I was 11 just as I was starting secondary school, which was awkward.
“It became so bad that I eventually developed bald patches and would sweep my hair into a style to try to hide it.
“I went to my GP when I was 14 and it took a while to be properly diagnosed because my doctor didn’t know what it was.
“I then went through cognitive behavioural therapy to try and treat it – but there is no cure.
“It is triggered by stress or anxiety.
“I just shave my head because it’s easier to manage.
“My colleagues at work are really helpful and tell me if I’m reaching for my hair.”
It is thought that trichotillomania affects 2% of people, mainly teenagers under stress.
Bethany, who works at a finance company, added: “It’s difficult accessing support – there are big waiting lists to get treatment.
“So I will probably have this for the rest of my life.
“I don’t foresee a time when I won’t have it.
“I just have to live with this condition.”
According to the NHS website, trich is commonly treated using a type of CBT called habit reversal training.
This aims to help you replace a bad habit with something that’s not harmful.
Treatment usually involves keeping a diary of your hair pulling, working out the triggers for your hair pulling and learning how to avoid them and replacing hair pulling with another action, like squeezing a stress ball.
Antidepressants are not usually prescribed to treat trich.
