Trichotillomania in Children
Trichotillomania in children can be a subject of extreme concern for parents, especially if we have never heard of such a condition and need to be educated on the matter.
However, the hair pulling behavior that characterizes this condition, when we think we find trichotillomania in children, may not be that at all.
It may very well be just a phase, much like thumb sucking.
The most important thing to keep in mind is not to make the child feel ashamed or stressed with worry.
As a result of a lack of widespread public knowledge on this subject, we as parents can easily act wrongly out of misunderstanding, which can severely worsen the situation if it is indeed an actual case of trichotillomania in children, unknowingly, even though we love them very much.
Often in support groups we can hear the comments of some who have suffered in their childhood.
One such person put it this way (paraphrased for privacy); "In my early childhood, my parents, especially my mother, were quite ashamed and always yelled at me and punished me for pulling my hair out.
They would display it to everyone (friends, relatives, teachers, hairdressers), showing my bald patches for all to see, humiliating me in front of them about how I pulled my own hair out.
This, by the way, didn't make it any better.
I stopped around the time I was going to high school...
by which time I was lucky enough to have many adults (friends' parents and teachers) who thought the world of me and always praised me in my efforts to control myself.
Trichotillomania was never dealt with by my parents, nor did they ever seek help for me.
Of course, it goes without saying that I don't enjoy a good relationship with either of them to this very day.
" When we do find trichotillomania in children, we need to be understanding above all, and supportive...
they are our children, and look to us for everything, and we need to be there for them on all accounts, needless to say.
Punishment is not helpful for trichotillomania in children, but actually worsens the case.
Those who suspect this condition should seek further education on this subject.
However, the hair pulling behavior that characterizes this condition, when we think we find trichotillomania in children, may not be that at all.
It may very well be just a phase, much like thumb sucking.
The most important thing to keep in mind is not to make the child feel ashamed or stressed with worry.
As a result of a lack of widespread public knowledge on this subject, we as parents can easily act wrongly out of misunderstanding, which can severely worsen the situation if it is indeed an actual case of trichotillomania in children, unknowingly, even though we love them very much.
Often in support groups we can hear the comments of some who have suffered in their childhood.
One such person put it this way (paraphrased for privacy); "In my early childhood, my parents, especially my mother, were quite ashamed and always yelled at me and punished me for pulling my hair out.
They would display it to everyone (friends, relatives, teachers, hairdressers), showing my bald patches for all to see, humiliating me in front of them about how I pulled my own hair out.
This, by the way, didn't make it any better.
I stopped around the time I was going to high school...
by which time I was lucky enough to have many adults (friends' parents and teachers) who thought the world of me and always praised me in my efforts to control myself.
Trichotillomania was never dealt with by my parents, nor did they ever seek help for me.
Of course, it goes without saying that I don't enjoy a good relationship with either of them to this very day.
" When we do find trichotillomania in children, we need to be understanding above all, and supportive...
they are our children, and look to us for everything, and we need to be there for them on all accounts, needless to say.
Punishment is not helpful for trichotillomania in children, but actually worsens the case.
Those who suspect this condition should seek further education on this subject.
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