Pulling my hair out. Dec. 31, 2007, 9:02 AM EST / Source: Self. By Jessica Hilberman. In a society where long, shiny hair signals sex appeal and desirability, I am a woman with a bald spot.

Trichotillomania drove me to pull out strands of my hair until I was bald. The wigs couldn't cover my shame. Accessibility statement Skip to main content. Democracy Dies in Darkness.

Although I still pull out my hair, I no longer suffer from the shame of trichotillomania. The urge to pluck my eyebrows, which gripped me at 8 years old, has never returned.

For most people, the expression “I’m so stressed I could pull out my hair!” is just a saying. But for some, it’s the reality of living with trichotillomania, a psychological disorder that ...