Brittany Wahila MSTI 260 Professor Robson 2/11/10

Trichotillomania is a condition I never heard of before discussing it in class a week ago. I was shocked when we watched the you tube video of a child that appeared to be a teenage boy pulling out his hair stand by strand and then putting each piece in his mouth. After the video was finished Professor Robson told us that this was in fact not a teenage boy but a girl. I was shocked as I realized that this young girl had a problem so severe that she took on a new appearance. As much as I feel wrong in saying this, I was disgusted to continue watching after a minute of this video. The girl looked as if she had no idea she was even consumed in this activity, yet it was apparent that this had taken control and precedence over everything else she could have been doing as a “normal” teenage girl of her age. Reading the article from TeensHealth presents another example of a case of Trichotillomania and presented the idea that this problem is not as rare as it seems.

The article presents many ways to get help from this disorder and what causes the problem. Doctors have not been able to find a direct cause of the problem, but have found related disorders and disabilities that may trigger Trichotillomania. These disorders include Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, depression, and/or anxiety. (Penzel 2009). The article also describes the disorder to involve pulling or all hair on the body ranging from eyebrows to pubic hair. Although the most identified hair pulling is on the scalp, these other areas are also affected. Experts recommend seeking help from a therapist and/or medication. The therapist may help the hair puller to find associations with objects or events that cause the urge to pull their hair.

This article will help me as a future educator to be more aware of the needs and struggles with my students. Although as a teacher candidate for special education I am focusing on the major disabilities and disorders, I must also be aware and open to other problems I have not yet explored or know yet. It will be my job as a future educator to find problems my students have and research ways to diagnose and help them. If I have an idea of what is wrong with a child I can suggest my research to parents or guardians and help them to seek professional help just as the article explains. These children will be in my hands and I will be a very important figure in helping them grow and succeed. My students will not be able to learn and so their best unless they have support and distractions are prevented at most times.