Trichotillomania

There's this disorder
that makes my heart hurt,
and my stomach flip.

Trichotillomania,
it's hair loss from
repeated urges to
pull or twist the hair
until it breaks off.

It's a phycological condition
that gives the victim the
unavoidable urge to pull
the hair from their scalp,
nose, facial har, or other body hair!

Trichotillomania,
it's a type of impulsive control disorder.

The causes are
not clearly understood.

Trichotillomania may affect
as much as
4% of the population,
and women are 4Xs more
likely to be affected by it
than men.

Trichotillomania
that begins in children
less than 6 years old,
may go away without treatment.

I've read that
for most people,
the hair pulling ends
within 12 months.

But, for some,
trichotillomania is
a lifelong disorder!

Treatment is said
to often improve
the hair pulling,
feelings of depression,
anxiety, or poor self-image.

Some people
eat the hair that
they pull out,
which is

This then causes complications.

People can have complications when they eat the pulled-out hair (trichophagia). This can cause a blockage in the intestines or lead to poor nutrition.

Author's Notes/Comments: 

A work in progress. My mom found out that my sister has been pulling out her own hair, which my mother said means that she has Trichotillomania, so I decided to write a poem about what it is.
Please let me know what you think!

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