Understanding Trichotillomania: A Personal Story and Expert Insights

Ruben Chorlton-Owen shares his experience with trichotillomania, a compulsive hair-pulling disorder affecting 1-2% of people. Experts discuss symptoms, treatments, and coping strategies to raise awareness and reduce stigma.

Personal Experience with Trichotillomania

An online content creator living with trichotillomania, a compulsive hair-pulling disorder, encourages others affected by the condition to avoid shame or embarrassment.

Ruben Chorlton-Owen, 24, from Abersoch in Gwynedd, has trichotillomania, also known as trich or TTM. This disorder causes him to compulsively pluck hairs from his beard or eyebrows when feeling anxious or bored.

Trichotillomania is estimated to affect between 1% and 2% of the population, according to research published in the scientific journal Nature.

Clare Mackay, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Oxford, explained that the condition can be severe, sometimes leading individuals to pull out all their hair.

Ruben was diagnosed with trichotillomania a decade ago. At his most challenging times, he pulled out most of the hairs on his eyebrows.

"I remember looking in the mirror thinking 'what have I done?' I began avoiding photos and sometimes wore a cap to hide thinning patches,"

he said.

"If people asked what had happened, I would joke about a shaving mishap rather than admit the real reason."

Ruben, who has amassed over a million followers on TikTok, hopes that by sharing his experience, others will realize they are not alone.

"It is a real thing that people shouldn't be ashamed of or feel embarrassed about,"

he stated.

"Just be happy with yourself and if you want to have a look online or reach out to some charities or even myself, feel free."

Ruben Chorlton-Owen Two images of Ruben showing him with thin or partially bald eyebrows. He has dark hair, dark eyes and is wearing a dark T-shirt — Ruben, who stripped away most of his eyebrow hairs, said he used to pretend he had had shaving mishaps

What is Trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania is characterized by an uncontrollable urge to pull out one’s hair. This may involve hair on the scalp or other areas such as eyebrows or eyelashes, as noted by the NHS.

The condition typically begins between the ages of 10 and 13 years.

It is classified among body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs), which also include nail biting and skin picking.

Research from the University of Oxford indicates that approximately half of those affected do not seek treatment.

Ruben’s partner, Amber Phillips, first noticed his hair-pulling while they were watching television.

"I'd notice he would always be pulling his hairs, and I'd say 'what are you doing?' and it was quite often, more often than a normal habit. He'd say 'I can't stop doing it'."

Amber expressed support for Ruben’s decision to speak publicly about his condition.

"I think it's really good that he's spreading awareness,"

she said.

"I'm really proud of him and it's a really brave thing to do, to come out and speak about something that you're insecure about and that you do keep hidden."

Ruben and partner Amber smiling at the camera on Abersoch beach with the sea behind them. Amber has a long blond ponytail. Ruben is wearing a blue hoodie — Ruben's partner Amber says she has learned ways to help Ruben control his condition

Expert Perspectives on Trichotillomania

Professor Clare Mackay, who has lived with trichotillomania for 40 years, collaborates with the support group BFRB UK and Ireland.

Her recent book, Keep Your Hair On: Understanding Urges to Pick, Pull and Bite, draws from her personal experience and extensive research on body-focused repetitive behaviours.

"It's normal grooming behaviour to pick and pull and bite a bit,"

she explained.

"But it can be very severe - people can pull out all of their hair. Different people are triggered by different things. It's fundamentally a self-soothing behaviour."

She described trichotillomania as a chronic condition that can be managed.

"There are therapists that offer particular therapies, but self-help strategies can be just as effective. And one of the best ones is finding other people who suffer with the same thing."

Meryl Da Costa-Rohland, who works with TrichStop, a program dedicated to treating trichotillomania, highlighted various therapeutic approaches.

"Most of us know about cognitive behavioral therapy which can help address the thoughts and the patterns that we have about pulling,"

she said.

"We also have acceptance and commitment therapy, or ACT. This helps people create a little bit of space between the urge and the behaviour. And it also helps us to react differently to how we respond to that urge."

Clare Mackay Professor Clare Mackay smiling at the camera holding a copy of her book — Professor Clare Mackay has written about her own experience of trichotillomania

Managing the Condition and Raising Awareness

Ruben shared that having his eyebrows micro-bladed, a semi-permanent cosmetic tattooing technique that shapes and fills eyebrows, has helped reduce his urge to pull hairs.

Following positive feedback from his openness about trichotillomania, Ruben plans to create more videos addressing the condition.