Mom Sally Hepworth shares reality of life with ‘silent’ trichotillomania disorder that makes her pull her hair out
A mother of three has spoken candidly about the realities of living with a “silent” condition that causes her to pull her hair out of her scalp.
Sally Hepworth, a New York Times bestselling author from Melbourne, has struggled since she was 12 with the obsessive-compulsive hair-pulling disorder, which left her with a bald patch on her head.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sally shares details about her hair-pulling disorder
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“I have trichotillomania, which is a fancy way of saying ‘I pull my hair out at the crown,’ which is a nervous habit I started doing when I was a kid,” the 42-year-old said on an Instagram video.
“I now have a bald spot. It’s exactly what happens when you pull your hair out.”
Sally says she repeatedly pulls her hair from the root whenever she feels anxious.
Sally Hepworth has spoken candidly about the realities of living with a “silent” condition that causes her to pull her hair out of her scalp. Credit: Sally Hepworth
Despite desperate attempts to stop, patients often feel an “irresistible urge” to pull strands of hair from their scalp, eyebrows, or other body parts.
The incurable condition’s cause remains unclear; the butt has been linked to anxiety or depression.
I have never shaken the habit.
The condition started when, at 12, she found herself pulling out her locks during a long drive from Melbourne to Queensland.
“Thirty years later, despite hypnotherapy, psychology, and a rapidly growing bald spot, I’ve never completely gotten rid of it,” she told Mamamia.
“I have periods when I don’t pull out my hair, but the habit always returns in times of stress.
Sally is now wearing a wig – as she showed off her luscious new locks on social media (pictured left without her wig). Credit: Sally Hepworth
“Suffice it to say that my hair is quite thin on the floor after the past few years.
“Combine tricho with a little thinning hair in menopause, and I find myself getting quite a folly challenged lately.”
Sally has been looking for ways to add “volume” to her hair, such as extensions and weaves, ever since she noticed her locks were “thinning” over the years.
“I started looking at hair wefts, I bought clip-ons, I also bought a topper… and that’s what happens – I go down a rabbit hole, and I buy her,” she said.
The 42-year-old has struggled with trichotillomania since he was 12. Credit: Sally Hepworth
One of her latest purchases is a natural-looking wig, which her husband didn’t know was fake.
“Look at the hairline; isn’t it amazing?” said Sally, showing her new wig.
“It just looks so real. Christian [husband] didn’t even notice I was wearing a wig; he had no idea.”
She removed her wig for the camera, and the mother smiled as she proudly showed off her luscious new locks.
Light on trichotillomania
The video has been viewed more than 40,000 times, with many clapping for her for speaking out bravely about her hair-pulling condition.
“Love this hair trip, and [is] a great way to normalize trichotillomania! I have dermatitis on my scalp, meaning my hair can come out in clumps, so I am very interested in this. Be the wig lady,” one wrote.
Another said: “I’m impressed and love that you shed some light on trichotillomania.”
Sally authorizes seven bestsellers: The Younger Wife, The Secrets of Midwives, and The Good Sister.
