Why was this thumbed down? It is supportive.

Sounds to me like OP's parents just didn't know what he was talking about and so made their best guess. But I'm glad that your condition is improving and hopefully OP finds your comment helpful.

Congrats on the improvement, you should be proud of your progress.

I will never understand why some people put others down for something that they can't control, especially a parent. Like having trich, a birth defect, being gay/lesbian, a mental disorder, or anything else like that. It's not their fault that they are a little different. And I'm proud of your improvement! Keep up the good work!

Had*

You find ways to hide it. Parting your hair certain ways, styling, haircuts... my parents only stared to realize something was up when my hair got extremely thin.

I guess it depends on the parents. I've had trichotillomania since I was in grade six, and my parents thought it was funny at best and annoying at worst. But they never seemed to stop me from doing it or indicate it was something to go to the doctor about. I wish they had tbh. Because I'm an adult now and still have it, and I'm terrified of getting permanent bald spots as a result of it. But no doctors have been able to help so far, and I sometimes wonder if they had caught it sooner would it have been easier to stop. And yet, despite these worries, when my parents see me pulling at my hair, they just laugh and say, "Oh, you still do that?" or "I remember you did that when you were little!" It's so frustrating >_>

I know it's not the same thing as trich, but I used to be a cutter and trust me, you find ways to hide it. And that's what made it worse for me because no one knew until I eventually cut way too much and way too deep and it scared me so badly I had to tell my parents and get help. Had I not hidden it so well for so long I could've gotten help sooner and I wouldn't have horrid scars to remind me of it everyday. I'm so glad that the OP overcame their anxiety and told their parents about it. But it's unfortunate how they responded. I can only hope that once they learn what it is they will be supportive and get them the help they need.

Alopecia is not the same as trichotillomania.

I'd imagine not, but if his parents don't know his real condition and assumed his hair was falling out on its own, and in turn described it to the dermatologist that way, it's likely that the doctor would misdiagnose the condition. 56, you should tell your parents the truth. It sounds like they want to help you. They can't do that if you're not honest with them. If you tell them what's really going on, they may be able to get you an effective treatment.

Me too! Mine is pretty severe, and its so hard to deal with. Even specialists can't agree on how to classify or treat it - is it OCD, self harm, an addiction, body dysmorphia, etc?

It's technically considered a subcategory of OCD but hardly anyone recognises it as such.

It's a horrible disorder to have. I'm constantly getting looked at and told 'knock it off'. Ive had it since i was young :( Haven't been diagnosed by a doc, but it's super obvious. I know how you feel OP. dermatillomania is just as bad.