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Friday, February 12, 2010 Jobetty7 asks

Q: i have been pulling my hair out to where i have several bald spots

i have just been diagnoised with severe depression, annxity and stress.  besides that i have had chronic pain going on three years now.  i have a very stressful job.  i have not been sleepong averaging maybe four hours a night.  I take alot of medication including about ten pain pills aday whcih includes 6 of 25mg hydrocodone and three 15mg of oxicodone.  i also was taking five different medicines including ritalin to stay awake during the day.  i fall alseep instantly but couldn't sleep that long because of pain.  I also was just diagnosed with sleep atmia and have been using a CPAP full mask for three months now.  My name is Betty Johnson and i am 51 years old.  I am a Senior Manage over an Accounting deparment and have averaged working 80 hours week, i just found out that my father has only 3 to 6 months to live and also found out that my son and son in law got orders to go back to Iraq.

 

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Answers (2)
2/13/10 10:30am

Hi Betty

 

I am so sorry you are going through all of this tremendous stress.  There is a name for the hair pulling.  It is called Trichotillomania and there is treatment.  I wrote about compulsive hair pulling for our ADHD site but the advice and suggestions there would be the same for most anyone.  Just follow the above link.

 

Please do stay in contact with us and let us know how you are doing.

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2/12/10 11:46pm

Hi, Betty.  My gosh, you have a lot of things going on - I might be pulling out my hair, too!  Not to make light of that.  I think there is an actual disorder that it's called, but I can't remember what it is.  Anyway, I'm wondering who diagnosed you with the depression and anxiety; is it the same doctor who is giving you all of the pain medication?  I can't figure out how you can work 80 hours a week taking all this stuff!  Sounds like you need some sick leave.  Do you have a therapist?  I'd guess not, don't know how you'd fit it into an 80-hour a week job.  But I really think you should be seeing somebody to help you manage all the stress from both your work and personal life, not to mention the depression.  So, have you been given antidepressants, as well?  If so, does one of your doctors, at least, know about everything you are taking at the same time?  Just my opinion, but I think you need to hop off the treadmill you're on for a little rejuvenation and start taking care of yourself.  You deserve it just as much as anyone else.  I'm thinking of that song "Superman" that has a line that goes, "Even heroes have the right to bleed."  Please let us know what we can do to help, or if you just want to vent - this is a good place for that.  Keep us posted.

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By Jobetty7— Last Modified: 12/25/10, First Published: 02/12/10