[Moreta]

So the hair pulling is getting out of control. I've tried everything, but I can't stop. I'm seriously thinking about cutting all my hair off.

It's not even the fact that it takes so frackin' long to find the "right" one. Then I loose it and have to start all over again.

When I finally get the "right" one, then I have to examine it, until I decide that it's not actually the "right" one, then the process starts all over again.

[Aunt Donna]

Just letting you know I understand. Take care of yourself.

[lost13]

it'll get better soon

[Rio_]

Originally Posted by QueenAccountant

So the hair pulling is getting out of control. I've tried everything, but I can't stop. I'm seriously thinking about cutting all my hair off.

It's not even the fact that it takes so frackin' long to find the "right" one. Then I loose it and have to start all over again.

When I finally get the "right" one, then I have to examine it, until I decide that it's not actually the "right" one, then the process starts all over again.

Ohh, I know that feeling. Are you in therapy at the moment? I've seen a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist a few times for trichotillomania, and the latest thing we're trying is something called the Emotional Freedom Technique, which seems to be working because it's been almost six weeks since I last pulled my hair out now! There are probably websites that explain it better than I can, but basically what my therapist did was ask me to write down my feelings and physical reactions when I pulled my hair out, and then at the next session he repeated phrases from my notes to me while getting me to tap certain "pressure points" with my fingers, like my forehead and thumb. It's designed to make you more aware of what's going through your mind when you pull - it gets your anxiety up at first because part of the reason you pull is to escape the feelings and this time they're getting repeated to you, but he kept at it until I calmed down again and just started feeling a bit silly that I was tapping random places on myself.

It doesn't need to be done in session - I'm meant to do it any time I feel the urge to pull - so if you can I'd recommend finding out more about it and giving it a try if you like.

Hope you feel better soon, anyway.

[Moreta]

Originally Posted by Rio_

Ohh, I know that feeling. Are you in therapy at the moment? I've seen a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist a few times for trichotillomania, and the latest thing we're trying is something called the Emotional Freedom Technique, which seems to be working because it's been almost six weeks since I last pulled my hair out now! There are probably websites that explain it better than I can, but basically what my therapist did was ask me to write down my feelings and physical reactions when I pulled my hair out, and then at the next session he repeated phrases from my notes to me while getting me to tap certain "pressure points" with my fingers, like my forehead and thumb. It's designed to make you more aware of what's going through your mind when you pull - it gets your anxiety up at first because part of the reason you pull is to escape the feelings and this time they're getting repeated to you, but he kept at it until I calmed down again and just started feeling a bit silly that I was tapping random places on myself.

It doesn't need to be done in session - I'm meant to do it any time I feel the urge to pull - so if you can I'd recommend finding out more about it and giving it a try if you like.

Hope you feel better soon, anyway.

Yeah, I know all the CBT techniques, and I usually use them, but if I don't go see my T every 2 weeks, by the 3rd week, I totally forget how to cope with life.

But yeah, last Wednesday, I decided to cut my hair, myself, and hacked off about 5". I think what happened was that I was just so freakin tired of my hair being long, subconsciously my brain's solution was to just yank it all out. Since, I cut most of it off, I've been pulling it out less because it's not on my mind all the time.