Hair pulling 8 year old daughter

I'm posting this in hopes of some understanding and solutions to could help my daughter stop her hair pulling.

My 8-year-old daughter started pulling her hair out about a year ago when my wife had a couple surgeries. Thankfully my wife was okay but my daughter started coping by pulling her hair out. We've taken her to counselors but its hard to get an 8-year-old to explain her feelings.

Could anyone give me some insight or solutions that have helped you?

Thank you,
Shawn

I was an 8 year old with trichotillomania (hair pulling). I'll tell you what did not help was when people would nag at me to 'stop pulling your hair out.'

It sounds like your daughter is having a problem with anxiety. Seeing a therapist is an excellent idea, but at her young age I think the therapist should use play therapy to help your daughter work on her anxiety.

Hello smetz: I'm a long time hair puller, although not to the extent that it has been a problem for me. I've never found an effective way to stop & I can't really offer anything beyond what *Laurie* suggested. Here is a link to a video California Family Therapist Kati Morton uploaded onto her YouTube channel. Perhaps something Kati has to say on the subject will be of assistance:



Since this is your first post here on PC... to PsychCentral… from the Skeezyks! May the time you spend here be of benefit.

PsychCentral is a great place to get information as well as support for mental health issues. The more you post, & reply to other members’ posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are social groups you can join & chat rooms where you’ll be able to connect with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) Lots of great stuff! So please keep posting!

Thank you, For oh so helpful response

Also, you could look online for photos of older women with baldness issues to show her what happens after a hair puller gets older. I was a hair puller too, and my hair now is very thin and sparse.