[lifeblows]

Does anyone know a way to stop pulling out hair? (I know it's called trichotillomania or something along those lines if I mispelled it a letter or two). I have been pulling my hair out for at least 13 years now. Over the past few years it has gotten so bad that I suffer arm, wrist, shoulder, and hand pain from zoning out and doing it so long. Even though it is causing me pain, I still cannot stop. It drives me nuts. [And yes, I already asked my therapist many times about it or how to stop. He didn't have any advice, ideas or answers, he was no help.]

[jacqueline1110]

Originally Posted by lifeblows

Does anyone know a way to stop pulling out hair? (I know it's called trichotillomania or something along those lines if I mispelled it a letter or two). I have been pulling my hair out for at least 13 years now. Over the past few years it has gotten so bad that I suffer arm, wrist, shoulder, and hand pain from zoning out and doing it so long. Even though it is causing me pain, I still cannot stop. It drives me nuts. [And yes, I already asked my therapist many times about it or how to stop. He didn't have any advice, ideas or answers, he was no help.]

I did a google search for this and found a lot of articles, one in PC and this one which I thought was good. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22248069/ How long is the longest you have gone without pulling out your hair? I have heard it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. After that you have established a new bundle of neurons that help reinforce the new behavior. Do you eat your hair? Could be a protein deficiency. It was for my daughter when she was 8. Hope this helps. I liked the article because the author overcame her hair pulling and she gave a step by step process for it. A good T would have referred you to someone who knew what to do.

[Sannah]

Do you think this belongs under self injury? Do you do it when you get overwhelmed with your feelings?

[lifeblows]

Originally Posted by Sannah

Do you think this belongs under self injury? Do you do it when you get overwhelmed with your feelings?

Hmm... maybe for the self injury, never thought of that. I do it ALL the time. Interesting questions. I'm always overwhelmed with my feelings and since I do it all the time, I guess the answer would be yes. I can't stop. It's driving me C*R*A*Z*Y!!!

[lifeblows]

Originally Posted by jacqueline1110

I did a google search for this and found a lot of articles, one in PC and this one which I thought was good. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22248069/ How long is the longest you have gone without pulling out your hair? I have heard it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. After that you have established a new bundle of neurons that help reinforce the new behavior. Do you eat your hair? Could be a protein deficiency. It was for my daughter when she was 8. Hope this helps. I liked the article because the author overcame her hair pulling and she gave a step by step process for it. A good T would have referred you to someone who knew what to do.

Thank you Jacqueline. No, amazingly I don't eat it. Not yet anyway. I need massive neural restructuring not just for hair pulling but for a lot of things. Several people have said your T is supposed to refer you to someone else if they can't help. Not mine though.

[jacqueline1110]

Originally Posted by lifeblows

Thank you Jacqueline. No, amazingly I don't eat it. Not yet anyway. I need massive neural restructuring not just for hair pulling but for a lot of things. Several people have said your T is supposed to refer you to someone else if they can't help. Not mine though.

I say that strongly because he should have referred you because it's an actual medical condition that requires specific doctors trained to handle the condition. It never ceases to amaze me the stories I hear... Where are you in your research of it?

[Edahn]

I have no idea, but here are a few brilliant suggestions.

1. Set up as many obstacles as you can between you and your behavior. Wear a beanie, wear a wristband, wear gloves if you can, etc.
2. Wake up. Stop zoning out. If you say it's too hard, I say that's BS. There's a point, I know, that you catch yourself but say "f it, I'm doing it anyway." You have to have discipline. "But it's too hard." Discipline isn't something that comes easy; you have to force yourself. No one in your situation finds it easy to stop.
3. Redirect. Come up with something you do that helps you calm down. I would suggest mindfulness, which means paying attention to what you're doing, and how agitated you feel. Rate your level of agitation on a scale of 1-10. Try and let that agitation exist without trying to resolve it by pulling your hair. The longer the better. This would be a good time to take out your beanie or headband if it's not already on. If you're totally overwhelmed (I'm talking a 10, and only a 10) then go do something else. Go to the bathroom.

Life doesn't blow. It's just a skill that you have to learn. It takes time and everyone, including me, has problems. It's your job to work with your issues. You need to start building self-discipline though. Your agitation will be fighting against it, but you need to make a REAL commitment to yourself - not to me, not to your friends, and not to your therapist. It needs to be personal and it needs faith (in yourself, no one else). As long as you see your behavior as a viable solution to your anxiety, and as long as you see it as more powerful than your will, you'll lose. Realize that (1) it doesn't actually help your anxiety in the long run - probably makes it worse (2) you've been hurting yourself over and over by running from that feeling and from yourself and (3) that you CAN conquer this and really make your life better (hope). Then you can start unraveling this biyatch.

I don't post here a lot anymore, so if you want to contact me, you can email me @ edahn.small@gmail.com.

PEACE!

[anna342]

I also suffer from trichtillomania, only it's on my legs.

The only things I can suggest are distraction and relaxation techniques. If you find it's when you're in a certain situation, then perhaps you need to raise your awareness and think about what causes you to do it then. Then take yourself out of the situation for a short time. Things like relaxation cd's or breathing techniques may reduce the build up of tension that makes you pull (if it's the same as it is for me- the tension). I've always been too scared to bring this up at therapy, but they should be able to help surely, as it's like another type of OCD.

[Sannah]

Originally Posted by lifeblows

Hmm... maybe for the self injury, never thought of that. I do it ALL the time. Interesting questions. I'm always overwhelmed with my feelings and since I do it all the time, I guess the answer would be yes. I can't stop. It's driving me C*R*A*Z*Y!!!

Lifeblows, then how about working on your feelings?