HELP!! trichotillomania!! anyone know any good ways to stop pulling?

Question

i need some good tips/advice on how to stop pulling! so if you have any ideas or what helps/ed you stop please share!!

thanks!!

ps i dont ant any mean comments

you'll be wasting your time.

Answer 1

Because trichotillomania is a medical condition, it's not something most people can just stop doing when they feel like it. People with trichotillomania usually need help from medical experts before they can stop. With the right help, though, most overcome their hair-pulling urges. When someone is able to stop pulling, hair usually grows back.

Overcoming hair-pulling urges may involve talk therapy, medication, or a combination of both.

Therapists teach people with trichotillomania special behavior techniques that help them recognize the urge to pull hair before it becomes too strong to resist. The person learns ways to resist the urge so that it eventually grows weaker and then goes away. A therapist can also help a person regain confidence and self-esteem.

Because the urges behind compulsive habits like hair pulling are so strong, someone may feel more tension or anxiety when first trying to resist the urge. That's why it helps to work with an expert who can offer support and practical advice about how to reverse this powerful habit.

Some doctors may prescribe medications that can help the brain deal better with urges, making them easier to resist. Medication therapy can help to correct the imbalance of chemicals in the brain.

Answer 2

Because trichotillomania is a medical condition, it's not something most people can just stop doing when they feel like it. People with trichotillomania usually need help from medical experts before they can stop. With the right help, though, most overcome their hair-pulling urges. When someone is able to stop pulling, hair usually grows back.

Overcoming hair-pulling urges may involve talk therapy, medication, or a combination of both.

Therapists teach people with trichotillomania special behavior techniques that help them recognize the urge to pull hair before it becomes too strong to resist. The person learns ways to resist the urge so that it eventually grows weaker and then goes away. A therapist can also help a person regain confidence and self-esteem.

Because the urges behind compulsive habits like hair pulling are so strong, someone may feel more tension or anxiety when first trying to resist the urge. That's why it helps to work with an expert who can offer support and practical advice about how to reverse this powerful habit.

Medication therapy can help to correct the imbalance of chemicals in the brain.

Many people find it helpful to keep their hands busy with a different activity (like squeezing a stress ball or drawing) during times when pulling is the worst.

I hope you can stop..............I know it's a terrible thing, but you may need a little help.

Good luck!!!

Answer 3

trichotillomania is the result of something emotionally deeper, realize the problem and you will have your solution.

Answer 4

I know a girl who is completely bald from it. Nothing has helped her in the years she has sought help. I could say just wear gloves, but those gloves can come off, so what's the point? There is no known cure or treatment for it.

Answer 5

hey i'm fighting this myself and have defeated it once before so it can be done!

I know exactly what you mean about not wanting the help of drugs and doctors because I'm exactly the same way and don't listen to people when they tell you that you can't do it because you CAN. This can be fought and it does not have to be this way!

The thing that has helped me the most and the people I know who also suffer from this is the website called 43things.com. If you get a free account on the site and join a few groups such as *Don't pull my hair for 20 consecutive days or "don't pull my hair for 45 consecutive days" or "stop pulling my hair" then you will meet other people with similar issues and similar goals who know exactly what you are going through and can help you through it with tips and advice and basically they are people who you can vent to and who will help motivate you.

ALSO this site is great because its nice to have someone to talk to if you have nobody at home and it helps to have someone that you feel like you have to report to and be honest saying i messed up or i'm doing great. Nobody lies about their progress because its not worth it and everyone is understanding. I HIGHLY recommend it!

Also, other tips, if you can talk to someone and confide in them, at least one person, it really is great. I have been fighting this for 4 years now and I never told anybody ever and once i told a guidance counselor which was a mistake because she didn't care about me but a week ago I told my best friend which was the best decision and SCARIEST but totally worth it. She was really understanding and its great to have someone to call in the middle of the night :]

OTHER TIPS:

1. Write motivational messages all over your mirror so you can catch yourself pulling

2. Keep calenders and tallies on your mirror counting up how many days you are pullfree and how well you are doing

3. MODEL MAGIC! sounds childish, but its messfree and has really helped with pulling urges

4. Sounds wierd but everytime I touch my hair now I do 10 pushups because I know my mind wants and enjoys the pain of pulling my hair so instead I get the physical pain in pushups. It truly does help fight the urges!

5. If you do this while reading, or subconsciously, do not continue to read, make sure you get up and walk around and do something else to take your mind off of it

6. Remember, you ARE beautiful, ignore rude people and those who stare they are not worth your time

7. you CAN do this, never lose hope because that is what will get you through this you have to be 100% dedicated

8. wear a hat! whatever hair you pull (eyelashes, eyebrows, hair on your head) you will notice when your hand goes up and you can stop it more.

9. weird method that helped me for a while that someone told me - when you get the urge to pull, tap your forehead 5 times, your cheek 5 times, and karate chop one hand into the other 5 times and your urge will go away. this is probably all in your head but it kinda helps.

10. when you go in the bathroom and look in the mirror, turn a light on in the hall or in a nearby room and not in the bathroom so you can't see the individual hairs, just the main idea.

good luck!! look me up on 43things.com, my name is fiercelyfighting and I'm in the 45 day group and in the stop pulling my hair group. you can do this!!

Answer 6

What about wearing mittens or something and trying to do something else when you get the urge?

Just try to keep yourself busy.

Answer 7

I didn't really know what you were talking about, so I searched around a little bit...Hope it helps.

Mostly what I found was the advice to get professional help, because often medication is used along with therapy.

But an everyday sort of tip I found was to keep your hands busy as much as you can - the one article I found said the girl took up knitting so as she watched TV she wouldn't unconsciously pull her hair. Drawing or playing with a stress ball were also suggested. As was wearing gloves, learning stress relief techniques and keeping your hair short.

Good luck!

Answer 8

You can't just stop by yourself. You're going to need to go to a doctor and maybe go through some therapy and some meds.  

Answer 9

someone i care for deeply had this and it took years of counseling.  My best advise is to replace a bad habit with another bad habit thats less painful like nail biting computer games working out  

Answer 10

Seek the help of a licensed physician or psychologist.  

Answer 11

whats that?

Answer 12

Oh man , it sucks. I have done this since I was young.

I only wish I had something to say that would help you. I'm just here to say that you're not alone.

Did you know it's in the family of OCD's?

(Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders)

P.S

I don't s***w with Dr's or pills , either.

I try to stay busy during times of stress.

It helps some.

Best of luck to you.