trichotillomania?

Question

i have trichotillomaina, a disorder in which you pull your hair, which comes along w/ OCD. i have been puilling for 2 years now and my therapist and i have run out of ideas to help me stop pulling my hair out! any suggestions or recommended sites? thanks...im 14 by the way

Answer 1

Well, I agree with the clinical psychologist on those points, HOWEVER, that's not all. I've had the disorder since I was 8 years out, and I've just turned 26. I've had it so long that it's more of a habit for me than just mere stress. I got to a point in my life where a huge amount of stress was taken off my shoulders and I STILL pulled, so I knew that wasn't the answer. I agree with the person who said you need to keep your hair pulled back tight from your face, find a hobby or go work out. You need to keep physically busy during the day, especially your hands. Keeping yourself busy tends to keep the urges away. I do know that. I don't work out much, I have a job where it tends to be slow, and I go to school, so there's a lot of sitting involved for me, so the process is taking longer. However, I do know that when I actually get the time to go work out, or do something like say, scrapbooking or bowling with a few friends, I feel great and far from my trichotillomania. Also, make sure you have a good support system behind you--that helps you out a great deal as well, especially in those critical teenage years.

The main thing, sweetie, as cheesy and cliche as this will sound, (but it's so true for all of us with it) is that despite the trichotillomania, you need be happy with who you are. Having the self-confidence to keep going forward with your head held high is the best way to cope and the best way to earn success in your endeavors. I wish you the best of luck. If you need to talk, feel free to contact me. We're all related in this together. :)

Answer 2

I could give you the same advice as the others. Behavioral Therapy. I think it would be a good idea if you purchase Fred Penzel's Book. Its a good book with lots of info and help. I myself have run out of options as well. I shaved my head a few weeks ago and I am wearing a beautiful wig. Its by Amy's Presence and its a cyberhair wig. Looks very real! So beautiful. The price alone reflects the quality.

I am 27 and I took up knitting as a new year resolution and its been helping quite a bit. It gets my mind off of pulling and concentrating on other things. It keeps these hands busy and in the end I have been really proud of myself for my cool scarfs. Go to www.knittinghelp.com for some video tutorials and make an effort to learn something new. You will be surprised at the difference a new hobby can make...both emotionally and physically. It really is so much better than wearing band-aids on your fingers, or playing with silly putty. Plus it is something you can carry with you everywhere. There are tons of young people and teenagers taking up knitting. I just didn't realize it was a new trend!

Answer 3

I have had TTM since I was 11 and am now 36. I agree w/ all that say have something nearby to occupy your hands. One thing I have found helpful is knitting and crocheting. I wish I had taken up these hobbies at YOUR age. I wouldn't have such a huge bald spot on my head!

Also, try to figure out what it is to you specifically that is the urge. Is it to pull? or is it feeling the hair between your fingers? etc. Then find something else that can be substituted. Needlework is good not only to occupy hands, but to get a similar feeling of a hair or thread between the fingers. I know it sounds weird. But I guess you understand.

Remember... it's a disease...and there really isn't a cure, but you CAN start now to create habits of replacing the urge w/ a benign one.

Answer 4

You need some new hobbies, that will help take your mind off your bored old routine. Right now you have too much spare mental energy and mental space. You think about your hair too much and are sitting around too much.
You need to put your hair in tight braids every day, and go the gym and work out. Then you won't think about your old standby of pulling your hair out. You can do this.

Answer 5

Find a better therapist. Perhaps cognitive-behavioral therapy. Works well for treating Trichotillomania.

Answer 6

You're pulling your hair out. What does that mean to you if you listen to the emotions under the behaviour? You might consider these options:
First - what's going on in your life that might make you want to pull out your hair? Frustrations, annoyances, worries...
Second - is anyone close to you suicidal? Sometimes people pull out their hair in response to someone else's pain - especially if they sense it and can't do anything about it.

Answer 7

first of all get rid of your therapist. remember...therapists do this for a living. they have a mortage, cars and bills to pay. in my opinion most dont want to help you or dont know how to help you. they just want to keep you as a patient so that they can make money off of you to pay off bills.

now that is said and done. OCD is a great trait to have. did you know that lots of talented musicians, scientists etc have OCD? they channel all that ocd impulses into their passions. musicians can practice a song for 10 straight hours because of their ocd. that makes them perfect their craft. many surgeons have ocd. they have to make sure every single thing is done PERFECTLY because thats how obsessed they are. thats good..cause if need surgery, wouldnt u want a surgeon who wants everything done perfectly?
now go find a passion to perfect. something u can do for hours but feel like minutes(except pulling your hair):)

Answer 8

THE ONLY EFFECTIVE TREATMENT CAN BE FOUND N THIS LINK:
http://www.homestead.com/westsuffolkpsych/trich_cbt.html
GOOD LUCK