How do you stop trichotillomania?
Answer:
First of all, you are lucky to know WHAT it is you are suffering from...I started at 3 also (which is unusually young, BTW), and until I was 25 I thought what I had was a bad habit that I just could not stop. Then I found this website:
http://trichotillomania.co.uk/
It was so refreshing to know that what I had was a disorder and that I was not alone. I was amazed to find so many helpful tips on this site. I changed my diet - cut back on caffeine and chocolate - like they advised. It helped a LOT! I also monitored what I ate and drank to see what else triggered the itch - or urge to pull. I was very upset when I discovered cool ranch doritos was one of my worst enemies in the battle against Trich! :(
SO, I would advise you to read all that you can about the disorder. Change and monitor your diet for foods that cause the urge to get stronger. Don't deprive yourself of sleep (that makes my Trich worse). Realize that Trich is just something you suffer from. It does NOT define WHO you are.
Since finding the website I mentioned above in Dec 2002, I have been able to fight the battle against Trich simply by modifying my diet and exercising a little willpower (OK, sometimes a lot of willpower, especially when I cave and have a latte!). I have not tried behavioral therapy or drugs, but realize that others may need a little extra help. You can beat this...if you tell yourself that you can.
You need therapy and medication.
The only way is to get expert help, its not something you will be able to control on your own, and you may find you revert to it in times of stress.
Look at yourself in the mirror and say STOP!! STOP IT!...now..stop...stop...oka...
All I can suggest is:
See a good doctor, join a support group and read all you can about the symptoms and ways to quit.
I am a lot older and I started having issues with this when I was in 2nd grade. I got no help until I was in my 20's!! I have been in therapy and taken meds (Prozac) off and on for awhile. I found that meditation helped me a lot as well. You're smart to ask for help and keep trying until you find the right combination of things that works for you. I wish you all the best and hope you are freed of this soon.
Go to this link, it discusses treatment options as well as lots of info on what it is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/trichotillo...
Trichotillomania is a form of impulse control disorder. Often times these impulses can be controlled by learning techniques of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This therapy focuses on the thoughts you have before, during and after you pull your hair and helps to modify or replace those thoughts with ones that don't reinforce the behaviour. A lot of the treatment may also focus on distraction training to help you find other ways of dealing with anxiety and the compulsion to pull your hair. There are probably support groups for CBT and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in your area, but there are also many therapists who deal with this. Specific CBT treatment can be quite time limited and is not always as pricey as long term therapy.
.Get professional help. It is a condition that needs psychiatric help. It can be devastating to One's self esteem, It is self perpetuating and progressive. Considered compulsive obsessive.
Hypnosis, or acupuncture may have an answer.
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