Does Anyone Know How To Curb Trichotillomania (hair-pulling)? | MyDepressionTeam

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Does Anyone Know How To Curb Trichotillomania (hair-pulling)?
A MyDepressionTeam Member asked a question 💭

I have a terrible habit of pulling out my hair when I am anxious or nervous and sometimes simply because I can. It's almost like it happens on a subconscious level. I mean, I'm aware that I'm busy pulling out my hair but I'm also half spaced out when I do it and I can't stop myself from doing it.

I'm not sure if my hair-pulling replaced my cutting habit back when I first started and subsequently stopped cutting or if it's just a new habit that developed on its own. The problem is that I… read more

posted October 18, 2018
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A MyDepressionTeam Member

By yourself one of those stress balls so every time you feal yourself getting anxious squeeze the stress ball it worled for a friend of mine

posted October 18, 2018
A MyDepressionTeam Member

I was a hair puller for years and years. I would do it especially while driving, watching TV, or reading. I never got bald spots, but my hair would break off really badly and get thin, and my scalp was always sore where I pulled. It was something I really couldn’t control. Six or seven years ago my psychiatrist put me on a combination of Wellbutrin and Celexa. Not only did I start feeling better, but I was shocked to find that I no longer felt the compulsion to pull my hair. It just stopped, and I haven’t pulled since then, though I’m no longer on that med combo. So medication did the trick for me, to my amazement, since I felt so hard-wired to pull my hair. I know there are different therapies. Go to BFRB.org and you’ll find info about them. You might try the rubber band method that Dylan mentioned.

posted October 18, 2018
A MyDepressionTeam Member

If it is a leftover thing from cutting yourself, try putting a rubber band around your wrist and snapping it against your skin when ever you feel the urge to pull at your hair. That's what got me out of self mutilation.

posted October 18, 2018
A MyDepressionTeam Member

I used hypnotherapy to quit smoking and it really helped. Regardless some type of therapy would be really helpful. Keep moving forward.

posted October 22, 2018
A MyDepressionTeam Member

Get a nice buzz cut and wear cool wigs.

posted November 5, 2018

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