To ask for trichotillomania help

[mrlistersgelfbride]

I've had tricho as long as I can remember. I remember getting told off for playing with my hair in late primary school, so that's pushing 30 years.
I think I did it as a stress reliever when I was worried about school or my parents arguing (I was an anxious child!).
I'm still doing it. It is mild to moderate. I do it mostly when I'm sat down at a computer concentrating and work, or watching TV at home, sometimes when I'm having conversations with others and it goes into overdrive when I'm stressed wherever I am.
I don't do it constantly or loose hours to it, so have no bald patches. But I do it quite a lot, every day. Hair pull, pluck and sometimes ingest 🙈 (not much) and it also pick the scabs on my scalp.
I'm acutely aware of it now I have a young daughter (6). She's starting picking her nose and getting nosebleeds and when I asked her she said "Well mummy you do that (mimes hair pull)"
I've also got a newish job and I'm scared people have seen me hairpull already and think I'm strange.
Is there anything anyone can suggest to kick this? I'll do anything apart from shave my head 😅
Any toys or things I can buy to keep hands busy?
i don't think therapy would work for me, I've had counselling before (for unrelated issues) and CBT for other things and I don't find therapists helpful or understanding. I don't think I need psychoanalysising I'd just love to stop or reduce. It's a compulsion for me, an obsession I'd like to slowly break.
Open to any ideas. If you've read this far then thank you x

Out of interest just how expensive was it?! I'm so keen but I did get a feeling it would be extortionate

Thanks everyone for your helpful tips and stories. It's good to know I'm not alone.
Received some really good advice here.
Today has been a usual work day and I felt my hand go to my head as I was concentrating. I snapped the bobble on my wrist a few times which stopped the desire to hairpull for a few minutes each time. I'm going to keep doing this and will definitely invest in some desk toys to play with.
I also read about plasters on finger tips which is a good idea.
Unfortunately I'm not really allowed acrylic nails in my job (lab) but it's a good idea too.

I'm going to Google a few of the things suggested. Thank you all so much x

Not trying to armchair diagnose but ADHd and body focused repetitive behaviours is good to look at. Ironically this became much worse after one of the adhd meds I was on not trich but scalp picking and at one stage a massive bald spot which was I was so upset about. Kept my hair tied back for many months which luckily covered it and now it’s recovered. Do it but not as badly as before. Picking was previously helped by sertraline too. It’s so compulsive it’s so hard to explain. I’m not unhappy it’s a way of fidgeting which I need to do. Therapy putty helps a bit.

Yeah, the medication I mentioned earlier, the one that brought my trich back with a vengeance after I'd managed to stop using therapy, that was an ADHD drug. Lisdexamfetamine to be exact.

@TipulophobiaIsReal oh my goodness! Lisdex for me too. They said I should do a yellow card report it was so bad but adhd and extra admin wasn’t really something I was up for. Honestly it’s still there a bit from that time even though I’m on concerta but the real trigger was lisdex. Horrific. Good for being able to stay on task but really not worth it. My general picking had been under control on sertraline until then!

My people

How many of you have adhd? I'm fairly sure I don't but Google says trich has lots of comorbidities.

Another one here, along with nail biting and thumb sucking. Seem to be in a less active phase now for some reason. I think it's self soothing for me as are the other behaviours.

I have adhd

I don't have ADHD

It’s been a few years so chances are the prices have gone up, but from memory-

initial consultation £75
first appointment about £1200-1500
monthly adjustments £250-400 (£90 per hour + vat)
Bi-annual re-alignment around £800-1000

You can apply for NHS funding to cover the cost… chances are it’ll be turned down though.

I should mention that I was maybe 75% bald when I first had it done so it took pretty much all day, and had the longest hair used. You can get it adjusted every 6 weeks, my hair was growing so thick and fast that it needed to be done every month.

I should also mention that it hurts! They pull your hair so tight when they connect it that it feels like they’re trying to pull your scalp clean off… with all that being said it did look lovely, it was so nice being able to do things like go swimming without having to worry and my hair grew back really well, and if I won the lottery tomorrow I’d be straight back there getting it done again.

https://trichotillomania.co.uk/about/

Lots of info here

Can you cover your head so your hands can't reach your hair easily? Some kind of scarf or bandana or hat etc?

Try to find a hynotherapist or CBT practitioner that specialises in BWRT. It works by identifying triggers and redirecting your behaviour. It worked wonders for my friend.

I’ve had it for 50 years - started when I was 11. Two brief successes- had hypnotherapy and literally could not put my hand to my head for 4 weeks - I didn’t keep it up - distraction - painting nails - someone suggested a 5 second rule - if you get the urge become conscious and stop after 5 seconds. I could do it for hours - I also eat the hair but I break it down into small pieces. Celia E was way too expensive - she also told be my bald spots would grow back but they haven’t. Hairdresser advises massage on those spots to stimulate growth. I do it as a form of dis association- linked to childhood trauma. I still do it but it’s way way less. It stops me meeting men and having relationships as I’m too self-conscious. 🌺to us all.

If it was that simple nobody would suffer from this.

Ask for a blood test, it can be associated with anemia, zinc deficiency and celiac disease.

Wear gloves

Hi, I had Trichotillomania since I was a teenager. What worked for me after many trials and errors experimenting different methods, like wearing a head band, rubber band to snap each time I pull, used fidget toys and reversal and cognitive therapy. All worked for a while but when the trigger comes back the habit gradually sneak back in.
I finally bought a clip in hair topper extension of Amazon for 25£ and that worked! I pull it instead pulling my natural hair and my hair is growing back! It covers the areas I usually pull around my my head and because I can see my original hair is growing back the urge to pull is fading. Pulling the hair extension feels somewhat like pulling your hair but it’s not as pleasant as seeing your original hair growing back again.
This hack might not work for everyone of course, but thought to share in case someone finds it useful!
good luck :)

Please please please stop eating the hair. It's gets trapped. My daughter did this and had Rapunzel syndrome and nearly died. She needed 3 kidney dishes of hair removed through major surgery. She is only 6 now. Since her surgery last year she hasnt touched her hair once. Which is amazing. Since her operation she was diagnosed with autism, ADHD, Pica and arfid. It's a mental health issue tho. Needs psychiatric input and support. There is also a helpful Facebook group.

I came to say adhd also. Have a look into it.

Can you link to the topper you bought?

I'm mid 40s and have pulled for as long as I can remember

I've recently embraced my hair being wavy and have inadvertently reduced pulling by a LOT - I don't touch my hair because it will go frizzy and undo the work I've done

Also something to keep your handy busy - knitting / crochet / colouring etc

I've been pulling my eyebrows out for at least 15 years, I get so mad at myself but can't seem to stop. Acrylic nails worked for a while but that didn't last, I can now pull just as easily with acrylics on. I've also tried cbt. Will have a look through the suggestions as really desperate to stop, the olde do get the less likely they are to grow back

I'm 53 and have been pulling the top row of my eyelashes out since I was 9. I did have a very stressful home life as a child. I paint eyeliner to disguise it as much as I can.