Anyone managed to stop scalp picking or hair pulling habits?

[Haemagoblin]

I pick my scalp when I'm anxious/bored. I used to pull my hair out as a teen so this is actually an improvement as at least I don't have bald patches now! but i do have two scabs on my scalp and I just can't stop doing it. I know if I could give them a chance to heal I could stop but every day I pick them again. It is sore, and obviously disgusting.

I know this is a known condition, and associated with ADHD which I believe I have, but I can't find any guidance on how to stop it.

Has anyone else done this, or the hair pulling thing, and found a way not to do it?

Have you tried a picky pad? I pick my fingers and feet. In fact, I’m picking my feet right now. 😭

I didn’t realise other people did this. What a revelation and relief. I’d absolutely love to know how to stop - hate it so so much.

Interesting that there is a link to ADHD too. Always wondered if I had it.

I do loads of stuff like this. I tend to do it when I'm deep in thought, which I usually am, or a bit anxious.

I don't have ADHD, and don't believe I have it either. I just thought it's a habit like biting your nails or whatever.

Breaking my arm broke my habit. But it was a painful and inconvenient solution

I’d never heard of magnesium being linked to hair pulling etc. Very interesting. It’s something I would done for decades, and our water is very high in iron, which can affect magnesium levels.

I do this too, especially when driving after a stressful meeting or day at work. I don’t have adhd but I’ve always picked at my scalp and eyebrows.

Body Focused Repetitive Behaviours - BFRBs

an amplification of natural grooming behaviours -

I have it (lifelong)

I pick the skin on my neck and back. I have lots of red spots all over them. I do it when anxious. I used to hair pull and strangely enough when I noticed a bald patch I was horrified and stopped for about 10 years. I started again a few months ago and managed to stop again. But the skin picking is bad.

Literally sat here picking my scalp reading this 🙄 recently diagnosed ADHD (at 45) I also bit nails and pick skin on fingers, can seem to stop

I do this. Its gross but I have no desire to stop. If my partner tries to stop me doing it the urge feels stronger than ever.

I also have ADHD. Used to be a terrible knuckle cracker (even more gross IMO) but a long term treatment on an SSRI took that urge away. Was on the SSRIs for depression, not knuckle cracking.

I don't know,but I've had at least 2 infected scabs and it isn't stopping me.
I have severe ADHD and trauma.

As a teen I started looking for and picking out split ends in my hair, I'm 42 now and still do it but in the last 8 years or so it has also progressed into pulling out strands of my hair if I think they feel bumpy, I can sit for hours looking for split ends and also pulling out strands. I have tried many times to stop and even tried fidget toys but nothing has helped, it's weird because i feel like it calms my anxiety. As I've got older though I don't even try to hide it any more and do it while sat taking to people. I have noticed my hair is thinning in some area's 😔

A few people have mentioned that body focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs), including hair pulling and skin picking, are linked to ADHD. Just wanted to say that current research (details below) shows that although they can co-occur with ADHD, they co-occur with lots of different conditions, and they are far more likely to co-occur with anxiety and depression than with ADHD. They can also occur in people without any other conditions. They are a distinct condition, and are not a symptom of another condition. Treatment options are highly specific, and different to any co-occuring conditions.

There is a fantastic charity called BFRB UK and Ireland. They have a Facebook group and they run zoom support groups for people with BFRBs, separate groups for families, and also zoom yoga and art groups. They also have online conferences with up-to-date research including treatment options. There is also an American charity called the TLC Foundation.

It is worth looking up Professor Clare McKay (#trichprof), who is a neuroscientist at Oxford University. She suffers from hair pulling (trichotillomania) herself and has published extensively. Below is a link to a video in which she explains key factors of BFRBs, including the research re co-occuring conditions; that they occur more frequently in people with other mental health conditions and with neurodivergence than they do in people without other conditions, and that depression and anxiety are by far the most common comorbidities. They co-occur with other conditions at a much lesser frequency than anxiety /depression (ADHD, OCD and Tic disorders have identical rates, with addictions not far behind,)

Here is the talk

A few things that often come up:

1. BFRBs are really common at low frequencies (eg low-level nail biting), but to be classed as a disorder they must result in significant distress or harm. They can significantly impact quality of life, occupational functioning and relationships.

1. They are not a form of self harm. In self harm, harm is the intended consequence of the behavior, whereas in BFRBs, harm is an unintended consequence

1. They can sometimes look similar to some types of autistic stims (eg hair twirling) but they are not stims

1. They share some characteristics of OCD, but they are not the same as OCD.

1. They are not a symptom of another condition, although they occur much more frequently in people with other mental health conditions and/or neurodivergence than in people without other conditions. Depression and anxiety are by far the most common co-occuring conditions, with lower rates in OCD, ADHD, tic disorders, and addictions.

1. Some people are unaware when they engage in the behaviours (eg watching tv then suddenly realise you've been pulling), but they can occur as consciously directed behaviours. This does not mean they are a 'choice', as the conscious behaviours result from irresistible urges. People often enter a trance-like state. It is likely there are different subtypes.

1. Research is ongoing but current thinking is that they are grooming behaviours gone awry. They function as a maladaptive strategy to regulate emotions - including anxiety, depression, and boredom. They are often maintained through shame (eg distress leads to pulling; the consequences (eg bald patches) lead to shame; shame leads to distress; distress leads to more pulling

1. There can also be a hormonal component, as well as a motor control element (the physical movements can become hardwired).

1. BFRBs usually begin in adolescence and often carry on across the lifespan, often with periods of remission and relapse. Treatment and self management strategies include habit reversal therapy and others (BFRB UK & Ireland has more info)

10. Historically it has been very difficult to get help and there has been lot of ignorance about what they are and the impact on quality of life among medical professionals. This is starting to change with the impact and research of people like Professor Mackay. Progress is being made in terms of improving understanding among general public and medical professionals, which is why it is really important to recognize BFRBs as distinct from other conditions - in order that people get the right treatment and support.

Solidarity with anyone going through this x

A scalp picker. When I have too many sores I use vinegar on my scalp and ot dries them up. Shampoo hair as usual and then pour vinegar over your hair until you feel you whole scalp is covered. Leave it for a minute or so if you can and rinse it out. Any vinegar is ok, I just use cheap white vinegar but malt does the job too. Be careful not to get it in you eyes.

FAB post !! I also highly recommend the amazing Clare Mackay !! 🤩🤩🤩

Biab or press on nails. Render your fingers useless for picking and so you stop. Also stops you biting your nails although it hasn’t totally cured me of picking at the skin around my nails