trichotillomania - dd pulling own hair out

[holidayseeker]

I'm hoping someone has experience of this and has been able to find a cure.

My dd has been pulling out her hair then wrapping it round her thumb to suck since she was one and she is now eight. I have taken her to the doctors for help and advice but they sent us to the mental health team who just put it down to an over anxious mother and no problem, this was not helped by the fact that dh sat there saying he had not seen her pulling it for weeks yet she was and still is pulling it every day.

When she was a toddler it meant her hair was really short. Now it has grown but wherever I part her hair that is where she will pull and it now looks so thin. As she's older she is now mentioning her appearance and her hair and that she wants beautiful hair so how can I help her?

Tonight I have tucked her up in bed with socks on her hands which she will no doubt pull of during the night.

I have seen hypnotism for kids to stop this does anyone have experience on hypnotism in children as I just don't know what to try next.

I suffered from this as a child. On one level, Im probably not much help, as I don't to this day know why I stopped the hair-pulling, which happened for a couple of years between the ages of 10-12. I didn't have any formal intervention eg from mh services, but suspect onset of puberty and increased focus on my appearance might have played a role in me stopping.
I was quite an anxious/worrying sort of child and I think this might have been linked with the trichtillomania: DM had made a suicide attempt not long before it began and my parents had lots of money worries resulting in rows at home etc
Otoh, given your dd's age at onset, it might be more of a habit thing than mh related? I think I'd be tempted to go back to GP and ask for re-referral to camhs...

Meant to add: no experience of hypnotism in children so not sure re this

Thanks for your reply. I was wondering whether to go back to gp as it was a while ago that we went. From what I have read it states anxiety as cause but she was only a baby and perfectly happy when it all started so agree with you that it's a habit. Just one that is very difficult to break.

Hi op,

What does dd say when you asks why she does it?

Is she aware of doing it, is it about the feel of it?

Not necessarily helpful but I have alopecia and if your dd is looking for something stylish to cover it google or eBay search for hair loss hats. You can get some lovely ones.

Things I know have worked for some people;

A hair swatch to play with (puller was comforted by feel of hair and rubbed it into non existence)

Close fitting hat in bed. (Break habit no deeper psychological reasons)

Cutting hair into very short pixie cut (as above)

Ime people fall into two camps here

people who have developed a habit that needs breaking. They will break it when it means enough to them

People who use it as a coping mechanism should not be forced to stop until the deeper issues are being addressed

I used to work for an organisation that offers support for people with Trich . Www.trichotillomania.co.uk. Neo can offer you lots of advice if you fill in a contact form. Most children do grow out of pulling, it's a distinct form of the condition than the more serious form that begins in adolescence or adulthood. It's probably more distressing for you than her and it's a difficult line to tread when trying to offer support to not show too much direct attention to the behaviour. I will try and send you a list of tips to help you and DD if I get anytime near my laptop tomorrow.

Herenas advice is v good

Dd has said that she doesn't know why she does it but she has said that at school today she tried really hard and managed not to pull at all.

I try not to mention it as I don't want it to become a big thing but yesterday she started the chat about it and seems to want to stop this time.

Thanks for the tips.

Thanks dials I will have a look on the site you've linked. I was hoping she would have grown out of it by now as it has continued for so long so you give me some hope that it is a habit that we will be able to stop.