Picking scalp - help needed

[Pickyourbattlescarefully]

Has anyone got any tips to help stop picking my scalp? It’s a stress release I think but quite destructive as hair is getting thin and bald patches spreading

I worked with an 'influencer' (get me!) to deal with this exact problem, it took two sessions. I talked to the part of the subconscious which was using this habit to self soothe – it generally first begins in childhood (along with nail biting and hair chewing) as a way of calming yourself because your body is the only thing you have agency over. Now you are an adult you don't need this strategy anymore, and once that part of your mind knows this, is will stop.

Thanks for replying. Could you recommend any self help strategies I could use? I’m a bit scared of hypnosis.

So am I – that's why I don't use it 😉

Try to picture that part of you that started doing this; maybe she's scared or unsure, or she thinks that by doing this she will somehow make things better.

In your head tell her that she is safe now, that you are an adult, that nothing can hurt you anymore, and that this habit is making you unhappy so it's now time to stop. Your subconscious mind controls your imagination so make the picture and conversation as vivid as you can. Be really kind and gentle with yourself but get a positive confirmation that she'll stop.

Thanks, I’ll give that a try and report back in a few days

I used to do this. From year 9 till just about when I started working at 20. I used to also pick hair and chew and throw them out. It’s a condition. My parents never knew “mental health “ still think it was an odd thing to do. I think it was “studies” related. When I did another course I didn’t have the same level of anxiety/ MH problems.

I never got professional help rather did a self help.

I started keeping my hands occupied. I used to hold a pencil. Or kept writing while reading/ learning. While watching tv I used to hold on to something or snack on sometimes to keep hands occupied.

I used to fail. I then used to slap my wrist consciously to remind myself (brain) to not do it again. Eventually stopped.

@Pickyourbattlescarefully How's it going?

My DD does this. Getting acrylic nails helped as she couldn’t physically pick as the ends are too blunt.

To be honest, I haven’t even tried yet. Life is so difficult at the moment, I am reverting to my trusted strategies of scalp picking and binge eating just to get through the day.

Understood. If I can be of any help with either/both let me know.

it’s called Dermatillomania and i find the best help is wearing cotton gloves

I have tried wearing gloves to bed but I take them off in my sleep so I can scratch my psoriasis. 😢

I do this but the “cure” is most weird - it’s nail extensions! It makes no logical sense but if I have nail extensions on and gel varnish I don’t pick my scalp but if I take them off )eg to save money and give nails a rest) within a day or two I find myself picking again. No logic as I say but it works

I do this too, so following for tips (I cant afford to get my nails done unfortunately!)

Dont they get in the way of normal life though?

Would fidget toys help?

The other thing (appreciate this may not help so feel free to ignore!) - my DM used to pick at acne scars and I grew up doing similar with teen acne. One day in my ealry 20s I remember just asking myself why am I doing this. I couldn't think of a logical reason so from that point on I just stopped. So maybe something like pondering in a quiet moment - what good is this doing me? I think it's something to do with a complete acceptance of the behaviour minus any shame. Then answers come.

I find redirecting myself into massaging oil on my scalp reduces it. And recently I've had some fancy salt water spray so I've been spritzing instead of picking. I don't really do it when I'm not stressed. My scalp was really bad recently the spray helped a lot and I was worried about it getting infected as it was all very sore and weepy.

My GP really highly recommended SSRIs for picking problems but I've avoided them so far.

Get gel nails. Ivebhad them for 3 years decided to have a break and was picking bad again within a week. Was stressing to a friend and she said, just get the bails back! So I did. No picking since! I don't have long fancy nails btw, just a normal very short builder gel neutral type thing, you cant pick cos your nails are thicker!

Ive also had too many gins so replace balls with nails!

It's funny that the head pickers come out at 2.30am 🤣

I also have going gel nails to help in the past but I can't get them now for work so I just try and keep my nails really short and filed.