Trichotillomania (hair pulling)

[susiefen]

Hi
I'd be grateful for some advice. I think if I'm honest I must suffer from this - I pull my hair out at the root - but I don't know how to stop. I don't have OCD and I don't think I'm particularly stressed (but I think I do it as a weird sort of comfort when I am). I have a happy life on the whole - good family, job etc, but I seem to have got myself into a place where I can't stop doing it. It's not very noticeable (as in no bald patches) as I tend to pull it underneath, but it does make my hair look crap. Has anyone any advice on treatment - would some sort of hypnotherapy or something help?
Thanks

I used to do this with my eyelashes. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I started wearing gloves so that I couldn't get a grip .

My daughter also suffers from this. We have tried everything as she started when she was 2 and is now 7.

We have tried gloves but this does not work as it is when she is tired that she does it in bed and so if she has gloves on she just takes them off whilst she is half asleep. We have also tried putting nasty tasting things on her thumb as she pulls her hair out and then wraps it round her thumb to suck but again this has not worked.

I am now considering hypnotism as I spoke to someone recently whose niece was cured from this at the age of 17 after doing it for 10 years so its worth a go.

The thing is - you do have OCD - that's why you find it comforting - it's an impulsive behaviour. Google it and you'll find ideas and ways to support you through your recovery. Good luck xx