Pulling hair?!
Question: Pulling hair!?
I have a friend who pulls single strands (not chunks) of hair out when she thinks nobody is looking!. It's like a compulsive habit or something!.!.!.
anyway, I'm afraid she'll ruin her full head of hair if she keeps pulling! Has anyone seen this before or dealt with it themselves!? What did you do!? What would you do!?
ThanksWww@Answer-Health@Com
anyway, I'm afraid she'll ruin her full head of hair if she keeps pulling! Has anyone seen this before or dealt with it themselves!? What did you do!? What would you do!?
ThanksWww@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
it's called "trichotilomania"!. not sure about that spelling it's pronounce trick-o-till-a- mania!. my daughter started this in highschool!. it's an ocd thing!. she started it after her dad wass seriously injured in front of her!. she was VERY stressed out and upset and as far as we can tell this is when it started!. she usually pulled right before she fell asleep and had no memory of doing it!. she saw a therapist to help her deal with the stress and anxiety!. and she got better, but she still has the same reaction when she is stressed and overly tired!. Try googling it and get info to help!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It might be a habit of that person!. If it's been along time since she has been doing that, maybe it's time to tell her to stop doing it because it's not good for her mental health and how other people react to it!.
Although her hair wouldn't necessarily get bald from her habit of pulling single strands, it might just evolve into something else like eating it afterwards which has been witnessed in other cases!.
Talk to her privately about why she's doing it!. If she doesn't stop, your guidance councilor may help address the situation!. After all, you're just concerned for your friend!. :)Www@Answer-Health@Com
Although her hair wouldn't necessarily get bald from her habit of pulling single strands, it might just evolve into something else like eating it afterwards which has been witnessed in other cases!.
Talk to her privately about why she's doing it!. If she doesn't stop, your guidance councilor may help address the situation!. After all, you're just concerned for your friend!. :)Www@Answer-Health@Com
Trichotillomania!. I suffer from it!. It's a impulse control disorder!. For me it's induced by stress!. There are drugs to treat it and therapy!. I don't do anything really I just try to avoid stress!. For your friend if it gets bad enough to the point she is getting a bald spot or if you are really concerned, talk to her about it and tell her she needs to tell her parents!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
she is, but if she is young, obsessive things like this come and go!. One week it is hair, the next week, she is playing with a pencil!. The week after that, she is chewing on her hair!. It's ok!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Trichotillomania (repetitive hair pulling) lies at the impulsive end of the OCD scale!.
Although classified as a disorder of impulse control, trichotillomania (repetitive hair pulling) may have some phenomenological overlap with the impulsive end of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)!. The question arises as to whether trichotillomania is best conceptualised as a disorder characterised by impulsivity or compulsivity!. Impulsive and compulsive symptoms were compared in 43 patients who presented for treatment of trichotillomania, OCD or impulsive personality disorder!. Trichotillomania patients had significantly lower scores of obsessive-compulsive symptoms than OCD patients, and significantly higher impulsiveness scores than this group (Stein et al!., 1995c)!. Despite this overlap trichotillomania lacks preceding obsessions (Stein et al!., 1995a) and is mostly present in females!.
SSRIs may have a role in the treatment of trichotillomania but additional research is needed!. The use of SSRIs as an augmentation strategy with agents working on other neurotransmitters neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, has been described (Stein and Hollander, 1992)!. http://www!.brainexplorer!.org/ The above is one view, but some disorders don't fall neatly into categories, and I have noticed that it usually occurs as a result of anxiety, or stress, and may be considered as a type of coping mechanism!.
I therefore include my standard posts on those subjects, as follows: ANXIETY: See anxiety treatments, at ezy build (below) in section 6!. Set yourself a fixed limit for worrying about any particular subject, (say; 15 minutes) after which, resolve firmly to refuse to even consider that subject again on that day: realise and accept that to do otherwise would be counterproductive to your mental health, and enjoyment of life!. Use the technique for reprogramming negative thoughts and internal monologue (self talk), on pages 2, and 2L, to help you in this, and consider carrying a wide rubber band in your pocket: put it on your wrist; stretch, and release, as a means of reinforcing it, and speeding up the process, re-pocketing it afterwards!.
Practice one of the relaxation methods on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, daily, and when needed!. Also, give the EFT version for use in public places, a good tryout, to see if it helps you (if you like, you can claim to have a headache, as you massage/lightly tap your temples) !. Section 53, and pages 2, 2!.q and 2!.o at * http://www!.ezy-build!.net!.nz/~shaneris also refer!. "Even though I pull my hair out, I deeply and completely accept myself"!.
See stress treatments, at ezy build, below on page 42!. Practise daily, one of the relaxation techniques on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i; whichever works best for you, but the mindfulness breathing for 15 - 20 mns is ideal, although the progressive muscle relaxation can be learned quickly, and takes only several minutes, if pressed for time!. Employ the EFT version for use in public, for which you can reasonably claim that you have a headache, as you massage/tap your temples, but it may be advisable to restrict yourself to subvocalising (saying it to yourself, in your mind, not aloud)!. Section 53, and pages 2, 2!.q and 2!.o refer!. "Even though I sometimes suffer from stress, I deeply and completely accept myself"!.
You can also multitask, using the gazing technique, as you walk/jog or exercise, by focusing on a distant object, noting any thoughts which flash across your mind, without pursuing any particular train of thought, just gently redirect your focus to the gazing!. Yoga, or Tai Chi may suit others, better!. For some people, visualisation of a quiet, relaxing scene, like a tropical beach, (feel the sun warming you, as a gentle breeze caresses your skin lightly, inhaling the tangy, salt laden spray from the sparkling, translucent, aqua waves, crashing on the white, sandy beach, as the seagulls swoop and cavort playfully overhead in a cloudless, azure sky; you feel just like one of them; free to soar and cartwheel, or just glide, in the moist, heavy air, and that this moment will last forever!.!.!.!.!.) works well for them!.
Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily, replacing 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements, or a teaspoonful of the oil (I spread mine on toast, and mask its strong taste with fishpaste, and pepper), in the winter months only!. Those people who receive adequate exposure to sunlight, daily, won't need the vitamin D from cod liver oil, but many people, particularly those in latitudes far from the equator, find this difficult, to achieve!. Eat healthily, in accordance with your "nutritional type" as determined at http://www!.mercola!.com/ SEARCHBAR!.
Try having a cup of "Tension Tamer", herbal tea (from supermarket tea aisles) from Celestial Seasonings, or make some at home, and cool, then bottle, and drink as needed (I find it so strong tasting, that I need to drink it quickly, followed by something like fruit juice, to take away the taste, but others may find it more tolerable)!. C(h)amomile tea is a more palatable option!. As with all herbal/green teas, use lemon/lime, and/or a little sweetener (NOT ARTIFICIAL!!!) but no cream, or milk!.
Xylitol, or Stevia is preferable, (health food stores) or fruit sugar (fructose, such as "Fruisana", from supermarket sugar aisles) or even a little honey, because these will reduce "sugar spikes", which later deplete you of energy!. Minimise/eliminate consumption of highly processed foods, particularly grain products, such as white bread, donuts, cake, cookies/biscuits, or anything with sugar!. Opt for more wholefoods, non-starchy vegetables, and fruit!.
OCD: If it takes up more than an hour, daily, gets worse, or interferes with your life to any great degree; seek therapy, because it can quickly take over a person's life!. See section 7, on OCD, at ezy build, below and also view section 6, since some consider to be an anxiety related disorder!. Practice one of the relaxation methods on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, daily, and when needed!. http://www!.ezy-build!.net!.nz/~shaneris also refer!.
Check out: http://www!.angelfire!.com/mt/trichpages/g!.!.!. and http://www!.mental-health-abc!.com/ and http://www!.trich!.org/teens_kids/ Support: http://dailystrength/support/ Chatsites/forums: http://www!.mentalhealthforum!.net/ and Groups, at Myspace, Yahoo, and Google!. Some suggestions: Instead of pulling hair, use worry beads, or a stress ball!. Cut your hair very short, and wear a wig, leaving you little option but to use the worry beads/stress ball, otherwise you will just be pulling the wig!. Try to find a therapist who uses Habit Reversal Training!.
Print, refer, or show her!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Although classified as a disorder of impulse control, trichotillomania (repetitive hair pulling) may have some phenomenological overlap with the impulsive end of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)!. The question arises as to whether trichotillomania is best conceptualised as a disorder characterised by impulsivity or compulsivity!. Impulsive and compulsive symptoms were compared in 43 patients who presented for treatment of trichotillomania, OCD or impulsive personality disorder!. Trichotillomania patients had significantly lower scores of obsessive-compulsive symptoms than OCD patients, and significantly higher impulsiveness scores than this group (Stein et al!., 1995c)!. Despite this overlap trichotillomania lacks preceding obsessions (Stein et al!., 1995a) and is mostly present in females!.
SSRIs may have a role in the treatment of trichotillomania but additional research is needed!. The use of SSRIs as an augmentation strategy with agents working on other neurotransmitters neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, has been described (Stein and Hollander, 1992)!. http://www!.brainexplorer!.org/ The above is one view, but some disorders don't fall neatly into categories, and I have noticed that it usually occurs as a result of anxiety, or stress, and may be considered as a type of coping mechanism!.
I therefore include my standard posts on those subjects, as follows: ANXIETY: See anxiety treatments, at ezy build (below) in section 6!. Set yourself a fixed limit for worrying about any particular subject, (say; 15 minutes) after which, resolve firmly to refuse to even consider that subject again on that day: realise and accept that to do otherwise would be counterproductive to your mental health, and enjoyment of life!. Use the technique for reprogramming negative thoughts and internal monologue (self talk), on pages 2, and 2L, to help you in this, and consider carrying a wide rubber band in your pocket: put it on your wrist; stretch, and release, as a means of reinforcing it, and speeding up the process, re-pocketing it afterwards!.
Practice one of the relaxation methods on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, daily, and when needed!. Also, give the EFT version for use in public places, a good tryout, to see if it helps you (if you like, you can claim to have a headache, as you massage/lightly tap your temples) !. Section 53, and pages 2, 2!.q and 2!.o at * http://www!.ezy-build!.net!.nz/~shaneris also refer!. "Even though I pull my hair out, I deeply and completely accept myself"!.
See stress treatments, at ezy build, below on page 42!. Practise daily, one of the relaxation techniques on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i; whichever works best for you, but the mindfulness breathing for 15 - 20 mns is ideal, although the progressive muscle relaxation can be learned quickly, and takes only several minutes, if pressed for time!. Employ the EFT version for use in public, for which you can reasonably claim that you have a headache, as you massage/tap your temples, but it may be advisable to restrict yourself to subvocalising (saying it to yourself, in your mind, not aloud)!. Section 53, and pages 2, 2!.q and 2!.o refer!. "Even though I sometimes suffer from stress, I deeply and completely accept myself"!.
You can also multitask, using the gazing technique, as you walk/jog or exercise, by focusing on a distant object, noting any thoughts which flash across your mind, without pursuing any particular train of thought, just gently redirect your focus to the gazing!. Yoga, or Tai Chi may suit others, better!. For some people, visualisation of a quiet, relaxing scene, like a tropical beach, (feel the sun warming you, as a gentle breeze caresses your skin lightly, inhaling the tangy, salt laden spray from the sparkling, translucent, aqua waves, crashing on the white, sandy beach, as the seagulls swoop and cavort playfully overhead in a cloudless, azure sky; you feel just like one of them; free to soar and cartwheel, or just glide, in the moist, heavy air, and that this moment will last forever!.!.!.!.!.) works well for them!.
Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily, replacing 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements, or a teaspoonful of the oil (I spread mine on toast, and mask its strong taste with fishpaste, and pepper), in the winter months only!. Those people who receive adequate exposure to sunlight, daily, won't need the vitamin D from cod liver oil, but many people, particularly those in latitudes far from the equator, find this difficult, to achieve!. Eat healthily, in accordance with your "nutritional type" as determined at http://www!.mercola!.com/ SEARCHBAR!.
Try having a cup of "Tension Tamer", herbal tea (from supermarket tea aisles) from Celestial Seasonings, or make some at home, and cool, then bottle, and drink as needed (I find it so strong tasting, that I need to drink it quickly, followed by something like fruit juice, to take away the taste, but others may find it more tolerable)!. C(h)amomile tea is a more palatable option!. As with all herbal/green teas, use lemon/lime, and/or a little sweetener (NOT ARTIFICIAL!!!) but no cream, or milk!.
Xylitol, or Stevia is preferable, (health food stores) or fruit sugar (fructose, such as "Fruisana", from supermarket sugar aisles) or even a little honey, because these will reduce "sugar spikes", which later deplete you of energy!. Minimise/eliminate consumption of highly processed foods, particularly grain products, such as white bread, donuts, cake, cookies/biscuits, or anything with sugar!. Opt for more wholefoods, non-starchy vegetables, and fruit!.
OCD: If it takes up more than an hour, daily, gets worse, or interferes with your life to any great degree; seek therapy, because it can quickly take over a person's life!. See section 7, on OCD, at ezy build, below and also view section 6, since some consider to be an anxiety related disorder!. Practice one of the relaxation methods on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, daily, and when needed!. http://www!.ezy-build!.net!.nz/~shaneris also refer!.
Check out: http://www!.angelfire!.com/mt/trichpages/g!.!.!. and http://www!.mental-health-abc!.com/ and http://www!.trich!.org/teens_kids/ Support: http://dailystrength/support/ Chatsites/forums: http://www!.mentalhealthforum!.net/ and Groups, at Myspace, Yahoo, and Google!. Some suggestions: Instead of pulling hair, use worry beads, or a stress ball!. Cut your hair very short, and wear a wig, leaving you little option but to use the worry beads/stress ball, otherwise you will just be pulling the wig!. Try to find a therapist who uses Habit Reversal Training!.
Print, refer, or show her!.Www@Answer-Health@Com