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Ttm

I have quite a bad case of Trichotillomania - compulsive hair pulling. My dad won't take me to the doctors as he thinks I've read about it on the Internet so I just want to believe I have it, in order to recieve attention. I'm 17 and for years (since I was 13) I have been trying to stop. Does anyone have any tips they can give me, to help me stop?

Reply 1

high priestess fnord

9

erm go to the doctors yourself?

You should go to the doctors on your own. It must be hard enough for you to cope with this, but even harder when you don't have family support.

Also this site could provide help and support, as well as allowing you to chat to others who suffer from it.

Reply 4

Windra

You could always take drastic measures and shave off all of your hair? that way you wouldnt be able to and would probably stop wanting to after a while.

Reply 5

Doodahdoo

13

Identify your triggers. What is it that leads you to hair pulling? Have you tried documenting when it gets better or worse, and how your mood is doing? These are the sort of things your doctor may ask you.

Distract yourself, as well. Get something in your hand htat you can playy with, keep your hands busy.

I'd say go to le doctor, even if it is just to be referred somewhere else - you can get le bus or your own way there if needs be.

Good luck and take care. x

Reply 6

*titanium*

12

you pull your hair or other peoples hair?

Like other people said, you can go ot the doctor on your own, just phone up your regular doctor practice and say who you are and that you want to see a doctor, they will have a file for you and so will make an apointment for you, then just go and see the doctor!

Reply 7

mangomaz

14

There's someone on here who suffers/suffered from that... not sure where she is but try pm'ing her?
Ok I have been of no use sorry...!!

But you can go to the doctor on your own as others have said, your dad doesnt necessarily have to know.

Good luck :smile:

Reply 8

emmathe37th

I was JUST about to post a topic on this!!

I've suffered from that for 8 years or so since I was about 11. I'm thinking of trying hypnotherapy for it but I'm not sure it'll work because I don't think it's down to stress.
Try making a diary of when you do it, how you feel before and after... There may be a pattern and you can then find out why you do it. Mine's worst when my hair's greasy because it feels better :/ And also when I have PMT!
Also, one of my best tips is plasters on your index finger because you can't feel for the 'good' hairs. (I'm aware only people with trich will have a CLUE what I'm on about!) Obviously if it's a secret from your parents or whatever, that might be a little harder which is why I only try that when I'm at Uni.

Have a look on http://community.livejournal.com/trich/ There's a lot of people there who help each other.
You can go to your doctor but I don't really think they'll do anything other than maybe give you anti-stress pills. My doctor and my parents thought I had low iron levels/alopecia and I haven't told them the real cause.

It does mean we can wear nice hats and bandanas though :tongue:

PM me if you want my MSN or anything :smile:

Reply 9

Anonymous #2

i pull out my hair, but not just hairs on my head, if you get what i mean! but i have never heard of this trich thing, do i have it? I just do it, like a habit and it kinda hurts because sometimes i pull out clumps of hair without even thinking.

Reply 10

Anonymous #3

I posted a thread on this about a month ago and someone gave me some great advise which seriously reduced the ammount of hair i pull. I've had trich for 4 years (same ammount of time as you so it may be able to help you too).

Someone suggested that everytime i pulled out a hair i had to donate a certain ammount of money to charity and after a while this money keeps building up so i trained myself off it really quickly as money is something i don't have a lot of. I don't get the urge to pull as often as i used to so maybe this will work for you too. I hope it works out for you because i know what you're going through :smile:

(good for you for wanting to go to the doctors by the way as i could never bring myself to :redface:

)

Reply 11

emmathe37th

Anonymous

i pull out my hair, but not just hairs on my head, if you get what i mean! but i have never heard of this trich thing, do i have it? I just do it, like a habit and it kinda hurts because sometimes i pull out clumps of hair without even thinking.

It sounds like you do... To be honest, I'd try and cut it down if I were you before it gets tooooo serious! You don't want bald spots! :smile:

Reply 12

Anonymous #3

Anonymous

i pull out my hair, but not just hairs on my head, if you get what i mean! but i have never heard of this trich thing, do i have it? I just do it, like a habit and it kinda hurts because sometimes i pull out clumps of hair without even thinking.

It does sound as though you have trich... :frown: