Self Help For Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a mental disorder. It is characterized by sufferers pulling their own hair out of common places the like scalp. Eye lashes and eye brows and sometimes the genital area can be affected too. Sufferers generally will not be aware of what they are doing and will feel ashamed later because of the act that has been done. Many people use makeup to cover the loss of hair that has resulted from pulling their hair out. To get rid of this behavior the only effective treatment is the self-help.

Identifying Hair Pulling Behavior

Each and every person suffering trichotillomania disorder will have a unique pattern of pulling their hair out. Identifying those unique patterns is very important for the treatment process. Identifying when, where, how and with what you’re pulling your hair is very important. A person with the disorder should make a note of everything which is related to the pulling of hair. By doing so, the habit or the behavior will be changed and the person will be free from the disorder.

Other self – help methods which might help to stop you from pulling your hair include:

• Brute force
• Medications, SSRI, anti-anxiety drugs and mood stabilizers
• Willpower
• Psychotherapy
• Psychiatry
• Prayer
• Hypnosis
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Keeping a chart and making a note of each hair pulling
• Meditation
• Examination of feelings when pulling the hair
• Reading religious books
• Turning it over to god, going to church and focusing on god
• Singing
• Journaling
• Talking to and confiding in others
• Bio feedback
• Accepting trichotillomania
• Setting goals
• Research
• Online support groups
• Avoid TV, reading books, computer use, taking on the phone
• Avoiding stressful situations
• Keep your hands constantly busy with something or some work
• Cover the bald areas with hats, bandanas, scarves
• Wear gloves and band aids on the fingers, mittens or false finger nails
• Consider having a shaved head
• Get help from support groups
• Read books about trichotillomania
• Go ahead with self – hypnotherapy CD
• Special diets
• Get help from naturopathic physicians
• Read about the disorder on specialized websites
• Hide tweezers or some other instruments which are used for pulling hair
• Keep your fingers moisturized so that you will not be able to pull hair
• Read some self – help books or listen to some self – help tapes
• Have a loud cry at the time of pulling your hair
• Try not to look in the mirror
• Don’t go to bed until you feel sleepy
• Connect with positive people
• Keep your hands way from the face
• Have a slow breathing
• Tell yourself about the damage which will happen due to pulling the hairs
• Keep your hair as short as possible
• Reduce the intake of coffee
• Wear false eye lashes

These are some of the best self – help methods that can be tried out when you feel the urge to pull hair from your body.