Hair-Pulling Q: I have a problem compulsively pulling out my hair. It's like an addiction. Help?
By award-winning author and stress-relief expert Susie Mantell
Q: I have a problem compulsively pulling out my hair. It's like an addiction. Help?
A: What you are describing is not as uncommon as one might think. It may possibly, (or may not, ) be a widely misunderstood condition that involves habitually pulling hair out and can also pertain to eyelashes or brows. This syndrome has a long name that will sound very impressive: "Trichotillomania." Also known as TTM, the name is misleading-- sounds scarier than it is! I did a quick online search for you and will share some web resources below. (Note; These are by no means an endorsement and these are not sights with which i am extensively familiar. I offer them simply as a starting place as you do your own research to discover what might be crdible and of value.)
I used to have a 6 year-old student who habitually twirled and pulled out the hair just in one spot at the crown of his head. I knew a woman who had pulled out all her lashes. Both were absolutely lovely,otherwise :normal" well-adjusted people. It can be caused by several things, including the possibility recently discovered of a gene! Because in some cases, medication has helped some people resist the urge to pull, much as in nehaviors, that might imply that there is may possibly be a biochemical component along with the behavioral and/or genetic aspect. Therefore IF that is what you are referring to, a medical/behavioral therapy approach is sometimes used. Please note that I am not a health care professional, so while I can suggest "stress management" tips, what you are describing sounds like you would be best-advised to seek some short-term counseling with a skilled, compassionate physician and therapist who could assess, and help you to explore best options for you and move past your frustration. It would be wise for you to talk with a physician or therapist who can sit face-to-face with you, understand your history and patterns, and get a better sense of how best to proceed. While the habit of pulling out hair, (some pull eyebrows, eyelashes, body hair, etc.) can be unsettling, one's response to it sometimes is emotionally-based and stress-reduction and relaxation experiences can be helpful in some cases. Curiously, some people seem to pull more when they are either under-stimulated (relaxed) ....or over-stimulated. (anxious) Since some people experience it as a behavior they have difficulty curbing, they can also benefit for cognitive/behavioral approaches. Not unlike foot-tapping, compulsive eating, smoking, nail-biting, there is often a wish to resist, but difficulty in doing so. Of course, TTM may not even be what you're talking about...but an informed medical professional can help you determine what's going on.
**UPDATE 9/06: Gene found at the root of hair-pulling disorder
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15063018/from/RS.5
TTM Treatment & Resources
http://www.trich.org/v1/resources.htm
Hair Today Gone Tomorrow
http://www.vachss.com/help_text/archive/hair_today.html
Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Trichotillomania
http://www.homestead.com/westsuffolkpsych/trich_cbt.html
Trichotillomania: Out of the Closet
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p971150.html
The Hair Pulling 'Habit'
http://www.hairpullinghabit.com/
The Hair-Pulling Problem
http://www.oup-usa.org/isbn/0195149424.html
Trichotillomania Self-Help Network
www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Sauna/8181/
You don't have to do this alone. There's excellent help available to explore both the cause of your habit, and the best approaches to help you to rediscover the happiest, healthiest and most satisfying quality of life possible!
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Award-winning stress-relief expert Susie Mantell ...is the author of the deeply soothing relaxation CD, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace,” clinically approved for symptoms associated with stress and sleeplessness, depression and grief, anxiety, P.T.S.D., Fibromyalgia, caregiver stress, cancer, pain, divorce and addiction recovery. Featured in The Los Angeles Times, NBC, ABC, CBS-TV, Town & Country, The American Pain Society, Hazelden and The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, listeners include The Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, The Betty Ford Center, V.A. Hospitals,and Canyon Ranch (#1 Spa.) Customizing stress-reduction for Fortune 500 companies, distinguished hospitals and spas, Mantell has facilitated thousands in relieving health-related, work-related, chronic or traumatic stress. Her multi-sensory, mind-body techniques appear in national media, medical and corporate publications. Susie Mantell's Stress-Relief & Wellness Tips are intended as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, professional health care. Order “Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace” and find more of Mantell’s stress-relief tips at www.relaxintuit.com