Hair Pulling – Self Help
Hair Pulling (Trichotillomania) – how to stop
Trichotillomania (or hair pulling) is an irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body. Hair pulling from the scalp often leaves patchy bald spots, which sufferers will be embarrassed about and try to hide. Frequently, trichotillomania can be triggered by a stressful event such as: change of circumstances, abuse, family conflict, the death of a close family member or even hormonal changes.
Self-help for hair pulling
Your doctor may be able to prescribe antidepressants to treat trichotillomania, but they can have unpleasant side effects, and some prefer a drug-free approach.
Proponents of complementary therapies recommend herbal products or homeopathy – be sure to consult a qualified practitioner, especially if you are on medication.
Studies have shown that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) a form of psychotherapy is an effective treatment for trichotillomania and your doctor will be able to refer you. CBT teaches you to become more aware of circumstances and emotions that trigger hair pulling so that you can learn to stop and substitute other behavior.
The dangers of hair pulling
Anyone who regularly indulges in hair-pulling should receive a thorough physical examination from a health professional to rule out potential serious problems. In particular, those who eat their hairs should inform their doctors of this behavior as it may lead to serious health problems. Chewing or eating the hair may cause dental erosions, and even bowel obstruction when trichobezoars (hairballs) build up and are not eliminated.
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I need help I am a 14 year old teenager and I pull and eat my hair Im scared if I have a hairball in my stomach I get really scared and I want it too stop, how can help myself get better without any doctors help, how do i know if I have a hair ball in my stomach
Hi Cool Pink
You MUST talk to someone because you CAN get help.
How long have you been doing this?
Are you in the UK?
Ring 0800 11 11 and ask for help. It’s private and that’s a free number. Use a phone box if you need to do it privately.
Or ring the NHS helpline which is confidential. 0845 4647
Ideally, PLEASE go and see your doctor to get help. Tell him/her that you don’t want anyone to know. I have friends who are doctors so if you’re in the UK I could ask them privately for you about what a doctor will do.
Tell me where you are in the world and I’ll try and find an organization that can help you privately.
Before you try anything else, see a doctor first so that he/she can check out that you haven’t got a hairball in your stomach.
You are right to be worried, because this can be dangerous. You CAN be helped but only if you ask the right people for help.
Give me your email address privately by signing up to my healthy tips newsletter at http://nutrition4all.co.uk/ and put your name as COOL PINK, then I’ll get some info to you privately, but tell me where in the world you are.
Please let me help you, I really want to
xx