trichotillomania

I found out I have trichotillomania by searching hair pulling disorder on the net. I came to a website and it recommended a psychiatrist. I don't have the money he's asking. I'm just looking for some sort of method I can do on my own to break this habbit of digging my scalp and pulling out my hair strand by strand. I'm 25 and starting to look bald. I read that this can be associated with anxiety or a type of ocd. It's really hard just telling myself to stop.

[jessikaspaz]

They did a report on trich recently and said it is an actual neurological dosorder with no known cause or cure. i keep pulling till I get bald spots then will stop for a while. I have no idea about why I can not stop, it just feels good and releases stress

[sumihari]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear your problem. From what little research I've done on this disorder, I found that it is an OCD issue. Best medication for this apparently is Anafranil which is a tricyclic antidepressant. This in combination with CBT is particularly helpful it seems. Personally, I don't like tricyclic antidepressants particularly in larger doses as they can cause cardiac issues. But that is just me.

I just wonder and please don't take it the wrong way,what would happen to a  trichotillomania sufferer if they decided by their own choice to embrace a bald hairstyle. Would the obsession stop or create another one?

[jessikaspaz]

a lot of trichs end up completely bald so it seems they do go for the bald style