Posted by Wittgensteinz on January 9, 2009, at 5:35:04
In reply to Hair pulling :(, posted by no_rose_garden on January 8, 2009, at 22:36:22
NRG,
I'm sorry you're having to go through this, and it sounds like you're doing so alone.
I haven't any personal experience with this problem - by the way it's a recognised DSM-IV disorder and it's called: Trichotillomania or Trichotillosis (sorry if you knew this already but doing a search of this word will bring up many self-help websites with advice).
Is the hair pulling functioning as a form of self-harm - rather like cutting? Is it the discomfort that makes you do it? Or is it about not wanting the hairs to be there? i.e. would you still do it if the act of plucking the hairs didn't cause any sensation? From what you wrote, I have the feeling it's a bit of both?
When are you most likely to start doing it? Is it something conscious or unconscious?
If you can locate why and when you do this, it should be possible to adapt your behaviour or situation to help reduce the likelihood of it happening or replace the behaviour with a less destructive one. Why not keep a journal of when you pull your hair, how you feel at that moment and so on (date, place, time, where you pulled the hair from, how you felt before and how afterwards) so that you can see what the pattern is. This would be a good way to start and then when you are ready you can bring what you've found to your therapist and work on it.
According to wikipedia Clomipramine has been shown in a study to significantly improve symptoms. It also said that the use of other ADs had had limited effect, so that might explain why the Celexa hasn't helped with the problem.
I hope this helps.
Witti
poster:Wittgensteinz
thread:872874
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090109/msgs/872929.html