Tips that helped me recover from trichotillomania:
- Cover up the mirror in the bathroom with contact paper if mirrors trigger pulling. I only own a small, hand-held mirror for applying makeup.
- Use dim lights so you are less able to visualize hair or skin imperfections.
- Don’t own pulling tools, like tweezers.
- Remind yourself that you are doing the best you can with what you’ve got.
- Forgive yourself and be gentle with yourself.
- Don’t make a big deal out of having trichotillomania. It can have devastating effects, but the more energy you expend around it, the more power it gains.
- Don’t let yourself be labeled with a trichotillomania diagnosis because you might continue to pull just to fulfill the label. I experienced this self-fulfilling prophecy.
- You have to want it. You have to want hair more than you want to pull. Identify what you want and go for it.
- Be patient.
| Unhelpful Self-Talk | Helpful Self-Talk |
| “I can’t stop this behavior. I don’t have control over it.” | “I may not have control over urges to pull, but I am in complete control over my behavior. I can stop this behavior.” |
| “I will have this disorder for the rest of my life.” | “Because I can change my behavior, I am not destined to have this disorder forever.” (I have experienced that the less I pull, the more the urges fade.) |
| “I just need to hope for a cure.” | “The cure resides in me. My behavior will only change if I take tangible action in my day-to-day life.” |
| “We just need more awareness and research to find a cure.” | “Awareness will help decrease the stigma of this disorder but ultimately I choose whether or not I pull.” |
Eyes before treatment.
Eyes after treatment.
from Psych Central http://ift.tt/2sXjuZ6
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