Trichotillomania - Hair Pulling

Pulling my hair out

Hypnotherapy is very effective at ending Hair Pulling (and the associated problems of hair twirling, hair eating, pulling out hairs from the scalp, eyebrows, beard, etc., known as trichotillomania). There is a reliable hypnotherapy treatment available.

Hair pulling is a generalised response to stress and so needs an anti-stress therapy. This consists of teaching the client a behaviour to do instead of the hair pulling, teaching a method of instant relaxation, optionally teaching the client how to defuse old problems that are causing the stress, and hypnotising the client into becoming aware of their behaviour and how to end it. Hair pulling can usually be stopped in one or two sessions. The treatment is a mixture of OCD stopping and hypnosis.

 

RATIONALE

The hair pulling habit is a distraction behaviour originally created as a response to stress. People can sometimes stop doing it for weeks or months, but always starts again. As long as the stress is there, the habit will keep starting up again. Trichotillomania starts originally because at some point the client learned that pulling the hair took their mind off the stressful situation. Then the behaviour began to be repeated every time any stress was encountered. Then it just became a reflex habit.

The treatment does not concern itself with identifying the original reason for the stress. There is little or no psychological aspect to hair pulling. It is simply a physical habit that has gone out of control.

PROCEDURE

The treatment strategy consists of four parts. The exact sequence and content depends on the particular client but the general pattern is as follows:

 

Behaviour Substitution

The hair pulling habit is purely mechanical. There is no psychological reason for it, so it does not need a cognitive solution. The client is taught a substitute behaviour to do in place of the hair pulling. Every time they do hair pulling, or think about hair pulling, or are in a situation that triggers hair pulling, they do the substitute behaviour routine. In a very short time, instead of triggering hair pulling, whatever it is now triggers the substitute behaviour. The process substitutes one habit with a different habit. However, the hair pulling habit rapidly goes in to extinction, now matter how long it has been around for. It is then easy to drop the substitute behaviour after a week or so.

Relaxation

The habit is triggered by stress. The client is therefore taught a rapid induction relaxation technique so that they can drop into deep relaxation instantly, anywhere. This acts as a circuit breaker and prevents stress building up to levels where the hair pulling habit would be triggered again.

Hypnosis

The client is hynotised and hypnosis is used to make the client aware of every time they begin the series of actions that ends with hair pulling. Becoming aware is the trigger used to start the substitute behaviour. Then suggestions make sure the client uses their relaxation technique when needed. Finally the client is taken through situations where they would normally experience stress and start hair pulling. But in hypnosis they rehearse not having the habit, and their mind is taught to use the subsitute behaviour automatically for as long as it is needed. This is reinforced by post hypnotic suggestion.

Post Hypnotic Suggestion

The hypnotist then creates one or more strong post hypnotic suggestions. The exact wording will depend on the client's behaviour, but will be along the lines of "every time your hand approaches your head you will feel an irresistable force pushing that hand away". The purpose of this is to prevent reactivation of the purely muscular behaviour under stress, the habit part.

Direct Hypnotic suggestion

The session finishes with a battery of direct suggestions. The purpose of these is alter the client's inner beliefs about themselves, to boost their self esteem and convince their mind of their ability to end the hair pulling.

Learing to avoid stress

An optional part of the treatment is for the client to learn how to deal with their own past, how to defuse old hurts and wrongs, and how to turn new stressful situations into successful situations. This will improve their quality of life and stop old feelings from triggering a relapse.

 

 

FOLLOW UP

In many instances the hair pulling is a symptom of a wider problem such as chronic anxiety. It is often useful to consider using hypnosis to remove that.

 

 

• Does Hypnosis Work?

 

 

• Make an Appointment