Treating Trichotillomania in Children and Adolescents

Stress management techniques include breathing control deep muscle relaxation and cognitive techniques to help minimize distress

Many hair pullers have discovered that the shame of being alone and hiding the condition can make it even harder to focus on strategies to reduce pulling . Joining a support group and sharing can go a long way toward erasing the shame and making them feel "normal " again

There are anecdotal reports that several alternative therapies including hypnosis , biofeedback , dietary changes , and exercise , among others , have been found helpful by many people

Many people

find it helpful to keep their hands busy with a different activity (like squeezing a stress ball or drawing ) during times when pulling is at its worst

Adopt a non-punitive , non-critical attitude toward hair pulling in children . Observe your child 's hair pulling habits . Determine which activities and what situations seem to increase the likelihood that there will be a pulling episode . In most cases , sedentary activities will set the occasion for pulling episodes . Some of these activities include watching T .V , reading , studying , listening , riding in the car daydreaming , settling down , and trying to fall asleep . Often children can be helped to establish alternative non-damaging routines while involved in situations that would typically trigger a pulling episode

As a part of the behavioral record-keeping component of Habit Reversal Training , patients are often instructed to keep a journal of their hair-pulling episodes . They may be asked to record the date , time location , and number of hairs pulled , as well what they are thinking or feeling at the time . This can help the patient learn to identify situations where they commonly pull out their hair and develop strategies for avoiding episodes

Effective behavioral strategies in the treatment of trichotillomania in children include : Habit reversal (This is a set of procedures taught...