Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

One way to resist the impulses is to keep the hands busy. This could be by perhaps doing a task when you know the impulses may come frequently (for example, when you wake up, just when you got home or so) or it could be simply when you feel the impulses come or when you are pulling and tries to find the strenght to stop. I like to keep a list of things on the wall of my room to remind myself or so that when for example have just started to pull, I can quickly glance on it and then instantly pick one from the list and do it, to let it all pass. Here are some of the things on the list. If you have anything else, feel free to comment and I'll add it :)

I originally posted this on the trich community at livejournal :)

# Find a coloring book and color.
# Play with stressballs.
# Put something sticky like certain balms (hydrogel etc) or oils (castor oil, babyoil etc..) on the hair/eyebrows.
# Potter about.
# Sit on your hands.
# Hold your hands together,
# Call someone.
# Meet someone.
# Bake or cook something.
# Draw.
# Clean your room or the house etc.
# Fix and make your wardrobe look good.
# Make a collage or scrapbook.
# Buy a big fuzzy poster and color it.
# Play video or computer games (like the Sims 2 etc...)
# Get all dolled up and take photos of yourself.
# Go outside and take photos of anything...the sky, flowers etc.
# Write in a paper journal.
# Ride your bike.
# Go for a walk.
# Go swimming.
# Bath your dog or other pet.
# Wear clean socks or thick gloves on your hands.
# Wear a hat, bandana or a cap.
# Do something creative.
# Play with pearls.
# Play sports.
# Do some art.
# Make jewelry.
# Go online, and type type type somewhere like here, journal, instant messenger, word etc.
# Throw out your tweezers.
# Trim your nails really short.
# Research more ways to stop pulling.
# Take a bubble bath and afterwards put on a lotion (very relaxing).
# Get a puzzle and work on it (if you don't like traditional ones, get the metal ones that are twisted shapes where you have to separate them or get the ring off)
# Do some knitting, crochet or anything like that.
# Stitch something.
# Play with your pet.
# Play good music and dance to it.
# Do some crosswords or sudoko.
# Text message someone.
# Meet up with someone.
# Wash your face or hair.
# Braid/French braid your hair (make it so pretty that you don't want to mess it up)
# Paint your nails
# Write poetry.
# Drive with BOTH hands on the steering wheel
# Learn to play a musical instrument and practise it. Example: piano, guitar, drums.
# Alphebetize your movies, cds, books.
# Go through old boxes that you have and see what you have there.