Beating Trich Community Group
You mean that there is a name for IT? Im not weird? Trichotillomania, that big, long word that is the bane of our world. With knowledge and support of others we CAN break free and live without this disorder interfering with our lives. Lets keep this uplifting and supportive and give each other the encouragement the other needs to make it to that next day.
I know we all get so down on ourselves when we have told ourselves we will NOT pull but then even against our best intentions we do. When that happens we say the hell with it and instead of stopping with the few we pulled we go on because we feel we have already failed.
That has always been my catch in the past. But since finding out about Trich and searching the web high and low I armed myself with tricks and toys. There is a list as long as my arm. What what you eat (post on that in the advice area someone else put up there). Get regular sleep. Keep around others. Try hobbies, crafts to keep your hands busy. Hats, gloves, band aids.
I'm not a big one for meds, one because I've never read of any that really worked and too many stories of ppl saying that had bad reactions and pulled more. As to therapy that is up to the person. Some go to it for other problems so why not add Trich. That is my case, just another label.
I do like the thought of the reward system. It works no matter the age of the puller. You set a short goal at first even if it's just 1 day. The reward would be something small. For a child a trip to get an ice cream cone alone with a parent, that works good if its a large family, gives the child 1 on 1 time. Older ones treat yourself to an hour long bubble bath with candles and a book.. Whatever, you make it what YOU want. With each goal accomplished you set a new one (2 days) with a new reward. Some find it helpful esp when you get to the 1 week or more goal to find a picture of the reward (new pair of jeans) and tape it up where you will see it often (not near a mirror) to encourage you to keep going. The rewards don't have to involve monetary items if you are on a budget, get creative.
Like another post on here, it seems that just one day it will Click in your head and it's like WOW!. I'm gonna take control of this. Try the methods till you find the one that works for YOU, just keep trying is the main thing. No matter which road you need to follow, whether it includes the meds and therapy it doesn't matter. It's the finish line. See you all there. We'll have the most beautiful shiny hair and makeup free glowing faces anyone has ever seen!!!!
That has always been my catch in the past. But since finding out about Trich and searching the web high and low I armed myself with tricks and toys. There is a list as long as my arm. What what you eat (post on that in the advice area someone else put up there). Get regular sleep. Keep around others. Try hobbies, crafts to keep your hands busy. Hats, gloves, band aids.
I'm not a big one for meds, one because I've never read of any that really worked and too many stories of ppl saying that had bad reactions and pulled more. As to therapy that is up to the person. Some go to it for other problems so why not add Trich. That is my case, just another label.
I do like the thought of the reward system. It works no matter the age of the puller. You set a short goal at first even if it's just 1 day. The reward would be something small. For a child a trip to get an ice cream cone alone with a parent, that works good if its a large family, gives the child 1 on 1 time. Older ones treat yourself to an hour long bubble bath with candles and a book.. Whatever, you make it what YOU want. With each goal accomplished you set a new one (2 days) with a new reward. Some find it helpful esp when you get to the 1 week or more goal to find a picture of the reward (new pair of jeans) and tape it up where you will see it often (not near a mirror) to encourage you to keep going. The rewards don't have to involve monetary items if you are on a budget, get creative.
Like another post on here, it seems that just one day it will Click in your head and it's like WOW!. I'm gonna take control of this. Try the methods till you find the one that works for YOU, just keep trying is the main thing. No matter which road you need to follow, whether it includes the meds and therapy it doesn't matter. It's the finish line. See you all there. We'll have the most beautiful shiny hair and makeup free glowing faces anyone has ever seen!!!!
I'm trying to lose weight, so I thought that by using food, I would be hindering another goal I'm trying to make progress on!
I have a limited income, so a monetary reward is only possible month to month (if that).
So what to do then?
I decided my rewards would be intrinsic. I decided to develop a calendar on excel to help me track my marathon, but it also seems to work as a double-whammy. I put up a happy face for every pull-free day. I'm going on 23 days now. Being able to see my accomplishments day by day on my screen (when I can't yet see them on my head) is giving me the incentive to keep at it! Once I hit my month, budget or not, I'm getting some CDs. Or possibly a guitar tabs book as I may start using my guitar as a means to keep my hands busy.
Trust me when I say that after 30 mins of practicing the guitar, I don't want to pull!! The fretting hand usually hurts, and stringing causes pain, lol. The other hand that strums usually gets cold, clammy and stiff so pulling is out.
Great idea too about the calendar with the happy faces instead of a sweet treat.
I used sweet treats at first to help me along, but am switching to a diet coke after each week pull free because I was starting to crack the zipper on my jeans.
I have an idea for a long term goal (30 days) go and have a manicure/pedicure. Not only will your hair start looking good but now your hands can too. But you don't want to forget those toes now that summer is almost here.
#1: I ordered a new watch that is just beautiful, I've been staring at it for weeks. Buuuut....it was a little expensive, if anyone is familiar with watch brands it's a dual-tone Bulova. Had and have no business buying this right now, primarily because my disability got screwed up and I won't be seeing a paycheck until the 11th...oops. But I'm not going to worry about because I deserve it, damnit :D
#2 Reward: I'm going get my hair cut again. I don't know if this is a reward of if I'm just torturing myself. But this is my growth gauge. I promised my stylist that I would come in every 5 weeks so that I would have an objective view on my growth.
The next time I reward myself it's probably going to be something like going camping for the weekend with friends or just spending some quality time away with myself.
I don't set my goal for 1 day because there are times when I feel like I'm just setting myself up for failure, which is where the 15 minutes comes in handy. It works for me; it might not work for everyone who tries it.