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.
Just found this on the other site:
"One of the most common problems we come across when we decide we are ready to become pull free, is what to do with our hands. It is important to try and establish an alternative behavior to replace those times we would normally sit and pull.
So what can we do ? Well quite a lot actually. Sometimes the simplest of things work wonders. A lot of people find they pull more when watching tv or on the phone. Often these situations can't be avoided, so having something else in place helps. For example :-
~~wearing gloves
~~plasters (band aids) around your fingers
~~play with Play Doh, worry beads, pipe cleaners
~~wet your hair
~~keep the fingers moist with moisturizing lotion
~~wear a hat
When the urges are great it is a good idea to take yourself away from the situation. Distract the mind as well as your hands. eg:-
~~go for a walk, it doesn't matter where.
~~why not go and build a snowman in the winter
~~or splash in the puddles when it rains, your inner child will love it
~~do yoga, relaxation exercises.
~~take a bath with lots of bubbles, pamper yourself
~~find a new hobby, cross stitching, candle making, bracelet making. anything that keeps the hands occupied.
~~pick a subject you would like to know more about and research it on the internet
~~pick an object in the room and list 20 things it can be used for (I include the kids in this one)
~~post on the message board. Interacting with others is great therapy.
It is also important to remember that most of us will have setbacks. It doesn't make you a weak person. It is part of the learning and healing process we all have to go through. If you do slip and pull again, put it behind you. It is in the past. Forgive yourself and start afresh. Stay positive. Reward yourself for the times you do not pull, avoid punishment for the times you do.
These are just a few suggestions. They will not work for everyone, but never give up hope. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. There are more hints and tips in the forums so pop in and have a look. Together we can stop Trich in it's tracks.
"One of the most common problems we come across when we decide we are ready to become pull free, is what to do with our hands. It is important to try and establish an alternative behavior to replace those times we would normally sit and pull.
So what can we do ? Well quite a lot actually. Sometimes the simplest of things work wonders. A lot of people find they pull more when watching tv or on the phone. Often these situations can't be avoided, so having something else in place helps. For example :-
~~wearing gloves
~~plasters (band aids) around your fingers
~~play with Play Doh, worry beads, pipe cleaners
~~wet your hair
~~keep the fingers moist with moisturizing lotion
~~wear a hat
When the urges are great it is a good idea to take yourself away from the situation. Distract the mind as well as your hands. eg:-
~~go for a walk, it doesn't matter where.
~~why not go and build a snowman in the winter
~~or splash in the puddles when it rains, your inner child will love it
~~do yoga, relaxation exercises.
~~take a bath with lots of bubbles, pamper yourself
~~find a new hobby, cross stitching, candle making, bracelet making. anything that keeps the hands occupied.
~~pick a subject you would like to know more about and research it on the internet
~~pick an object in the room and list 20 things it can be used for (I include the kids in this one)
~~post on the message board. Interacting with others is great therapy.
It is also important to remember that most of us will have setbacks. It doesn't make you a weak person. It is part of the learning and healing process we all have to go through. If you do slip and pull again, put it behind you. It is in the past. Forgive yourself and start afresh. Stay positive. Reward yourself for the times you do not pull, avoid punishment for the times you do.
These are just a few suggestions. They will not work for everyone, but never give up hope. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. There are more hints and tips in the forums so pop in and have a look. Together we can stop Trich in it's tracks.
If you buy or grow really long fingernails, it is extremely hard to pull eyelashes. It's possible, but it's much more frustration and unless it's a HUGE disorder for you, then it's a very great help. I pull 4 eyelashes everyday, I bought fake nails, and it stopped for a while. It really did work.
http://www.origami4you.co.uk/
http://www.origami4you.co.uk/
http://www.origami4you.co.uk/
Link is at the top right corner.
Knitting and crocheting
Popping bubble wrap
Stroking satin things and artists paintbrushes.
Carry a worry stone
Making hemp jewelery and text messaging
Cryptogram book
Sudoko puzzles.
Stress balls
Wear gloves - thin cottons ones designed to be worn overnight once you put handcream on to moisturize hands better.
Then every time you get that "just one" to pull thought and you go back to the notebook you will be able to re-read the past entries as you add a new one and that should make you feel good and show you that you are not TRICH. With each entry TRICH gets pushed further out of your life.
To sum it up. Each entry = a resisted urge.
Get a notebook and every time you get that "just one" thought write down in the notebook "just one" good thing in your life. Kinda like a pro and con list.
Then every time you get that "just one" to pull thought and you go back to the notebook you will be able to re-read the past entries as you add a new one and that should make you feel good and show you that you are not TRICH. With each entry TRICH gets pushed further out of your life.
To sum it up. Each entry = a resisted urge.
i've tried stress balls and koozie looking things...they never seem to work for me. i do wear eye masks to bed and am going to start to do so if i'm lying in bed talking on the phone. it seems that i tend to pull the most at that time without even thinking about the damage i'm doing. hope it works for anyone else who tries it.
My psych told me today that for every negative you hear about yourself you need to hear 6 postive ones to balance it. - No wonder negative comments remain in the memory longer. This notebook idea will be there to provide the positive comments :D