misterk
07-16-2009, 05:34 AM
I have a really annoying habit of literally pulling my hair out when I get even slightly nervous. Can anyone here suggest a technique to quickly end this strange habit?
Hair pulling, technically known as "trichotillomania," is not as strange as you might think. Although there have been no in-depth studies, one study made in 2005 estimated that trichotillomania affects 0.5-3.5% of the population at some point during life. Since the earth's population is over 6 billion, that means up to 20 million people may have what the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) calls an "impulse disorder."
It is believed that hair pulling is a response to some type of anxiety. What may have happened in the past was that the sensation of hair pulling relieved some form of stress. However, now that response not only occurs during stressful and anxiety-producing situations, but also at other times. Alternatively, pulling of the hair may simply have started as something pleasurable and then continued as a habit even when such stimulation is not consciously desired. It's not "strange," but as you may have correctly surmised, it has become a habit. Although similar to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), it is not considered the same.
Currently, psychiatrists and some doctors give one of three drugs as a possible aid for some people. Psychologists tend to use something called "habit reversal therapy." This involves:
1. Learning to recognize when you are liable to perform the unwanted behavior
2. Replacing the unwanted behavior with something more acceptable such as fist clenching
I have not seen any reports on the successfulness of such therapy, but even assuming that it does work, it would take many weeks to establish the new behavior as a replacement. Personally, I wouldn't consider fist clenching to be an acceptable replacement.
Note that there are at least two believed major causes of this disorder. However, this does not get into specifics. There are many types of stress inducers. Some may cause this behavior and others may not? Which ones do and how do you effectively work with those? The solution, IMO, is finding someone who specializes in habit change and who can help by working with you to find the specific techniques that will resolve the issue once and for all.
My suggestion, therefore, is that you should go to a trained and experienced hypnotherapist and/or NLP practitioner. He or she will be able to help you quickly, effectively, and permanently change your behavior.
Won't it feel good when you don't pull your hair any more?