Trichotillomania (TTM) or "trich" is an impulse control disorder characterised by the repeated urge to pull out scalp hair, eyelashes, beard hair, nose hair, pu...
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Lack of Motivation is a Problem
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Hello all! I've been pulling since I was 11, and I'm 46 now, so for 35 long (too long) years. I'd love to be free. I've tried many methods, meds, psychotherapy, talk therapy, Bible Studies on Freedom from Addiction, etc. etc. But something hangs me up. Namely, the will to remove my hand. Obviously, if my hand wasn't in my hair, it wouldn't be a problem. The biggest hurdle for me is to stop being my own worst enemy and just take the darn hand down and do something instead of wallowing in the relentless activity. I don't understand what to attribute this lack of motivation to, as I do genuinely want to be free, or at least vastly improved, but it's like there's a war waging inside of me. Regretfully it seems like Trich is winning far too often and the damage is the worst it's ever been. I'm pretty discouraged these days but it doesn't seem to be enough to motivate me to help mysel more. Thanks for reading and perhaps responding. I live only one hour from DC and the closest support group is at least 2 1/2 hours away.
Posted on 05/15/08, 05:05 pm |
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try putting plasters around your fingers - this really helped me become aware of my hands and also i couldnt pull satisfactorily because i couldn't feel the texture of the hairs. :) 
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I've been struggling with the same issues as far as lack of motivation and self sabatoge. The thing that I've come to realize is that I actually enjoy the pulling- I just don't like the results. I've been able to go for as long as 8 months without pulling but finding a replacement behavior has been hard because I really enjoy the pulling itself. It seems to satisfy like nothing else, doesn't it? I think, though, that the more you worry about it the more stressed and anxious you become which makes you pull more. It's a nasty cycle. Have you tried meditation or self hypnosis? It really seems to help for me.
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What are plasters around your fingers? I have an 8 year old I am trying to help kick the habit. She just started (couple months), maybe this would help??
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I just started taking up crocheting as my new hobby to distract my hands from pulling.
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We have a post called Stop Pulling Tips. That is a good start.
Then you have to recognize your triggers. There is something that upsets you that makes you raise your hand to begin with. As you work out what those issues are you will find that your pulling urges will lessen. Plasters are what we in the US call band-aids.
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I havn't tried any means of putting things on my hands like gloves or plasters. I just think the urges are too strong. Maybe thats were i've gone wrong- I spose if i don't try i can't expect results hmm.
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I attend college in DC and I was told about a place to go for help there. I don't know if you're an hour north/south or what, but there is Behavioral Health Center in Silver Spring Maryland that has trich specialists. Hope this helps.
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Hey. I took my daughter to a conference in PA in Nov and Catherine(can't think of her last name but she is the founder and also a suffer on tlc.org) she relayed a story of after 25 years of pulling she was driving her car one night and was pulled over by a cop because she was driving recklessly. She was pulling while driving. At that point and since that point she made rules for herself. The first rule was(because it was life threatening for herself and others on the road) she was NOT ALLOWED to pull while driving so she had to where gloves. She fine tuned that by saying I must put the gloves on BEFORE I get in the car. It took, I don't know how long, time for that to be the start of how she stopped pulling. She set up rules. My daughter is not motivated and in counseling but I believe in that thinking and behavior modification. I hope that it offers a new hope for you. Hae you ever belonged to a 12 step program? It really seems to be a recovery disorder and lifelong commitment. God bless and many graces.
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