People with trichotillomania, or hair pulling condition, suffer from a persistent urge to pull their own hair out from the scalp, eyebrows, or other areas. Some people with this disorder may have only mild symptoms, but for others, the urge to pull hair becomes overwhelming, causing great anxiety.

Common Trichotillomania Symptoms

Many people hide their trichotillomania symptoms by only acting on the hair pulling urge in private. Some people intentionally pull their hair and focus intently upon the activity. Others may pull their hair unconsciously, such as when studying for an exam or if they become frustrated or bored.

People with this obsessive hair pulling condition may use fingernails, tweezers, pins, or other mechanical tools to pull the hair. In some cases, this can cause permanent hair loss or scarring of the skin. (more on effects of pulling out eyelashes and hair)

Watch for these common trichotillomania symptoms:

• Repetitive acts of hair pulling from scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes or other body areas
• Persistent urge to pull hair with feelings of relief after pulling the hair
• Bald areas on the scalp or other areas
• Missing eyelashes or eyebrows
• Chewing on pulled hair
• Playing with pulled hair
• Skimming pulled hair across the face or lips
• Increase distress that interferes with daily life

Additional Symptoms of Hair Pulling Condition

Some people suffering from this hair pulling condition swallow their hair. Doctors refer to the act of purposely swallowing hair as trichophagia. When you eat your hair, you may develop trichobezoars, or hair balls, in your stomach or gut. These hair balls can cause fairly serious symptoms that include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach or lower abdominal pain
• Stomach bleeding

People with trichotillomania frequently try to hide or camouflage the hair loss resulting from the disorder. They may use hats, scarves, long-sleeved shirts, or false eyelashes. Others simply avoid social situations altogether to keep people from asking about the hair loss.

If you, or someone you love, have these trichotillomania signs, talk to your family doctor or a mental health professional about assessing your condition and getting hair pulling help and trichotillomania support.

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Taking a body dysmorphic disorder test is one of the best ways to learn if you need to seek help and treatment for body dysmorphic disorder from a mental health professional. (If you want to know how to cure body dysmorphic disorder, read this.) This free online BDD test from the OCD Center of Los Angeles is designed to help people get an idea as to whether their symptoms may indicate signs of the disorder. Take the body dysmorphic disorder test below by checking the statements that apply to you. The results may help answer the question, "Do I have body dysmorphic disorder?" (Not sure what body dysmorphic disorder, BDD, is?)

While not meant to take the place of a professional mental health evaluation, this body dysmorphic disorder self-test can help determine if you have traits or symptoms of BDD.

1. _____ I worry excessively about my physical appearance.

2. _____ I often check my appearance in mirrors or other reflecting objects (i.e. windows, car bumpers, spoons)

3. _____ I often avoid mirrors and other reflecting objects

4. _____ I perform excessive basic grooming activities (i.e. showering, washing, combing/styling hair, brushing teeth) related to my perceived flaw

5. _____ I frequently use make-up or clothing to camouflage my perceived flaw or defect

6. _____ I frequently try to hide my perceived flaw by using my hands, sitting in certain positions, or staying in places where I believe others are less likely to notice my flaw(s)

7. _____ I regularly compare my appearance to that of others

8. _____ I almost constantly seek reassurance from others about the appearance of my perceived flaw or defect

9. _____ I sometimes discuss my flaw with others, or ask them to verify my flaw's appearance

10. _____ I frequently touch, pick, or measure the flaw

11. _____ I diet or eat only specific foods related to my flaw

12. _____ I avoid certain places and activities because I don't want others to see my flaw (i.e. dating, parties, swimming, theaters, restaurants)

13. _____ I avoid appearing in photographs

14. _____ I have undergone cosmetic procedures in an effort to correct my flaw (i.e. plastic surgery, hair replacement, skin bleaching)

15. _____ The results of the cosmetic procedures never produce satisfactory results

16. _____ I am planning a cosmetic procedure(s) in the future to alter the appearance or presence of my flaw

17. _____ I am frequently very anxious or depressed when thinking about my flaw

18. _____ I often arrive late to activities due to carrying out acts related to my perceived flaw

19. _____ I exercise and/or lift weights excessively in an effort to alter the appearance of my perceived flaw

20. _____ I frequently imagine others notice my flaw and that they have negative thoughts about the flaw and my appearance

21. _____ I am significantly distressed about my perceived flaw

22. _____ I often believe others discuss or comment to one another about my perceived flaw

23. _____ My concern and worry over my flaw interfere with social relationships and my academic or professional performance

24. _____I spend _____ hours per day performing behaviors specifically related to my perceived flaw (i.e. applying make-up, measuring, styling hair, skin picking, hair plucking)

25. _____ I worry most about the following parts and features of my body: [list body parts]

You can print this body dysmorphic disorder test out to check off the items that apply to you and share it with your medical doctor or mental health professional at your next visit. Remember, this BDD test does not definitively answer the question: "Do I have body dysmorphic disorder?" Only a licensed doctor or mental health professional can diagnose body dysmorphic disorder.

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Body dysmorphic disorder treatment involves both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medications as first-line treatment approaches, according to Sabine Wilhelm, Ph.D., a fellow in the OCD Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. BDD reaches beyond mere vanity or self-centered attention to appearance. (What is body dysmorphic disorder?) Despite misconceptions about BDD, it's a very real body image disorder, affecting both men and women.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Treatment

While effective body dysmorphic disorder treatment protocols exist, the condition can present a challenge to doctors and therapists. For example, some people suffering from BDD truly believe their perceived flaws and defects appear grossly abnormal. These people may not see how BDD treatment can help them, since they think their flaw or defect is real and contributes to their ugliness. In this case, treatment may take longer, but it can still provide effective relief - eventually.

The treatment for body dysmorphic disorder involves two primary approaches:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Medications (i.e. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors – SSRIs)

These two approaches are most often used in combination to treat the symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder. (If you're still wondering, "Do I Have BDD?", take our free online body dysmorphic disorder test.) Take a closer look at the two approaches used in treatment for body dysmorphic disorder:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – CBT for body dysmorphic treatment focuses on the present and involves goal-oriented therapy. The main goal involves reducing a person's negative thoughts about his or her appearance and the resulting compulsive behaviors. The therapist teaches patients healthy behaviors and how to avoid obsessive behaviors, such as skin picking or mirror checking. Patients learn to restructure their obsessive negative thoughts about their appearance to reflect a more realistic thought pattern. Therapists do this by teaching the patient to evaluate actual evidence for their negative beliefs about appearance or perceived flaws. Challenging the patient's distorted thought patterns illustrates that the thinking is inaccurate, excessive, and not helpful.

People with BDD often believe others are thinking negatively about their appearance and noticing their flaws. This involves an assumption that the BDD patient knows the thoughts of others – mind reading. The therapist will challenge the patient's rationale for believing they somehow know the thoughts of others.

Last, using exposure and response prevention techniques, doctors encourage patients to refrain from their compulsive behaviors when they start to have anxiety based on their negative thoughts about appearance. The patient uses thought restructuring while refraining from mirror checking or other ritualistic acts until the anxiety passes.

Medication – As with other types of obsessive-compulsive disorders, the SSRI class of medications are highly effective in BDD treatment. These medications are prescribed as antidepressants but also work in treating OCD. Some examples of SSRIs prescribed in the treatment for body dysmorphic disorder include:

• Prozac
• Paxil
• Celexa
• Lexapro
• Zoloft
• Anafranil,
• Luvox

You can find a complete list of antidepressant medications here.

These SSRIs work effectively and typically come with very mild side effects. Other antidepressants haven't proved as effective in BDD treatment, but doctors sometimes prescribe them along with SSRIs because they work well to reduce obsessive thinking. Physicians and mental health professionals will also frequently advise patients with BDD to join one of the body dysmorphic disorder support groups in the community. Talking with others who have similar experiences can help people with BDD feel less alone and isolated.

Coexisting Conditions and Body Dysmorphic Disorder Treatment

Other coexisting mental health conditions can complicate body dysmorphic disorder treatment. Research shows that over 75 percent of those with BDD also experience episodes of major depressive disorder at some point in their lives. About 36 percent of people with BDD also have agoraphobia.

Still others have an eating disorder that further complicates BDD treatment effectiveness. It's critical that the mental health professional have the experience and ability to discern the presence of more than one disorder and knowledge about treating coexisting mental health conditions. The doctor may need to treat the coexisting disorder first and treat the BDD once that condition is under control.

Many of the common coexisting disorders require different treatment approaches – another reason that finding an experienced mental health physician is vital.

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Doctors don't know exactly what causes trichotillomania, but as with many of the more complicated mental illnesses, it likely results from a combination of factors. Promising ongoing research may shed some new light on trichotillomania causes, but until then, experts blame it a number of possible causes.

Possible Trichotillomania Causes

While underlying biological and environmental trichotillomania causes remain unclear, experts do know that people with the disorder use this compulsive hair pulling behavior as a coping mechanism for stress. People who do this don't have conscious intentions of hurting themselves. Conversely, they use it to cope with complex emotions like anxiety and sometimes fear or panic.

Trichotillomania symptoms typically set in around 11 years of age, but doctors have diagnosed children as young as one year old with compulsive hair pulling. (More on hair pulling in children) It's thought that certain sensory events can trigger the onset of trichotillomania:

• Itchy eyelashes
• Itchy eyebrows
• Itchy or scaly scalp
• Stressful life events
• General anxiety

Likely Causes of Trichotillomania

Physicians and scientists believe a combination of factors contribute to the underlying causes of trichotillomania:

• Genetic factors – many people with the disorder have a direct relative that suffers from, or suffered with, the disorder.
• Environmental factors – those who live in high anxiety environments (i.e. a physically or emotionally abusive household) may have a propensity to develop the disorder. Certain cultural traditions or norms may have a part as well for some patients.
• Abnormal brain chemistry – experts believe that deficiencies or inefficiencies of certain brain chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine, may play a part in trichotillomania.

Compulsive Hair Pulling Risk Factors

According to the Mayo Clinic, certain risk factors are associated with compulsive hair pulling:

• Age – compulsive hair pulling typically develops in adolescents, although it can occur in younger children.
• Gender – many more females than men receive treatment for compulsive hair pulling; although, experts speculate that more women than men actually seek help for the condition.
• Relief or pleasure – people with trichotillomania often feel relief or pleasure when they participate in the compulsive hair pulling behavior, lending positive reinforcement to the activity in their minds.
• Other (comorbid) disorders – often, people with trichotillomania suffer from other mental disorders like depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Doctors consider trichotillomania a potentially serious mental disorder and people suffering from the condition have effective trichotillomania treatments available to them. It's important that they seek medical advice to get appropriate treatment.

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Suicide help chats are available across the United States, and, indeed, around the world. People often utilize online suicide chats rather than calling crisis hotline phone numbers, but is suicide chat help really a viable option to actually calling a crisis line?

What is a Live Suicide Chat?

Live suicide chats are online chats, in real-time, where a person in crisis can interact with a trained responder via text. These chats are just like the ones that people have over Facebook or Skype but it's done over software specific to the suicide prevention organization. Organizations like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line and The Trevor Project all offer online suicide help chats.

The Pros and Cons of Online Suicide Help Chats

Any option that spurs a person in crisis to reach out is certainly beneficial but there are pros and cons specific to online suicide help chats.

The pros of suicide online chats include:

• A new way for people to access support that may make an individual in crisis feel more comfortable than speaking over the phone.
• A way to access help that doesn't cost phone time or money.
• A way of accessing suicide prevention help that will possibly make a person feel more secure in their anonymity.

The cons of suicide online chats do exist, however. Some of the cons of live suicide chats include:

• The responder will not be able to send help to the location of the person in crisis without the person's permission. While this fact may make the person in crisis feel better, temporarily, that help is sometimes needed to save a life.
• The person in crisis may not be writing to a local responder and so help may be more general instead of referral to a local support resource.
• It is more difficult to tell how the person in crisis is doing when you cannot hear his or her voice.
• The chat can be interrupted due to Internet connection issues.
• It may be very difficult for a person to type out everything they are feeling or the details of his or her situation in a timely manner.
• Language barriers may be more pronounced in a typed scenario.
• There may be less of a connection between the person in crisis and the responder when technology is put in the middle.

Is Online Suicide Chat Help a Viable Option to Calling a Crisis Hotline?

In the end, any manner of accessing suicide help is better than not reaching out at all and if a person feels he or she cannot talk to someone but can type to them, then it's a win. And if a person engages in a suicide help chat with an organization like Lifeline, the responder can be well-trained and local, just as it would be with a phone call.

However, it may be more beneficial to call a helpline than to engage in a suicide help chat simply due to the possible interpersonal connection and amount of information that can be relayed, both verbally and through tone of voice. That being said, online suicide chats can still be an option for some people and shouldn't be overlooked as a possible source of help and support.

A Cure for Body Dysmorphic Disorder

As with other types of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), experts haven't discovered how to cure body dysmorphic disorder. If you try to treat body dysmorphic disorder on your own, it's not likely to get much better. However, people with body dysmorphic disorder can take some action on their own that can work along with the treatment plan put in place by their doctor.

Self-Help for People with Body Dysmorphic Disorder

While no cure for body dysmorphic disorder presently exists, professional BDD treatment and self-help techniques can bring significant symptom relief. Take a closer look at self-help techniques for people with body dysmorphic disorder:

• Educate yourself on your disorder – Learn all you can about body dysmorphic disorder. Knowledge truly is power and it can empower and motivate you to do whatever it takes to get better.
• Know your triggers – Talk to your doctor or therapist about what situations or events may trigger your individual BDD signs and symptoms. Ask him or her to help you formulate a plan of action if symptoms threaten to return.
• Stay physically active – Physical exercise can go a long way to help manage many of the symptoms associated with BDD. Engaging in a regular exercise routine may also help counteract some of the side effects of your medication, such as weight gain.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol – Illegal substances and alcohol can worsen your symptoms and counteract the progress you've made in therapy.
• Stick to your treatment strategy – Take your medicine as directed and don't skip therapy sessions even when you're feeling better. When you feel better and symptoms have subsided, it's even more important to stick to your treatment plan.
• Keep a journal – Journal your obsessive thoughts and urges to perform rituals associated with your BDD. Share this with your therapist. Don't forget to record when you've successfully overcome the urges and restructured the negative thoughts.
• Eat and rest – It's important that you get enough sleep and that you maintain a healthy diet. These contribute to both physical and mental health.
• Read self-help books – Ask your therapist to recommend some self-help books about obsessive-compulsive disorders and, specifically, BDD.
• Stay socially active – Don't isolate yourself. Take time to participate in activities you love and get together with friends and family.
• Learn stress reduction techniques – Ask your therapist to recommend stress management and reductions techniques like meditation and breathing exercises.
• Get involved in group therapy – Family support represents a critical piece of successful BDD treatment. It's helpful to join both a group for those suffering with BDD and a family group, so family members can better understand the condition.
• Reach out when you're down – Don't make decisions about undergoing cosmetic surgery procedures while you're down in the dumps, feeling anxiety, or obsessing over your perceived flaws.

Take control of your mental and physical health by sticking to your treatment plan. Sure there's no cure for body dysmorphic disorder, but by staying honest with your therapist and trying some of these suggestions for helping yourself at home, you can successfully manage your symptoms.

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The compulsive act of pulling eyelashes out or pulling out hair baffles most people, often including those who perform the act. This behavior, known as trichotillomania (What is trichotillomania?), has received increasing attention as psychiatric experts seek to improve their understanding of the human brain. However, people with the disorder are concerned not only about the causes of trichotillomania but also about the effects of compulsively pulling out eyelashes and hair.

If I Pull Out Eyelashes, Will They Grow Back?

If you pull out eyelashes, the thought, "Will they grow back?" may flash through your mind. It's a valid concern. When a hair falls out, or when you pull it out, nature provides a do-over, of sorts. Your hair grows back most of the time, although it can sometimes take a while. When you repeat the action frequently, however, re-growth to the affected area slows and eventually may cease altogether.

Unfortunately, trichotillomania can lead to a permanent loss of hair, eyelashes or eyebrows -- or whatever body hair a person subjects to this behavior. There are many physical complications that can arise from compulsively pulling out hair. Pulling eyelashes out and pulling out hair frequently leads to infections and skin damage.

Many trichotillomania sufferers also engage in trichophagia, which is the act of chewing on or eating the hair. According to the Trichotillomania Learning Center, "This behavior can range from harmless, when hair roots are nibbled and swallowed, to dangerous when the entire hairs are ingested. The formation of a hairball (trichobezoar) can lead to intestinal blockage and may require surgery. This is a rare but serious condition that can even be fatal if not treated promptly."

Pulling Out Hair Leads to Low Confidence

In addition to the physical effects mentioned, pulling out hair frequently leads to low confidence and emotional distress. The emotional impact of this condition is multi-faceted. First, sufferers question their own motivation, not knowing why they do it. That alone creates doubt in a person. Add to that the visible physical signs of trichotillomania left by the behavior and you have a person who may lose confidence in her appearance and probably avoids social interaction in order to escape detection.

Loss of confidence and social interaction spirals into depression. Illustrating the extremes to which trichotillomania can affect a person's life, Jennifer Raikes, a person who lives with this disorder every day explains, "...I've met hundreds of women and men with trichotillomania. The associated shame has, at times, controlled their lives, impacting decisions both large and small, from whether to venture outside on a windy day to whether to marry."

Pulling Eyelashes Out Does Not Have to End Badly

It does seem like a dire situation, but pulling eyelashes out, or any other body hair, does not have to lead to a life of misery. Although many sufferers have gone untreated for years because of embarrassment or lack of knowledge, modern medicine offers relief for those who seek it.

While there is no cure for trichotillomania, there is hair pulling help available. As an impulse-control disorder, there are specific therapies and medications that can help. Experts usually prescribe a behavior therapy, such as teaching relaxation techniques or cognitive therapy, along with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI antidepressants), which address the brain chemistry imbalance related to this disorder. Patients who follow these therapies usually find some level of relief from their self-destructive urges and can go on to live happier lives.

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Suicide prevention chats are real-time interactions between a person in crisis and a trained responder. These suicide prevention chats are available through several organizations, some 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone who is in any form of crisis, be it because of mental illness like depression, financial concerns, family problems or suicidal thoughts and feelings is encouraged to contact a suicide prevention chat or lifeline.

Some people want a bit of extra information about these chat lines before they call, though, so here is some additional information on how suicide prevention chats work.

Who's on the Other End of a Suicide Prevention Chat? Are Chats Secure?

Suicide prevention chat operators may be trained volunteers or professional counselors depending on the organization providing the service. The crisis chat person you're writing to may be local or not. Some organizations ensure encryption of chats while others don't.

For example, if you contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  Crisis Chat, you will be connected with one of many crisis centers across the United States according to your zip code. Each of these crisis centers are certified by CONTACT USA.

The confidentiality and security of these online suicide prevention chats are ensured through financial-organization-level encryption. All your information is secured between your computer and theirs. The Lifeline chat is available seven days a week from 2:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

• Find the Lifeline's Crisis Chat here. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/

Outside of the Lifeline's online chat, it is best to call their crisis phone number at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

How Do Suicide Prevention Chats Work?

Suicide prevention chats are like other types of online chatting in that two parties will be typing to each other in real-time. When accessing an online chat, you may be asked for general location information (such as a zip code) to try to refer you to services in your area. You are also typically asked to agree to the terms and services of this type of chatting through software.

Once this simple information is gathered from you, you are connected with someone trained to help people in crisis. Just like on the phone, you are encouraged to be open and honest to receive the best possible help for your situation.

Recommendations for Suicide Prevention Online Chats

Lifeline makes the following recommendations when chatting with suicide prevention personnel:

• Use a computer with a strong Internet connection to reduce interruptions.
• Use respectful language.
• Stay focused on the chat, do not multitask and answer promptly.
• Let the responder know if you need to step away from your computer.

Doctors sometimes refer to muscle dysmorphia as bigorexia or reverse anorexia. The term, muscle dysmorphia, refers to a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Research shows that men have become increasingly dissatisfied with their perceived body images.

Body dysmorphic disorder in men sometimes manifests in the form of muscle dysmorphia. With muscle dysmorphia, men become obsessed with the size of their muscles and have excessive concerns about appearing physically weak or underdeveloped. These men (and occasionally women) have an excessive preoccupation with their muscle size and experience great distress over these concerns.

Bigorexia in Men

Men with bigorexia spend excessive amounts of time working out in the gym, dieting, checking themselves in a mirror, comparing themselves to others, and seeking reassurance from others about their appearance. Many of them also abuse anabolic steroids in an effort to build muscle mass and foster more lean muscle tissue.

As a subtype of BDD, which falls under the DSM-5 category of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, doctors can effectively treat bigorexia in much the same way they treat the different types of OCD. It's important to recognize the signs of bigorexia and differentiate them from behaviors of those who simply exercise and work out every day to stay fit and healthy.

Signs of Muscle Dysmorphia

If you or someone you know exhibits the signs of muscle dysmorphia, it's important to seek professional help. Left untreated, this disorder can significantly reduce quality of life and result in severe depression. People with this condition may exhibit the following signs:

• Constantly worry about muscle size
• Spend excessive amounts of time working out that interferes with social life or performance at school and work
• Constantly scrutinizing muscles in the mirror
• Weighing several times a day
• Take great care to avoid looking at self in mirror
• Wear baggy clothing in public to keep others from seeing his body
• Feel great anxiety and distress when they miss a workout or deviate slightly from their strict diet
• Other people feel they are too concerned with appearance and working out
• Abuse anabolic steroids or take supplements to gain muscle mass and reduce body fat

Causes of Muscle Dysmorphia or Bigorexia

Experts don't have a clear understanding of the causes of muscle dysmorphia or bigorexia. Like other obsessive-compulsive disorders, research indicates that it could arise from a combination of factors including:

• Genetics – people with a relative that has bigorexia are more likely to develop the disorder, pointing to a genetic component.
• Brain differences – people with muscle dysmorphia may have insufficient levels of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter in the brain that affects mood and well-being.
• Environment – childhood and adolescent environment, family issues, bullying, emotional trauma, and cultural factors may increase the risk that a person will develop muscle dysmorphia.

Treatments for People with Muscle Dysmorphia

There are effective treatments available for people with muscle dysmorphia. Doctors and clinicians treat muscle dysmorphia in much the same way they treat other types of body dysmorphic disorder. The first line of treatment includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). A list of antidepressant medications can be found here.

When used in combination, SSRIs and CBT can effectively treat the symptoms of muscle dysmorphia and reduce the obsessive thoughts about their appearance. This treatment approach also helps people gain more control over their compulsive behaviors like excessive working out or mirror checking.

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People with compulsive hair pulling disorder want a cure for trichotillomania. Those suffering from the disorder can (and do) get better with trichotillomania treatment. Regarding an actual cure for trichotillomania, it depends on how you define the word "cure".

How to Cure Trichotillomania

Doctors don't know how to cure trichotillomania in the same way they can cure strep throat by prescribing certain antibiotics. Typically, people with strep throat or a bacterial skin infection become cured after a course of antibiotics. In this case, "cured" means there's no more disease present in the person. While patients can experience relief from trichotillomania symptoms that approaches a "cure", using current therapeutic techniques, no true cure for trichotillomania exists.

If No Cure for Trichotillomania Exists, What Can I Do?

Depending on the level of disorder and intensity of trichotillomania symptoms, some people can find relief through self-help and alternative medicine approaches to treatment. Some of the self-help remedies for trichotillomania include:

• Learn and practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and full body relaxation. These can help you resist the urge to pull when you first begin to feel it.
• Join a support group especially for people with the disorder.
• Enlist the help of family members by asking them to alert you when you unconsciously pull your hair.
• Learn what situations and events trigger your hair pulling so you can avoid them or manage your urges better.
• Participate in creative hobbies that require you to use your hands. Some studies show that keeping the hands busy can reduce the urge to pull hair.

If you have a very mild level of trichotillomania, these techniques may provide relief, but nothing can replace professional help. A trained mental health professional will assist you in developing new thought and behavior patterns so you can better cope with the feelings and urges that arise during certain situations or events. Self-help techniques, such as those above, work best as a way to maintain the progress you receive in professional therapy. You'll likely always need to remain acutely aware of triggers and urges, even in the event that you don't engage in hair pulling for long periods of time.

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