You have trichotillomania-how can you completely stop this and overcome the 'habit' so you can take horseback riding lessons and go horseback riding as a career?

Answer 1

Well.... for starters... I don't understand the link between Trich and horseback riding lessons other than your parents have laid down some ridiculous rule.

Trich is a disorder - an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is not a "habit"... it is not a crime... because you have Trich does not mean you are a bad person, or that you are a lesser person for whatever purpose. YOU need to understand that. Your parents need to understand that too.

Trichotillomania is dealt with in a variety of ways. A lot of these include medications that can have some rather unpleasant side effects - which I will let you research as I don't think the subject matter is appropriate if you are as young as I think you are.

Some of us (yes I have been dealing with Trich for over 32 years) prefer to do what we can to stay away from medications and try to deal with the triggers that make the urge to pull get out of control. Triggers can be anything from stress, anxiety, depression to plain old boredom, etc. Some triggers are easy to deal with, some aren't.

Keeping busy both mentally and physically is an excellent way to stop from pulling, but may not always be reasonable. Having / finding something to do with your hands when you are most prone to pulling is a BIG help, but you may find like I did, it must be natural. IE wearing gloves or a hat isn't going to cut it. I use hand exercisers and (unfortunately) I bite my fingernails... sometimes I'll rub my wife's feet... ANYTHING that is natural and keeps my hands occupied.

There are lots of support groups for Trich where people share their "solutions" and attempts at dealing with triggers, some work and some don't. I suggest you join a few groups and lurk for a bit and see if they have anything that might help you.

I also suggest that if I am right and your parents are upset with you about your Trich - someone sit them down and make them understand what exactly it is you're dealing with. This is NOT something to take lightly form the standpoint of being able to stop. It is not a life threatening disease either. It IS something that your parents need to understand and not get mad at you over... that will only make it worse and alienate you from each other. I speak from bitter personal experience.

Good luck and if you ever need an ear to chew on... message me through here.