Hypnotherapy for Hair Pulling or ‘Trichotillomania’

Hypnotherapy could support you to stop Trichotillomania or hair pulling.

Do you find yourself unconsciously pulling out clumps of hair?

If you’re stressed or anxious do you start pulling at your hair?

Have you made bald patches in your hair?

Maybe it’s when you’re bored or concentrating on something.

What is trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania is a condition where a person repeatedly feels an urge to pull out their hair. This can involve the hair on the scalp, but some people may also pull hair from their eyebrows, eyelashes or other areas of the body.

Hair pulling can happen in different ways. Sometimes you may be very aware that you are doing it and feel a strong urge beforehand. At other times, the behaviour can happen almost automatically while you are watching television, reading, working, driving or thinking about something else.

For some people, pulling provides a temporary feeling of relief, release or satisfaction. Unfortunately, this can reinforce the behaviour and make the urge difficult to break.

What might be causing you to pull your hair out?

Often a release from feeling tense or overwhelmed, pulling your hair may provide a temporary distraction or sense of release.

For others, it can become a habit that happens when they are bored, concentrating or relaxing.

You may not even realise you are doing it until you have already pulled several hairs.

Recognising your own triggers can be an important first step. Once you begin to notice when and where the pulling happens, you can start developing ways of responding differently.

Is hair pulling always something you do consciously?

No.

One of the frustrating things about hair pulling is that it can become an automatic behaviour.

You might sit down in front of the television and, without really thinking about it, your hand moves towards your hair. You may only realise what you are doing once your fingers are already touching or pulling at your hair.

This is where hypnotherapy may be useful. Rather than simply telling yourself “I must stop pulling my hair”, the aim can be to increase your awareness of the movement and give you an alternative response.

What is hypnotherapy and how can it help?

Hypnotherapy itself is a really relaxing process. During a session you will learn how to relax. Once in the relaxed state you can practice to become more aware of what happens immediately before you pull your hair.

You might notice:

• Your hand moving towards your head.
• A particular feeling of tension or anxiety.
• A specific situation where you are more likely to pull.
• The sensation of looking for a particular hair.
• The urge to pull becoming stronger.

Once you can recognise these early signs, you can practise responding differently.

For example if you notice you are moving your hand towards your head ready to start pulling. You then learn to recognise that movement and immediately relax your arm back down. Practicing this many times, imprints this into your subconscious. Then when you aren’t so aware of your hand moving towards your head, your unconscious mind warns you and you immediately relax it back down again.

Simply by being hypnotised you can reduce your stress and anxiety, which will help reduce your urge to pull your hair.

During a session, you are always in control.

What is the hypnotised state?

The hypnotised state is a state you were in as you woke up this morning and will be in as you drift off to sleep again tonight. Its the bit between being fully conscious and being asleep.

In this lovely relaxed state, we can practice making you lift your hand towards your head and relax it back down. We repeat this many times.

Practicing while hypnotised helps to implant the technique firmly in your unconscious, so it is ready to use when you need to.

How could Hypnotherapy help reduce Hair Pulling or ‘Trichotillomania’?

By making your unconscious mind alert to times when your hand is moving towards your head. You will then be more likely to be warned that it’s happening and stop yourself.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re ready to stop pulling clumps of your hair out. If you want to save your hair and stop the bald patches appearing. Why not explore how hypnotherapy could support you to stop Trichotillomania or hair pulling. Book a free, no obligation consultation. It’s a relaxed, no-pressure way to begin.

07757 604348

karenpbaker13@icloud.com