Treatment for Children with Trichotillomania

A child with trichotillomania (hair-pulling urges) has a need to pull out their hair from their scalp or eyebrows, eyelashes or other parts of the body. For parents and your child, it can be very distressing that your girl or boy seems to be self-harming. Please be assure that you are not alone and help is at hand.

What is Trichotillomania?

As in adults, trichotillomania in children is a disorder that leads to the urge to pull out hair from the head, eyebrows and eyelashes. It is under the general diagnosis of OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Hair might also be compulsively pulled from other parts of the body including arms, legs and the pubic region. It is mainly a disorder in girls but boys can also have tricho.

Kids through teens, are more likely to pull hair from their scalp. Whereas teenagers to adults may also include eyelash pulling and eyebrow pulling. It can be difficult for a parent to understand what their daughter or son gets from pulling out hair. When asked, your daughter or son might say that it is pleasurable or that they like doing it.

What they might be gaining from pulling hair is a sense of relief or release. This release can help them to feel like they have done something about the emotions they have been struggling with.

Intentional or Unintentional Pulling

Sufferers from tricho can sometime deliberately pull their hair to gain that sense of relief. Some will not know they are pulling out their hair consciously. Trichotillomania can often be an unconscious behaviour that the child or teenager doesn’t realise they are doing until they notice hair in their hand or lying beside them in a pile.

Parents – Your Trichotillomania Child

Firstly, don’t blame yourself if your girl or boy is pulling out their hair. Self-blame will not help you or them. Anxiety and shame can be drivers of this OCD condition and if you show your worry or anxiety it will not help the situation.

The best thing your can do is to be understanding (even if you don’t fully understand why your child is pulling) and accept them. Give them lots of reassurance and whatever you do, do not shame them. They feel bad enough already without you adding to their stress. The more accepting you are of your child’s trichotillomania, the more they will feel relaxed and able to talk to you about what is bothering them and maybe cure their trichotillomania.

Trichotillomania Therapy for Children

Some children will stop before the bald patches become too obvious. For those that don’t, professional intervention is recommended. A visit to your GP is a prudent and wise first step. As an experienced Trichotillomania and Coach, I love working with young children and have had effective results. I will include you as their parent in the trichotillomania therapy and coaching programme. It is a worrying issue we can find a happy solution to, together. Indeed, you as the Mum or Dad of a child with trichotillomania can play a crucial and positive role in helping your child stop pulling their hair.

The Trichotillomania Coaching and Therapy Children Programme

I have developed over almost 20 years, a formula for helping adults, teenagers and children to let go of their hair-pulling. It usually involves 8 to 10 sessions of therapy and coaching. As the Trichotillomania Coach for London (and also Staffordshire), I will involve you as their parent. You can enjoy relief from your own stress and worry and by doing so, help your child to overcome their trichotillomania urges.

When you feel ready to begin or just want to find out more about the Trichotillomania Coaching and Therapy Children Programme, call me (Anne), on 07930 362492

I am also experienced with working with children who have complex needs which may include being on the Autistic Spectrum and/or Dyslexia. So please, don’t be alone with your child’s challenges. I am here to help.