Hats For Trichotillomania
People who have trichotillomania feel an intense urge to pull their hair, which can include the hair on their scalp, eyebrows or groin. This behavior can also include chewing or licking the pulled hairs, or playing with them.
If you or your child have trichotillomania, it is important to see your doctor as early as possible. They can check that there are no underlying causes and refer you for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
1. Wear a hat
Many people with trichotillomania find that when they wear a hat, it’s much harder to pull their hair because their hands are covered. This can help them feel more comfortable when out in public or at work and it’s also a great way to conceal any visible bald patches that may result from the pulling.
For many people with trichotillomania, the urge to pull their hair is triggered by negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, tension, boredom or frustration. Others pull their hair because it provides a sense of relief or satisfaction. The compulsive behavior can have devastating emotional and psychological effects on those affected. It can cause significant hair loss, causing individuals to lose self-esteem and have a low quality of life. It can also lead to social anxiety, resulting in isolation and depression. It can also affect a person’s employment and can cause shame, embarrassment and a negative body image. It can also impact a person’s sexual function and can be dangerous because eating hair can lead to the formation of a thick, matted hairball in the stomach (trichobezoar).
Trichotillomania is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder, along with severe nail biting, skin picking and picky dieting. It can be difficult to diagnose and treatment varies from individual to individual.
In some cases, therapy can help reduce a person’s urge to pull hair. Cognitive behavioural therapy can teach a person to challenge their beliefs and thought processes that lead to the behavior. It can also teach a person relaxation techniques to help them manage their symptoms, such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation. Other treatments include habit reversal, where a person will practice new activities with their hands such as clenching their fists instead of pulling their hair.
2. Wear a scarf
It’s common for people to pull their hair in childhood and adolescence, but frequent or obsessive hair pulling is medically diagnosed as trichotillomania. This compulsive habit causes bald patches to form on the head, face and arms. Those with trichotillomania often have to hide these bald spots with hats, scarves or wigs. This can lead to a loss of self-esteem and social isolation.
Trichotillomania is usually accompanied by other mental health disorders like anxiety or depression. It may also be hereditary or triggered by intense stress or trauma. The good news is that therapy can help. It’s important to find a therapist who is trained in the treatment of BFRBs (behavioral & cognitive). This type of therapy can help you address the underlying causes of your symptoms, and you can learn how to cope with the urges that trigger trich.
One coping skill that many people with trichotillomania find helpful is to mark their progress in a diary or calendar. This can help you see how many days in a row you haven’t pulled your hair and can provide a sense of accomplishment. It can also be helpful to talk openly about your trichotillomania with friends and family, as hiding it can make the anxiety worse.
While it’s not clear what causes trichotillomania, experts believe that it’s likely a combination of factors. These include genetics, the environment and other mental health disorders. It’s also possible that it’s caused by a medical condition like alopecia, or by substance abuse. In addition, trich can occur alongside other conditions like skin picking or OCD, so it’s essential to rule out these issues before you seek treatment. To receive a proper diagnosis, your doctor will need to observe you performing the behavior and ask about any other related symptoms.
3. Wear a hat with a hood
While it isn’t a cure for trichotillomania, covering your head can help break the cycle of pulling and can make you feel more confident. A hat with a hood also limits your view of your own scalp and can help hide patches of baldness or thin hair.
Another good coping tip for trichotillomania is to cover your fingers with plasters or gloves when you feel the urge to pull. This can make it more difficult to get traction and removes the sensory element of the pulling process. It might seem silly at first, but this can be an effective short-term solution.
Keeping your hands busy is another great way to minimize the compulsion to pull. This can be done by knitting or crocheting, using a pencil or pen to write and doodle, or playing phone games that are designed to be engaging. Keeping your hands occupied can also stop them from wandering towards your head.
When you do wear a hat with a hood, it is best to be sure your hair is bone dry before putting it on. Wet or damp hair can irritate and damage the hair follicles and cause traction alopecia. This type of hair loss can cause scarring and lead to more permanent hair loss in the affected areas.
The best long-term solutions to trichotillomania are CBT and hypnotherapy, which can help to retrain your negative thoughts and habits around the behavior and transform your ingrained ways of dealing with them. It can also be used alongside other treatments like acupuncture to improve the health of your hair and reduce the risk of hair loss. If you’re interested in talking to a therapist about your trichotillomania, visit Trichotillomania Support.
4. Wear a hat with a bow
If you have a tendency to pull out your hair, wearing a hat with a bow or ribbon can be an effective deterrent. The bow or ribbon will not allow you to reach your hair so it becomes impossible to touch and pull. This hat style is also fun and fashionable, making it perfect for a special occasion.
Another way to help stop yourself pulling your hair is by covering your hands with plasters or gloves. This will make it more difficult for you to pick at your hair and will also prevent you from rubbing or scratching other parts of your body. This is a great short-term solution, but you should see a therapist if the problem persists. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and hypnotherapy have proven to be the most effective forms of treatment for BFRDs such as picking, nail biting and hair pulling. They will help you to change your ingrained negative thoughts and help you learn to deal with these urges in a healthier manner.
Some children with trichotillomania feel shame or embarrassment about their hair loss, which can lead to low self-esteem, depression and anxiety. Others may be teased or have poor social skills, which can cause them to hide their bald spots from other people. Children who are struggling with trichotillomania may be offered treatment such as habit reversal training, which helps them understand their urges and how to cope with them.
If you are prone to hair-pulling, you can also try giving yourself a beard or beard massage. The feeling of the soft beard against your face is very soothing and can distract you from the urge to pull out your hair.
5. Wear a hat with a pom-pom
People with trichotillomania often pull their own hair and, unfortunately, the disorder is difficult to treat. The hair loss can cause shame, embarrassment and guilt. Fortunately, there are some techniques that can help people overcome this issue. These techniques include: wearing hats, covering the hair with makeup and using a wig. These techniques can also help people feel more confident and comfortable in social situations.
One of the most effective ways to cope with trichotillomania is keeping your hands busy. This can help prevent the compulsion from occurring. Some people like to knit or crochet while watching TV, while others like to doodle or play games on their phone. In addition, some people find that covering their fingers with plasters or tape can help stop the compulsion from happening. This is particularly useful when you are in a public setting where it can be hard to hide your hands.
Another way to prevent trichotillomania is by wearing a hat with a pom-pom. Pom-poms are small, decorative balls of fur or other material that add a bit of flair to any hat. Many different cultures have used these items, including the Scottish Balmoral cap and the Turkish Tam o’ Shanters cap. You can also find pom-poms on hats made from wool, silk and other materials.
The simplest and most affordable way to attach a pom-pom to a hat is to sew it on. However, this method can be time-consuming and may not be suitable for everyone. If you prefer a quicker and more durable option, consider using an elastic loop pom-pom. This type of pom-pom is easy to attach and allows you to remove it when you want to wash the hat. You can purchase these types of pom-poms in many craft stores or online.