Treatment of hair pulling disorder
Treatment Research on treatment of trichotillomania is limited. However, some treatment options have helped many people reduce their hair pulling or stop entirely. Therapy Types of therapy that may be helpful for trichotillomania include: Habit reversal training. This behavior therapy is the primary treatment for trichotillomania. You learn how to recognize situations where you're likely to pull your hair and how to substitute other behaviors instead. For example, you might clench your fists to help stop the urge. Other therapies may be used along with habit reversal training. A variant of this technique, called decoupling, involves quickly redirecting your hand from your hair to another location. Cognitive therapy. This therapy can help you identify and examine distorted beliefs you may have in relation to hair pulling. Acceptance and commitment therapy. This therapy can help you learn to accept your hair-pulling urges without acting on them. Therapies that help with other mental health disorders often associated with trichotillomania, such as depression, anxiety or substance abuse, can be an important part of treatment.