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Managing Anxiety

  • anonymous Asks ...
    anonymous

    When I was little my parents said I always used to have a problem pulling my hair out and eating it (gross). I can barely even remember doing it but now I am 21 and all of a sudden I can’t stop picking at my scalp and pulling my hair out. I am getting little bald patches. Help! What do I do to stop?

  • Dr. Lani Chin Says ...
    Dr. Lani Chin

    It sounds like you're describing something called trichotillomania.  This is a way some people have learned to manage their anxiety.  What are you feeling when you think about pulling on your hair?  When you were younger, you probably realized this was something you could do to help yourself feel better.  Now that you're older this way of coping is no longer working for you.  I would suggest you begin working with a psychotherapist to better understand what's making you anxious and to learn other ways to help yourself feel better.  If you are in Southern California, feel free to contact me and I would be happy to help you: www.drlanichin.com.  Otherwise look up therapists in your area to begin talking about what you're going through.  Good luck.

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