How can i manage my anxiety without pulling my hair out?

[Warmparsley]

After finding out about my husbands affair and leaving me a single parent, I've been diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I've been taking medication for just over a year which has been working well for me (even tho the gp has increased my doseage twice)

Recently ive been pulling chunks of hair out and ive now got a large bald spot on my crown. I have a strange sense of anxiety but cant understand what has got me so worked up. Pulling my hair gives me a weird sense of external pain relief. Ive never done this before and my anxiety levels are slowly rising because of my new way to 'cope' with stress is not healthy.

I used to bite my nails excessively when i was younger. And pron to fidget when im nervous or bored. Im hoping i can get advice on how to stop pulling my hair out, and deal with my anxiety in a more productive way. Any help or suggestions would be great.

[PatT]

Hi warmparsley,

what you're describing is called trichotillomania - it's an obsessive-compulsive condition often borne out of anxiety, depression and other conditions. One of my best friends has the same condition and it's left her with strange patches without hair. I've got a related condition called dermatillomania where I pick at any blemishes on my skin endlessly. It's pretty annoying.

Personally I haven't made any effort to treat it but I do know that certain types of therapy can be pretty successful. Are you speaking to a psychologist at the moment? If the only way you're managing your illnesses is through medication then I really think speaking to a psych could help. If you speak to your GP they can put you on a mental health plan which gives you 10 subsidised trips to the psych. I think that would be your best first move.