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I have had a kit like this for years and it’s really helped me a lot. The contents of the kit have evolved over time but my need for one of these has not.
Everyone with trichotillomania that wants to stop pulling should consider keeping something like this around. Yours does not have to look exactly like mine. The tools that help you might vary but having everything in one convienent place is going to be super helpful when you’re trying to stop pulling.
One thing that overwhelms me is looking for the things I need when I need them and not being able to find them. Keeping all these trich tools in one place eliminates the stress of trying to find them when I really, really need them most.
What’s In A Trichotillomania Toolkit?
A trichotillomania toolkit is all the supplies, resources, and tools that help stop hair pulling. Mine has books, toys, devices, supplements and encouraging notes inside.
My Keen Bracelets
My Keen bracelets are usually on my wrists, when I’m not wearing them, I keep them in my toolkit so that I can easily find them. But what are they?
These bracelets give a gentle buzz on the wrist when they detect hair-pulling hand movements. The buzz is meant to be a gentle nudge to let me know of my actions at the moment.
These habit detecting bracelets have essential for me in my recovery from hair pulling. I am a subconscious hair puller, I start pulling my hair out without even noticing I’m doing it. I bite my nails, suck my thumb, and pull my hair without even thinking about it.
Keen bracelets give a little tap on the wrist to let me know “hey, you’re in the danger zone, my friend!”
A Trichotillomania Journal
This is a trichotillomania habit-tracking journal that I created just for hair pulling. I need to figure out what the triggers for hair pulling were in my life in order to help myself overcome this habit.
This trichotillomania journal is a 40-day journey into what could be causing a lot of the hair-pulling in my life.
I haven’t gone through this journal in a while and I think I need to do it again because so much has changed for me in just the past year that I need to get to know myself again.
What I love about this journal, in particular, is that it is faith-based and it’s meant to encourage hair-pullers specifically.
Even when I’m not actually using the journal, the messages inside the journal can be read everyday.
Prohibere (A Cooling Product)
I have used Prohibere for its numbing feeling but I will warn you, it smells like old people’s home. Prohibere is an ointment that you rub into the scalp area to numb it, similar to Icy Hot kinda.
UPDATE: Prohibere is no longer available. Try BIOFREEZE instead.
I’ve recently switched to using BioFreeze and I like that a lot better. BioFreeze comes in different forms, I prefer the can one because I like the way it shoots out super fast directly on the area. There’s also a cream and roll-on because the can isn’t always convenient.
This kind of cooling product helps reduce inflammation in the area and the cooling sensation that it gives really helps dull the urge to pull. I tend to hit it a couple times with the BioFreeze to really numb the whole area and that feeling helps me a lot.
After numbing the area I quickly distract myself with housework, blogging or other activities that require a busybody with two hands so that I won’t touch the area.
Anxiety Herbs
My herb tinctures are a MUST have for immediate relief. I get overwhelmed by the littlest things, especially if I start to feel crowded by people or objects around me.
I take these herbal supplements every day to lower my anxiety levels. What I like about these particular herbs is they work fairly quickly. I feel a difference right away after taking them and that’s why I keep them in the toolkit and not with my other vitamins and supplements.
I’m not your doctor or your mother so you’ll have to do your own research, but for me, these herbs have been extremely helpful and harmless.
Motherwort
Motherwort is my favorite of the three because it doesn’t take like shit. The brand I buy on Amazon that I really like, it’s not too expensive and it works fast. It’s not too expensive.
For the Motherwort, I take 3 dropper fulls under my tongue, hold it for a minute and wash it down with water. I do this about 3 times a day at no particular time, just when I feel my anxiety rising.
My husband is pretty good at spotting me when I’m getting too anxious over things and he will reach for the Motherwort first.
Chinese Skullcap
Chinese Skullcap is an herb I discovered in a home birth book I was reading. I was purchasing it originally for pelvic pains but found it really relaxed my body and mood. It tastes horrible and I dread putting it my mouth, but it does work for a variety of things, including anxiousness and tension.
I drop 2 full dropperfuls under my tongue and wash it down with water. I purchase my Chinese Skullcap tincture on Etsy, but it’s available on Amazon too.
CBD Oil
I started taking CBD years ago when a friend suggested it and it’s actually helped a lot of different things but one of the most noticeable things is it lowers my anxiety levels when they’re escalating.
Like the Motherwort and Skullcap, CBD oil takes me down a few notches when I can’t do it myself. I like to take all three of these together when I’m feeling overwhelmed, that’s why I keep them in the toolbox.
Sometimes I drop all three of these into an herbal tea before bed to winddown.
Hair Wraps and Ties
I keep a head wrap, hair tie and hair clip with my toolbox so that I can quickly pull my hair up. I’ve found that if my hair isn’t touching me, I won’t it.
My hair wraps are perfect for covering my whole head but it’s not exactly something I would wear outside the house. I like to wear the head wrap around the house and to bed at night, but I use the hair ties, scrunchies and clips when I am trying to be a bit more fashionable.
Positive Affirmations
I have the horrible thoughts consuming me a lot of times. I am so mean to myself in my own head it’s sickening.
I have note cards that I keep in my toolbox to help me keep my thoughts focused on the facts and not my feelings at the time. Hair-pulling is a coping mechanism for me when I am feeling bad inside, these little messages really do help.
Fidget Toys
I use fidget toys to keep my hands busy. There are so many different kinds, you have to figure out what works best for you. One of my favorites is the Tangle toy, it kind of reminds me of twisting hair.
I Keep My Trich Tools Nearby
I keep my toolkit in my bedroom right now because I spend a lot of time there since the baby was born. I used to keep it in my office when I was there a lot. I think it’s important to have my tools nearby so that I can easily access what I need right away.
If I am leaving the house for more than a few hours, I will wear my Keen bracelets and take a small pouch with just the essentials.
- Keen bracelets (these are on my wrists)
- Motherwort
- hair ties, hair clip, headband
- fidget toys
The Keen bracelets have been great out in public because they stop me from doing embarrassing things to myself in front of others. With the Keen bracelet, I get that gentle reminder that my hands are in a place they shouldn’t be.
The fidget toys are my go-to distraction in the car or in public places.
The motherwort is my quick anxiety fix, and of the three anxiety herbs I take, this one I feel works the bestest.
The hair accessories for keeping my hair back and not so easy to grab.
If I always have my trich tools accessible, I have a better chance of resisting the urge.
What trich tools help distract you from hair pulling?
