“update”
haven’t logged in awhile… but nothing really to report. not much has changed… hasn’t gotten better, hasn’t gotten worse. coping with a large amount of bald spots. trying to get back on track with my CBT therapist..
Entries Tagged as 'mgh trich clinic boston'
wow!
I am pleased to report that somehow, I am still pull-free! This has certainly been the longest period of time where I’ve gone without pulling (without the aid of something, like shaving my hair off as I have done in the past) since I started!! I am so proud of myself. After the hair extensions came out, there was about 90% regrowth on my crown! What an amazing surprise. It looks so full now that it was very inspirational to keep up the hard work of resisting all of the urges, which are still as strong as ever. I think now that my cognitive behavior therapy has begun to work. I have tools now and competitive behaviors for pulling… plans of action now, instead of just trying with sheer will power. It has been over a year now since I began… and, despite having to change therapists because of the first one relocating… I think I’ve really started to change the way I think and feel about the behavior and rituals associated with trich. I am so thankful that I’ve been able to go to the MGH clinic in Boston. Yesterday, I even booked myself a massage as a reward for being pull-free for so long (setting up a rewards system is part of the CBT method). I will check in again soon! I hope this continues.
Back on track
yesterday’s meeting went well. I’ve been doing a little better resisting the urges to pull my hair lately. We came up with a good rewards/goal system yesterday. For every block of time during the day that I don’t pull (4 hour blocks), I get 1 point. When I have 50 points, I will treat myself to a massage at the end of the week. Realistically, I can’t afford to do it more than twice a month, so thats why the points number is high. So far it’s been helping to keep me motivated. I also put a big note to myself on my bathroom wall next to my mirror, “FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!” and that’s been helping to keep me reminded. My roommate has no idea it’s about my trichotillomania, so it’s great.that’s the report for now. Wish me luck!
been awhile
some ups and downs… (there was a whole 8 days of pull free for awhile where I thought I’d started to make some real progress…) but things are still very much the same. the CBT seemed like it had started to work, but then I got off track after some stressful events in my life… and then I had to change doctors 
I am now seeing Hannah Reese at MGH. It won’t be for all that long - she’s taking a leave in November… I was hoping I’d be able to use that as a goal to be feeling good by… but who knows really. It’s still as bad as ever… :[
update / Naltrexone
the Naltrexone makes me a little sleepy so I take it before bed… which is an added bonus since sometimes it’s pretty hard fo me to fall asleep lately..
anyhow, I haven’t noticed any decrease in the desire to pull, but I DO think I notice that it is becoming easier to stop once the cycle has already started. If you’re a puller, I’m sure you know how hard it is to stop once you get going. In fact, many times you can have a pull free day if you just stop yourself from starting… it’s once you start that it gets out of control.
I’ve noticed a few times recently that my little conversations within myself “you should stop this because of X.. or Y” actually get through to the rest of my brain, and I’ve been able to stop. Of course, the urge comes back soon so I have to make sure I keep busy… but it’s becoming a little easier to stop!
now I just need to get back on track with my cognitive behavioral therapy. We put that on hold for about 2 months while I was traveling and dealing with all of my other stressful issues, but we’re going to start back up again next week. I think I will be armed and ready to fight a new battle soon!! 