My Daughter Pulls Her Hair and Eyebrows and eyelashes....help!!!

I did this too when I was young, age 5 probably. If I had to guess it was because I was stressed or didn't feel safe. All throughout my childhood I always had issues with feeling safe, eventually suffering from Panic Attacks as a teenager.
I didn't read any of the other posts, but I would definitely remove all sugar, caffeine and dyes from her diet.

I believe those are symptoms of an OCD anxiety disorder. Is there a pediatric psychologist your daughter can see? I would not stop with the word of this O. doctor. Best to you & your daughter!

I cannot stress enough you need a second and possibly third opinion. This is really no different than fingernail biting, yet it's more destructive, she is having trouble with anxiety and nerves seems to me. Prozac for a 6 yr old seems absolutely ridiculous to me. Please get more referrals, and in the mean time try to distract your daughter and get her busy doing something else with her hands. She might like crochet, or latch hook or something.... anything you can think of to keep her little hands busy while you continue to seek help for this. I know a young mother that has that same issue when she is stressed out, she pulls her eye brows and twists her hair so much that her hair pulls out of the scalp and she gets bald spots.
Keep researching until someone figures it out.

My 12 year old niece does the same thing. She has had the habit since she was little. Her pediatrician sent her to a health food store to buy a natural remedy for hair pulling. Just a small dose seems to help her not pull the eyelashes and eyebrows out.
Try that, rahter than Prozac. Good luck.

I'm 31 and I have always, for as long as I can remember, pulled out my eyelashes and eyebrows. It started right around her age and, for me, it is a very UNCONSIOUS stress reliever. Obviously, I know I do it, but I don't process it AS I'm doing it. There have been periods, some years, where I have had the fullest, lushest, eyelashes and eyebrows. They were years when I didn't have a husband, kids, full time school, ect. Even when I am not stressed it can sometimes be a calming effect, similar to the infant that strokes mom's hair to fall asleep.

Now, I have never been to a dr but I am pretty sure I am not bipolar so I don't know anything about meds to help.

It is a deeply ingrained habit and will take a lot of work and love to stop. I agree with GrandmaT in that it is alot like biting nails. At her age, I don't know how you can call her attention to it without making a big deal out of it or making her unhealthily self consious about it. I know that when my husband mentions it to me now, I get defensive and it gets worse.

I'm sorry. I'm rambling. I dont' really have any advice but just wanted you to know your daughter is not alone.

K.,

My heart goes out to you, your family and your daughter. I understand how heartbreaking it is to watch your children suffer. I have a call that I think you should listen to where different health issues with children are addressed. One of the children on this call was OCD and had panic attacks I know this is not exactly what you are dealing with, but I think this will be encouraging for you to know that there are alternatives out there to help. It is on the later half of the call. If you have any additional questions or would like to look into this further you can send me a message.

I will add you all to my prayers.

http://bit.ly/c7JoW3

talk to Dr James Stone - see if he thinks he can help - he does alot of nerve work on children everyday.
Network Care - Dr. James Stone. ###-###-####

Hi K., I just wanted to share you are not alone. My son is 9 almost 10 in 2 weeks. He has ADHD as well as Asperger's, but last year he was in a class with a boy who pulled his hair and about 2 months in we started noticing He would pull his hair out as well. It became so bad that he had around 12 good bald spots going. Now we had tried Vyavance and Ritalin for the ADHD and found the ritalin gave him extreme mood swings. So we went back to Vyvance and it helps him calm down alot. But it does NO good with the hair pulling it is a complete stress relieve for him. It intensifies when he is thinking hard. We finally trimmed his hair back and that helped alot.
I realize as a girl that would not be good idea, but I agree that seeing a specialist is a great idea. We have looked up info on the tricotillomania and I have to admitt I have not followed through much. We did see a OT who was trying to help as well. And when David's speech therapist did rewards for stopping during sessions he became more aware and stopped for a time.
This has been a source of frustration for us as well and I wish you all the best. I just wanted to let you know you are not alone. Feel free to contact me if you want to talk.
I also wanted to say my brother is Bipolar and this condition does not mean she is BiPolar. I love the Homeopathy suggestions. When we have the money that is my plan to flush out the toxins in David's body.
Best of wishes,
M.

I agree with getting psychiatric help, I have been in counseling since childhood. But I will not take any medication, even as an adult, as they only cause other problems, even if they fix the one.

EXERCISE and a proper WHOLE FOOD diet is the only way to true health in our bodies and minds. Avoid all processed foods that have ANY colors or preservatives, many of these have adverse effects that are magnified in children. For instance, yellow #5 causes hyperactivity, but usually only in children for some reason. And focuse on eating raw and some cooked whole vegetables and food. If your daughter has mental illness of any kind, focusing on positive health of the physical body will help her produce the chemicals necessary for positive mental health. Then the counseling can help her sort out the feelings and urges she has.

Does she do any kind of activity away from the family? Something like dance that would keep her active and release some of her stress. People think that children do not have stress, but that is NOT the case in this day and age. Even something like kickboxing - just a physical thing. I will pray that she gets some relief and that you stay calm and hopeful for her.
J

Wow I did the same thing from the age of 9 to 12. My mom took me to all kinds of Doctors, this was before ADD/ADHD. I'm 44 now and don't do it anymore speaking from your childs point she's stressed but she dosn't realize it heck I didn't back then. Looking back my Dad was always out of town, Mom an alcoholic. At around 12 I became a real control freak in exchange for the hair pulling. Once on my own and married I seem to have things under control now when things get hectic I have a release. You need to encourge her please be patient and don't make a big deal sit down and talk to her maybe find a hobby to replace this action with. I don't know if meds are the right path see if you can't find a substitute for her when she feels the need to pull. Don't laugh but maybe some bubble wrap just somthing to keep her hands busy. If you can afford it maybe horse riding lessons or sewing, crafts, scrap booking, photography just help her find a different outlet. Good luck

My mother suffered from trich, as they call it, all her life. It is a kind of OCD and one of the most difficult mental problems to cure.. You don't say anything about her environment or her family. There are people in the mid-cities who work specifically with these problems. You can look them up on the web. I would change doctors because she doesn't have to suffer with this illness. It is a very shame-based illness that causes fear and humiliation.

I know of a great supplement that has helped people with depression and bipolar. It is safe for children to take. You may want to consider it and see if it works for her. Let me know if you want more info about it. God bless you and your daughter!!!

Check out the Brain Balance center in Plano. They may be able to help.
http://www.brainbalancecenters.com/

Synthetic drugs for a 6-year-old are NOT the answer. Her brain is still growing.

Her brain chemistry needs adjusting through nutrition and proper vitamins, minerals. Sign up to get Dr. Amen's email newsletters. He has done 60,000 brain scans and now can pretty much tell what type of brain chemistry a person has just by having them take a test. Based on their answers, Dr. Amen will recommend supplements such as 5-HTP or foods with high levels of seratonin. Dr. Amen has discovered about 4 main types of brain chemistry - - and each category has different recommended supplements & foods. Do your research!! Giving the wrong supplement to the wrong brain type can make the problem worse.

Also, EXERCISE is highly recommended to help little brains balance out their chemistry. Try this before you go to any more doctors!! - - You ride a bike. Daughter can run behind you. Start her out holding onto a rope tied to your bike. Go slow. Take breaks. Do it every morning BEFORE school!! Important: BEFORE school!! (Find a safe place - like a school track - to avoid early-morning traffic. Buy a REFLECTIVE joggers vest for both of you! - - $6 or so at Walmart.) Eventually, work your way up to your daughter being able to run 1-mile every morning. OR - if you are a good runner, you don't need a bike. You can run in front of daughter with a rope between you. : )

Read books on nutrition. The one that got me started feeding my kids healthy was by Adelle Davis (called "Feed Your Kids Right" or something like that), another good author is Jordan Rubin. By the time he was 18 or so, he'd been diagnosed with 19 different things including Chrohn's Disease. He was dying. He healed himself with foods. His first book was "Patient, Heal Thyself." His latest is "Perfect Weight America." Another author on nutrition is a young tri-athlete, Brendan Brazier. He created a plant-based protein powder called VEGA. You could use it in smoothies for your daughter.

Have you tried to take her to a neurologist?

Make sure to do your research on all medications given to your child. Most antipsychotics are not tested nor are they to be used on children under 16. This could permanently disrupt or damage her brain chemistry. Take her to a child psychologist not psychiatrist. They may be able to do play therapy and identify other stressors in her life. If there is a family history she probably is bipolar but there are alternative providers that may have better management for children of this age that will allow you to postpone drug therapy--check out homeopaths, naturopaths or chiros in your area that may do craniosacral therapy or detox from medications, vaccines and heavy metals which could cause an increase response to simple stress. You might see this makes all the difference in the world for her. I know a lot of other providers in your area that may work. Dr. Alex Bekker in Dallas is a M.D. and Homeopath, Dr. Jennifer is in North Fort Worth off of Western Center and is a Naturopath at Abundant Life Wellness Center and can do many Detoxes and works with children. As for child counselors that do play therapy the list is a little vast. I hope this helps. I will check back--I hope this helps. Oh Chiro's go to ICPA4kids.com make sure they have very kid friendly office and will sit down with you--your child should not be forced to be adjusted and dr. needs to build a trust and relationship with your child before adjusting.

Google Trichotillomania...

I recommend looking up Jennifer McGarry. She is a therapist who specializes in Trichotillomania, especially with children. She sees clients across the metroplex:
http://www.lifeworkscounseling.net/trichotillomania.htm

I had a friend in high school who grew up with this disorder. It is difficult, but it can be managed. Good luck to you and your daughter!
-M.