Trichotillomania, or compulsive hair pulling, can be a major psychological obstacle in your teen's life. As with all serious parental discussions, there are right and wrong ways to address this topic. Below are five great tips to keep in mind when talking to your teen about trichotillomania.
- Don't Blame
There is no reason to try and make your teen feel guilty over the situation. Passing blame will in no way help the situation. Any sort of negative reinforcement is likely to cause feelings of alienation and ultimately agitate their condition even more. Trichotillomania is a psychological condition that can affect anyone.
- Don't Hold Back Information
The more that your teen knows about hair pulling and the science behind hair pulling urges, the better that he or she will be able to handle the problems they're facing. A thorough understanding of the issue will open doors to possible solutions.
- Don't Exaggerate
You don't want to make your teen think that trichotillomania is something worse than it actually is. While a teen who struggles with hair pulling is far from an ideal situation, this disorder can be overcome with proper treatment. Causing unnecessary stress can ultimately make the condition even worse.
- Start Asking Questions
You can find out a lot of things that you didn't know about what is triggering your teen's hair pulling by simple asking questions. Ask about daily activities, stresses, and interactions with other people. Many people have triggers for hair pulling. Asking your teen questions can possibly help you identify these triggers.
- Educate Yourself
The more you know about trichotillomania, the better that you can handle the problems your teen is coping with. You'll also be able to better monitor your teens behavior for additional psychological disorders.
