Amanda's Trichotillomania Guide - Page 2
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Amanda's Trichotillomania Guide - Page 2
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Recommended Reading ##
External links
Products that have helped trichsters This section is things that I found that people are experimenting with and getting results from. I get my info mostly from the Fairlight BB (non-existent now) and the TTM mailer - so this is real-life info from real people.. It is nothing professional or scientific, and I DO NOT claim it to be the wonder solution to TTM, in fact, I don't claim anything! But it has helped others, and may be worth trying. The 'solution' in reaching success with TTM is different for each one - you have to keep on searching until you find the correct solution for you. (it is not listed in any specific order). We have found that meds are generally not successful for sufferers of trichotillomania. Anti-depressants will most probably make you feel better but will not remove the urges to pull. Anti OCD meds (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), generally seem to work for 6-8 weeks and then stop working for some unknown reason. Please think carefully before you start using these meds (because of the side-effects). As with all the other factors with trich, you will find exceptions, even with the working of meds.... so just keep your eyes open, ok? I strongly suggest the John Kender diet - it has changed the lives of many, many people, please try it!! |
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| Kava-Kava info ## (on Tina's site) | John Kender Diet
See
bottom of page for lots of info on the John Kender diet
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| St. Johns Worts information | Inositol info |
| Intra - a herbal drink sold by Lifestyles International. DAVE had found this to be very helpful for him. E-mail him for more information. | Potassium glucomate - Many people report success with the use of potassium, although nothing scientifically has been proven. |
| Acidopholous powder- If you seem to have a yeast-allergy and the John Kender diet works for you, this may be some extra help. | Something that helped a trichster (anti-parasite, liver and kidney cleansing |
| Allergy shots - One person reported that after an allergy test she was given allergy shots, and her hair pulling stopped! Maybe something to investigate.... | Choline bitartrate/Cream of tartar - experimental, but try it! It has had amazing results for some trichsters |
| No Trichs Trigger ##- exciting new
device being tested by many trichsters currently. (For trichsters, developed BY a
trichster
Here's the latest on the Zapper... Yes we are still pull free from the Trigger. We cannot explain why and we cannot explain
a lot of things. One thing I do firmly believe is that medications will inhibit the results. Both Mary Beth and I do not take medications.
Wigs also inhibit the results and we don't know much about lash/brow Also: |
** Propylene glycol recipe: 3 parts rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol, 30% water) 1 part propylene glycol (available from pharmacies, about $8/pint) Apply twice a day with cotton ball. Stings but works quickly. For more info, click here |
| Acetic-Boric Rince | |
| Itching eyelids - I've noticed that since I began wiping my eyelids with astringent twice a day, my itch has decreased significantly. | |
| Olive Leave Extract Capsule - I've discovered a way to stop the itch/pull cycle immediately. I take an olive leaf extract capsule, open it up over my head and sprinkle the powder on my scalp. Immediately the itch is gone and the urge to pull in that area is gone. So far I've only needed one capsule. It lasts a least 4 hours. Carol | |
| Thumb Protector - Visco-Gel toe protectors. They are supposed to be used on the toes to help protect calluses and against blisters and such. I slip them on my thumbs and they don't slip off because of the grip the gel has on my skin. They have a gel-like interior that makes it impossible for me to get enough of a grip to pull. They last a long time too, so I don't have to keep reapplying tape. You can get them at http://www.myfootshop.com I hope this helps somebody out there. | |
| Itching head
tips and solutions (incl mud mask)
This has been set up by Mike Grant and is
strongly recommended |
Cuticura Soap for itchy scalps - This isn't really new, but comes from Mike Grant and John Kender's experiments and research. |
| Tea Tree Oil for itchy heads | Another itch stopper (be careful) |
| Nioxin for hairgrowth etc. | Scalp and Hotspot Care |
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Please note that I do not take responsibility for any of the options below. It is for informational purposes that I put it on here, because of the many requests for information that are received about it. What I DO suggest is the JK diet. Personally I am not into meds or hypnosis, but trich varies and people vary, so the fact that I don't use it, doesn't mean that it cannot work for you. But please don't say that I suggested the meds or hypnoses etc.. We have no real answers yet as to what causes trich and what the perfect solution is. Following are things that trichsters have found that helped them control their trich.
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| Keep
a hairpulling diary |
Fred Penzel's relaxation tape |
| Homeopathy | Trich Hypnosis Site (+ audit tape) ## |
| Aromatherapy/Tea tree oil | Trich Hypnotherapy CD |
| Cognitive behavior modification | Hair bleaching (for some people that seems to help with the urges |
| Fish Oil info | Helpful Shampoo info |
| Eyelash Salve (itch stopper) | a Hypnosis and Acupuncture story by a trichster |
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Study shows that Internet TTM groups and TTM groups associated with a national Abstract from study: |
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| Learn
the various stages of trich recovery |
The grooming theory |
| Information on various meds ## (not specifically for Trich) Click on: Mental Health Net - Psychopharmacology and Dr | Are you a highly sensitive person? ## |
| Can a diet really make a difference? (a Multiple sclerosis story) ## | PMS, Diet and Trich - Here is a great link about Diet & PMS. Yes, basically it is well-known
that PMS can REALLY trigger pulling. You can reduce PMS through diet though - so this may help some of you reduce some of your urges. http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/correct2-2.html The first link is the correction which also lists the summary of main bad food which encourage PMS - which unfortunately you also experience cravings for at the same time. The full (long) article is http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/fulltext/pms2-1.html |
there. Please link to my site, using any of my 3 banners. Thanks |
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The John Kender Diet - background John Kender - (sorry, a bad quality pic, but please appreciate it, we've struggled for 3 years to get a pic of him! (Thanks John!) Please note that all John's research is just that.. research...he makes no claims that the diet will work for all trichsters etc. But I for one (Amanda) am one of the biggest believers of the diet, so I strongly encourage you to try it. I have been PPF (practically pull free) since 29 September 1996. I had incredible emotional healing from learning that I'm not crazy, weak, alone etc... and the pulling did diminish dramatically because of that. BUT the physical urges was still there. It was only when I started the JK diet (under protest) that I found incredible freedom from those terrible urges. I strongly recommend it... it was a life saver for me! Note by John Kender: I have had reports to date of about 240 people or so (March 2001) who have gotten partial or full remissions from what they attribute to dietary means. The number of people who have reported that particular foods are triggers for them is a number so great I have stopped keeping records; probably at least the same number than above. These triggers seem to center on sugar, chocolate, caffeine, cola, egg yolks, peanuts, and beans. There have been two or three reports of people of trying to restrict these or other foods without any apparent effect, pro or con. Probably a couple of dozen people haven't noticed any benefit. My guess is that some pulling is purely biological in origin. This does not mean it would only have biological effects. A bad physical scar, for example, is biological too, but has powerful impact on many aspects of a person's life. What I and others have noted is that by avoiding food triggers, the internal urge and the external itch are moderated, and the rest of the body, mind, and soul of the individual finds it easier to control behaviors. This control is possible in many other ways, too. But many people have found it a harder job, whatever coping means they use, if the biology has been triggered to scream out loud. I would encourage people to experiment. It isn't fair to have food triggers, it is hard work to avoid them, and a dietary approach may not apply to whatever variant of hair pulling one suffers from. My guess is about 60% should show some benefit, based on surveys on the list. As ever, I would appreciate people's reports, whether positive and negative, whether public or private. Please let me
know if I can help you further. If you do try a nutritional approach to
TTM, please let me know your results so that we all can learn more about
this disorder. How did the John 'discover' the JK diet? Trich and JK diet statistics (John Kender) |
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Basic JK diet info and help |
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by John Kender and Mike Grant (as published in the TLC newsletter during August 1999) |
| Info on specific foods on the JK diet | |
| Some more info on specific foods (by JK) | Ibuprofen Warning - Many people have reported that Ibuprofen is a trigger to pull, so please be careful while using this |
| Food allergy info | Is there a link between sugar and ADHD / strange behaviours? |
| Can antibiotics cause pulling? | Answers on sugar alcohol, carob, sorbitol, maltitol, tofu and butter |
| Sugar profiles | New update (Tea trea oil and a bit about bananas) |
| The following data on the approximate
amount of caffeine in different foods might be helpful. The following is from Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment (1995)
page 933. Caffeine content showed in milligrams.
cup of brewed coffee
80 - 140 |
What can one eat on the diet? .....I am a college student who eats on campus all the time.! One can eat fried whatever you want unless it's fried legumes, peanuts, etc. That leaves the college dorm student on the JK diet to the sugar issue....let's think of all the things I eat on campus - NONE of which happen to add sugar.... french fries, hot dogs, submarine sandwiches, chinese food (minus soy sauce), steak, mashed/baked potatoes, grilled cheese sandwich, pizza, chili con carne (beanless if need be)and fritos, soup, a wide variety of mexican food dishes, pasta's/italian food, and on and on and on. Breakfast? How about pancakes, french toast, bacon,sausage, hash browns, etc. Can't use syrup or powdered sugar? How about putting some jelly or jam or fruit on top of pancakes or french toast instead, and/or whipped cream!! |
| Peanuts and eggs,why bad for us? | Wheat germ may be a problem |
| JK diet and Vegetarians | |
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Good links - I strongly suggest these even before reading my own page ## |
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| Mari's excellent JK diet site - let's do the diet together... many tips,stories etc. ## | Sara's great diet page , tips, recipes etc... a big must! ## |
| JK Diet Discussion Forum ## | Join the JK diet support group## |
| Carla's Trich Website (JK Diet related) ## | |
| Some research and 'quick and dirty polls by John Kender | |
| Latest JK theories | Latest research (Oct 1998) |
| Roots investigation by JK Do not read if you get affected by root talk!! | Poll of Summer 1999 - PMS, animals, allergies etc. Very long, but very interesting |
| Possible Differences between lash/brow and scalp pullers | |
| Leg pullers survey | Quick and dirty pull #28 - very interesting |
Astrid
Kruger -