Trichotillomania and Diet - Does changing diet stop hair or eyelash pulling?
Diet is a long-debated part of the Trichotillomania concept. As far as we know, the discussion began in the late 90s, when John Kender eliminated certain foods from his trichster daughter's diet, to see which foods increased her urges to pull her hair. Since then many others have kept detailed food diaries, testing certain foods against their urges, with varying results.
Lifestyle changes such as diet are viable treatment for Trichotillomania, but the effects of diet on trichotillomania are not fully understood; everybody experiences different results after eating certain foods. Scientific research by Trichotillomania Support reveals that over 70% of those who complete daily diet and urge record sheets, can reduce the physical urges of trichotillomania.
Here at Trichotillomania Support we nourish the individual, not the disorder. We believe anyone can stop pulling and everyone's method will be different. It is certainly possible to stop pulling just by changing your diet. Diet alone is most successful with children. Adults tend to benefit from other forms of behavioral therapy, such as our own online coaching.
To test the effects of a food, such as sugar or glucose, on your urges, eliminate them from your diet for three months before introducing them back on one day per week only, for a further four weeks. Keeping notes to observe patterns. In our experience the majority of trichsters do not recognize food-related urges to pull hair out, because they don't eliminate foods for long enough and/or keep adequate records.