we have a hair problem

[jill]

Out of nervousness and or boredom Annette is playing with her hair and twisting it into knots then rips them out of her hair. She is so obsessed her hands are constantly in her hair. When I try to spray it with conditioner spray to comb it out she fights me and screams I am killing her. This has been ongoing now for a few months she gets better then starts back up again. During the reprieve she was digging in her nose the old habit so which is worse now she is back to the hair pulling. We did cut it shorter to the end of her neck and we need to do something else for she has bangs of all different lengths that she put in herself ripping out the knots. The school gave her a wickey stick to play with to keep her hands out of her hair but only lasted so long and her OT specialist gave her velcro to play with again short term.

Any ideas? I am afraid I have to share of breaking this habit that she goes back to nose picking yet both need to disappear completely, I did tell her pediatrician and he does not seem concerned nor her psychologist at this point. I am at a loss.

[misty]

I would have suggested other uses for her hands, but it seems you've covered that. Since each item only works for so long, why not keep a box of items & rotate them as needed. One of those soft gripping balls, the things you mentioned, maybe some string or even some elmers glue or rubber cement. The glue & cement are fun to peel off the skin as it dries & might distract her hands from her hair. '

As a side note, I used to chew my hair when I was a kid but I did eventually outgrow the behavior. My mother tried everything to get me to stop but nothing worked. I just stopped on my own one day.

[jj]

I don't know how short her hair is so this may not be an option but how about keeping her hair braided. Of course she may just pull out the braid so that probably wouldn't work. A last resort would be getting it cut really short.

It is also possible her hair could be at a stage of growth where it just bugs her. I go through that myself and find myself tying it in a knot on top of my head or it'll drive me bonkers.

You sure brought back memories of Nikki. It was a horrible ordeal everytime I had to comb out her hair. I just couldn't get her to brush it properly so we were alway having to comb out knots and before I even started there were tears and just raising up the brush brought ouches and I hadn't even touched her yet. Oh, gosh. I'm so glad those days are long, long gone.

I do think most kids, including myself (when I was kid) play with their hair and I even went through a chewing spell, like Misty. And the nose picking...yuk... but kids just do it until (maybe) someone makes fun of them.

I really don't have any advice that you already haven't tried. Like Misty said, find as many things as you can that have texture or are squeezable and alternate them. Maybe even giving her cheap rings to wear on her fingers (if the schools allow them) which may keep her occupied.

[jill]

We cut her hair to the end of her neck not to shock her which she still did her thing but was easier to manage. Now it has grown back and the behavior is worse again today we are going to cut it again and fix her ripped hair if possible. I am on Vacation this week so we got the time and so is she. Thanks I swear every year a new issue with Annette, last year the shoe business before that the nose oh vey.

[charliegirl]

I had a neighbor who had this. They finally found the right med for her and she is doing great. I don't know where she lives now so I can't ask her what med.

www.ocdonline.com/articlephillipson8.php

[jill]

The hair dresser did a great job and her hair cut looks so cute. She is getting compliments everywhere we go. She has bangs now and the rest is some layering but mostly one length you will never guess she had a problem. I am not good with posting photos so you can see the hair but you will eventually when hubby helps me with her dance photos come May. The hair dresser also talked with her. She is still playing with her hair but doing it a different way so we will see.

The hair dresser said believe it or not it is common a lot of kids do it and she has had kids with bald spots literally. Charliegirl i printed what you posted I have heard of the disorder. I am planning to keep an eye on her and schedule an appointment if it worsens and take it in with me if need be.