“This is the longest time I’ve went without pulling in 16 years!”

I have had trichotillomania since I was 8 years old (I’m 24 now) and I really wanted to try and find a way to decrease my urges to pull out my hair. I also have some anxiety and migraine headaches and wanted to see if I could get rid of them as well.

I read Dr. Oler’s free online report on trichotillomania and thought it made sense for me to attempt this. After reading other people’s thoughts and hearing about their results, I knew that it was something I needed to try.

Since I was 8 years old I’ve always had the urge to pull out my hair. The urge varies day to day, but it is always there. Sometimes it is something I can control; most the time I can’t. I started just pulling my eyelashes. As I got older I started pulling my eyebrows as well. When I was about 16 years old is started pulling on the top and sides of my head to the point where I had bald spots, but I could usually cover them up.

In addition to trich, I also have anxiety that varies from day to day but that is always there. I also have migraine headaches about twice a month.

I started seeing results within the first week of using the amino acids as Dr. Oler had recommended. The urge to pull was substantially less, so I was optimistic (I have had periods in the past when the urge was not as strong, but it this time it seemed to coincide with taking the amino acids – I guess time will tell). In addition, I didn’t have any migraines and my anxiety was much lower.

Dr. Oler made some adjustments and within another week I had almost no urge to pull, although there was a slight urge sometimes. However, I could easily resist it and had not pulled at all. My anxiety was pretty good, but I did get a headache when I got my period, although I took some Advil and it was gone. I was doing quite well, but wanted to see if I could feel better.

Dr. Oler made a couple more adjustments to my amino acid therapy. I’ve now been on the amino acid therapy Dr. Oler recommended for 4 months and I have not pulled since I started. I do occasionally have a little urge to pull, but I can easy ignore it. I haven’t had any headaches over the past 2 months and my anxiety is gone!

This is the longest time I have gone without pulling in 16 years! I am so grateful to Dr. Oler for helping me. My hair, eyelashes and eyebrows are all growing back in nicely and the bald spots are gone! I missed a few doses of my supplements when I had the flu, but the urge to pull did not come back (Dr. Oler told me that it might). This was amazing to me and I am so happy to be almost completely free of the urge to pull! Thank you Dr. Oler!!

In that post, we covered some simple ways to improve sleep; since that post, many people have contacted us asking for other suggestions to improve sleep. This is the first of a two part series to outline several more lifestyle ideas that our clients have found useful for getting and staying asleep. The next post will focus on dietary changes to help you saw some more logs (and keep your hands off your hair).

Start with one or two of these ideas and try them out for a couple weeks before passing judgment on whether or not they work for you. Keep trying them until you find the right combination for you:

• Make your bedroom your sanctuary – use your bedroom only for sleep and lovemaking. Avoid bill paying, eating, or reading in bed. Remove your telephone and/or TV from your bedroom.
• Practice deep breathing or alternate nostril breathing at least twice daily – 12 minutes morning and night is great, although even a few minutes will help.

• Engage in moderate exercise that you enjoy and that clears your mind – listen to your body and go with it!
• Exercise regularly in the morning, late afternoon or early evening – but not right before bedtime. Physical exertion is an excellent way to wake up or make your body tired so that sleep comes about more easily.
• Eat dinner at least two hours before bedtime. This will allow digestion to run its course before you settle into bed
• Go to bed when you are initially tired and feel sleepy. If you listen to your body, this is probably around the time your melatonin levels are on the rise (usually between 8-10 PM) – now is the time to get to bed and get restored.
• Take a bath with one or two cups Epsom salts, which is hydrated magnesium sulfate – available in any drugstore. This will allow your body to calm as the magnesium is absorbed through your skin. Warming your core body temperature will make you drowsy. You could also put in a little lavender oil to help promote a sense of calm.
• Read an entertaining book or magazine before bed (but not in bed). This will often calm you down and get your brain out of ‘do’ mode. Don’t read a business book or anything else that gets your brain stimulated to start thinking about work.
• Start a ‘gratitude journal’: get a journal (a notebook will due, but you may enjoy having a special diary-type book or journal – nobody else is going to see it anyway!) and every night before you go to bed, write down five (5) things in your day that you are grateful for. This is especially helpful if you’ve had a rough day and need something fun to think about.
• Do not nap during the day if this isn’t a normal thing for you to do. A short nap can help if you’re exhausted or stressed out, but a nap that’s too long will interfere with your body’s sleep rhythm.
• Don’t sleep late on weekends. Even if you are out late, try to get up within two hours of your usual time of waking.

Use whatever combination of the above techniques you like; experiment with several and find the ones that work for you. And don’t be afraid to try some new ones now and then! Establishing a good sleep pattern will help you maintain optimal neurotransmitter levels and dramatically decrease your urge to pull over time.

If you ever need additional support or would like more information, feel free to contact us. In addition, if you use some tried-and-true technique to help you sleep that you don’t see here, please share it below – you never know who it may help.

This is a typical scenario and when it comes down to it, we have to start at the beginning – with the urge to pull. If we can eliminate the urge to pull, we can eliminate everything that comes after it.

The urge to pull begins in the brain. It is controlled by chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. When these chemical messengers are out of balance, you feel out of control. Your brain is literally sending out signals you don’t want, and you are powerless to control them over time.

What if you could get those chemical messengers sending the right signals – the signals that you want? You would regain control.

What if you could eliminate the urge to pull? You would be free of all the emotional baggage that comes along with years, and sometimes a lifetime, of pulling.

You can do this. We can show you how.

By giving your body the nutrients it needs to properly balance your neurotransmitter levels, you can regain control and eliminate the urge to pull – completely, once and for all.

You don’t need to understand why this works (if you do, just look through this site); you just need to understand that it works. It’s about getting back to the basics and starting at the beginning – the source. The source of your urge to pull is an imbalance in neurotransmitter levels. We can help you get them back into balance. But you have to let us; all you have to do is call.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Please take that step.

Most people would never suspect food as a culprit with trich, but there is some good evidence pointing to the possibility that what you eat can dramatically alter your neurotransmitter balance, particularly serotonin levels. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that affects sleep, mood, cravings (especially for carbohydrates), migraines and a host of other functions, including the urge to pull. It has been estimated that about 95% percent of the serotonin in your body is stored in your gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, gastrointestinal function is very important in maintaining proper neurotransmitter balance.

A great many studies support the fact that intestinal permeability and enzyme deficiencies  are often found in folks suffering from depression (which is caused by imbalances of serotonin with dopamine); this is underscored by reports that depression is a very common symptom of celiac disease (which is  a condition of severe gluten intolerance). (1-8)

Here at the clinic, it is almost universal that long standing gastrointestinal imbalances, including food allergies almost always lead to or exacerbate depression as well as other conditions related to neurotransmitter imbalances, including the urge to pull, migraines, anxiety, obsessive compulsive tendencies and sleep disturbances.

Therefore, as we are working to help people correct their underlying neurotransmitter imbalances, we will often begin to investigate the many possible reasons why these imbalances are there in the first place. Looking at what someone is eating can provide major insights into eliminating the urge to pull.

We have found the most accurate food hypersensitivity test to be the Lymphocyte Response Assay from Elisa/Act Technologies. Using this test, one can run any number of foods, additives, colors, drugs, supplements, and environmental contaminants to determine which, if any, of them are causing an immune reaction with subsequent neurotransmitter disruption. Once the offending agents are determined, we then work with clients to help eliminate them so their bodies can heal while reestablishing optimal neurotransmitter levels. In doing so, many people can reduce or eliminate the need for ongoing supplementation and remain symptom free for the rest of their lives.

NOTE: If you cannot find a practitioner in your area that can run the LRA test, contact us to arrange for an in-home blood draw.

References

1. Corvaglia L, et al. Depression in adult untreated celiac subjects: diagnosis by the pediatrician. Am J Gastroenterol. 1999 Mar;94(3):839-43.
2. Ciacci C, et al. Depressive symptoms in adult coeliac disease. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1998 Mar;33(3):247-50.
3. Addolorato G, et al. Anxiety and depression in adult untreated celiac subjects and in patients affected by inflammatory bowel disease: a personality “trait” or a reactive illness? Hepatogastroenterology. 1996 Nov-Dec;43(12):1513-7.
4. Pellegrino M, et al. Untreated coeliac disease and attempted suicide. Lancet. 1995 Sep 30;346(8979):915.
5. Cheliout W. [A misleading depression]. Encephale. 1994 Sep-Oct;20(5):531-4. French.
6. Hernanz A, et al. Plasma precursor amino acids of central nervous system monoamines in children with coeliac disease. Gut. 1991 Dec;32(12):1478-81.
7. van Praag HM. Affective disorders and aggression disorders: evidence for a common biological mechanism. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1986 Summer;16(2):103-32. Review.
8. Hallert C, et al. Psychic disturbances in adult coeliac disease. I. Clinical observations. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1982 Jan;17(1):17-9.

A quick look at the literature shows exactly that; an example:  there is a strong association between sleep disturbances and mood disorders, including depression. (1, 2) In fact, insomnia is reported by more than 90% of depressed patients. (3) This is all well and good, but how do we know that this correlation is due to neurotransmitter levels?

Research shows that in people suffering from insomnia, balancing the brain’s neurotransmitter levels can improve sleep. (4) This has led many researchers to believe that complete relief of insomnia may improve the symptoms of depression. (3) But what does this have to do with trich and the urge to pull?

Well, as we have talked about in previous articles, the urge to pull is often due to or intensified by imbalances in neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine. Decreased sleep can cause, as well as be caused by, imbalances in these same neurotransmitters. This means that if a person has insomnia or purposefully does not get enough sleep over time (i.e., goes to bed late, has odd sleep habits, etc.), neurotransmitter imbalances can result. These imbalances will then lead to increased urges to pull. Incidentally, they also usually lead to increased cravings for carbohydrate or sugar-laden foods, particularly in the afternoon or evening, along with the need for stimulants of one kind or another to keep focused and alert (think coffee, soda, ‘energy’ drinks and chocolate). Unfortunately, in addition to keeping you a little more alert in the short term, these stimulants can also cause further neurotransmitter imbalances that keep you awake – and pulling.

Here are some simple things that you can do to begin lessening the effect of too little sleep on your urge to pull:

1. Get as much sleep before midnight as possible; set a time and go to bed, say at 9-10 PM. Even if you can’t go to sleep right away, do some deep breathing and/or meditation and don’t worry about it. Your body is resting and eventually sleep will come.
2. Set an alarm and get up at the same time daily, even if you don’t fall asleep well the night before. You may be in for a few rough days, but eventually, most people will begin to get into a more normal sleep cycle.
3. Make your bedroom peaceful – turn off the lights, TV, radio and anything else that may distract you or keep you engaged. Sometimes, peaceful music or sounds can help, as can ‘white-noise’ such as a fan. Earplugs often help.
4. Stop drinking liquids 2-3 hours before bed to limit the number of times you need to get up to use the bathroom
5. Keep a notebook by your bed and write down everything that is churning through your mind and make a ‘to-do’ list for the next day. If new things come to you during the night, write them down and forget about them – they’ll be waiting for you in the morning.
6. In the morning, so some exercise or yoga to help you wake up and minimize the need for stimulants. If you still need something, try green tea (Earl Grey Green Tea is a bit heavier for those die-hard coffee drinkers.)

If you have insomnia or long-standing sleep issues, these simple steps are unlikely to be of much help. In this case, a more thorough workup is often necessary and additional therapies may be needed. Luckily, we have found (as have numerous other researchers) that re-establishing optimal neurotransmitter balance can safely and effectively improve sleep over time. This, combined with giving yourself the opportunity to get enough sleep will not only have you sleeping better, it will help you eliminate your urge to pull. Small things really can make a big difference over time and sleep is KING when it comes to maintaining neurotransmitter balance.

References

1. Ohayon MM, roth T. Place of chronic insomnia in the course of depressive and anxiety disorders. J Psychiatr Res. 2003 Jan-Feb;37:9-15.
2. Germain A, Kupfer DJ. Circadian rhythm disturbances in depression. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2008 Oc;23(7):571-85.

1. Thase ME. Antidepressant treatment of the depressed patient with insomnia. J Clin Psychiatry. 1999;60 (Suppl. 17):28-31.
2. Irwin MR, Wang M, Ribeiro D. et al. Sleep loss activates cellular inflammatory signaling. Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Sep15;64(6):538-40.

Jenna came to us after her mom had been searching the internet for three years trying to find a solution for her daughter. Jenna had started pulling the hair out of her sheep-skin blanket before progressing to pulling out her eyebrows and then from her head. By the time we spoke with Jenna’s mom, the right side of her head was bald and she didn’t have any eyelashes or eyebrows.

In addition, Jenna had been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), with the onset of symptoms occurring when she was just six years old. Her mother stated that she had a period of several years when she did exhibit any OCD symptoms, but that about three years ago, she started constantly washing her hands (to the point that her hands cracked and bled), “straightening things”, developing extensive bedtime rituals and became very worried about contamination and germs. Jenna had been on Prozac for about a year when we first spoke. Both she and her mom were desperate.

We began by attempting to balance out Jenna’s neurotransmitter levels as we always do. However, it became obvious quite quickly that this was not working, so we ran some testing to help guide her care. Jenna’s body was requiring incredibly high levels of amino acids to show any kind of change and the testing was extremely valuable to help make sure we were on the right track.

It took 12 tests and 10 months until she got the result she was looking for. The dedication and support exhibited by Jenna and her parents was incredible over this time period, especially considering that Jenna did not experience any relief of symptoms for the first 10 months we worked together. However, her diligence, and her parents dedication paid off. Like flipping a switch, everything changed.

I spoke with Jenna recently and she told me it was suddenly “easy to control my trich and OCD” and that she “didn’t need reassurance as much”. She was sleeping well, eating normally and doing well in school. Her mom was ecstatic. She said both she and Jenna were realizing most of the repetitive actions were now only habits versus being due to OCD or anxiety and that Ana was now able to differentiate between them and stop when she wanted to. This was a HUGE improvement according to her mom; “We have a life again, and we have our daughter back!” said mom. Now, Jenna’s work is awareness; becoming aware of when she is doing something mindlessly and asking herself if she wants to continue. Now she has control.

Everybody wants instant gratification – and why wouldn’t we? Getting something for less or little effort is always preferable, especially when we are talking about ending what could be a debilitating condition such as trich or OCD. However, when things don’t happen right away and our resolve is tested, then we find out how badly we want a solution. In this instance, desperation was the key to sticking with the program until we achieved the desired result. This means preparing for the long-haul knowing that a resolution will come when we determine exactly what your body needs to achieve balance. We will help you reach your goals, but it is your resolve and dedication that will matter most if and when the going gets tough or the journey grows long.

Probiotics – good for your (brain) health

Probiotics are the “good” bacteria that normally reside in your gut. It is known that if  these bacteria become imbalanced in some way (due to illness, improper diet or toxin exposure), a condition called “dysbiosis” results, which can have many dire consequences including decreased immunity, improper immune function, food allergies, inflammation, indigestion and numerous other physical disorders. However, until recently it was not known that these bacteria can also generate neurotransmitters that can also affect your brain, impacting your mental and emotional states.

Researchers at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center found that the following bacteria can produce neurotransmitters in the gut:

This could mean that the microbial balance in your gut could be a key player in improving and maintaining your neurotransmitter levels, and therefore alleviating the urge to pull. It also provides more scientific evidence for something that we routinely see in the clinic – that many people with gastrointestinal disorders develop or have one or more disorders related to neurotransmitter imbalance and that correctly the underlying gastrointestinal disorder is imperative to long-term recovery. Think of it like this – the gastrointestinal disorder (like IBS, Crohn’s disease, food allergies or Celiac’s disease) is like a hole in a bucket, causing neurotransmitter levels to decline (or become imbalanced). In order to fill the bucket back up (using amino acid therapy) over time, you have to first fix the whole.

Certain gastrointestinal disorders create neurotransmitter imbalances through inflammatory, immune or genetic influences. This research provides another potential way to explain, and address, the resulting neurotransmitter dysfunction. Obviously, more research needs to be done to define just how this can be useful in real life, but for now, it seems logical that anyone that suffers from trich or other disorders associated with neurotransmitter imbalance must heal any underlying gut issues while restoring proper neurotransmitter balance using amino acid therapy to achieve long term success.

However, we have found that a more effective way to implement amino acid therapy in regards to trichotillomania is to address the serotonin/dopamine system.  By providing the brain the proper proportion of the necessary amino acid precursors and cofactors necessary to achieve optimal serotonin and dopamine function we have had an 86% success rate with eliminating the urge to pull, as opposed to just reducing the urge to pull.

This increased success rate is attributed to the fact that dopamine exhibits control over the release of glutamate and GABA in certain parts of the brain. Therefore, the imbalance between glutamate and GABA that leads to trichotillomania in most people is likely to be caused by an imbalance with dopamine and serotonin (as they are farther upstream). By optimizing serotonin and dopamine function, all the systems downstream, including glutamate and GABA normalize as well. When this happens, the urge to pull disappears.

Another key distinction between using NAC or this balanced amino acid approach is the ability to remain symptom free once the amino acid(s) have been discontinued. With NAC, the urge to pull often returns once the supplement is discontinued (this provides further evidence that NAC may not be addressing the root cause of the imbalance). However, with balanced amino acid therapy we have found that once optimized neurotransmitter function is established and maintained for a period of time, most people can reduce or eliminate the amino acids and remain symptom free utilizing dietary and lifestyle factors to maintain optimal neurotransmitter status.  This means that it is very likely you won’t have to take these supplements forever and you can remain trichotillomania-free. This occurs because we are addressing the underlying root imbalance that seems to lead to the urge to pull for most people with trichotillomania. By correctly the underlying neurotransmitter imbalance with balanced amino acid therapy you effectively eliminate the problem, which allows you to stop pulling your hair out.

Then she met Dr. Chad Oler, and everything changed. Listen to her story, and find out how she learned to stop pulling hair out.

Lacy’s Podcast

When Lacey found Dr. Chad, she discovered a way to stop pulling hair out that’s surprisingly easy, has produced dramatic results, and is ready for you to start IMMEDIATELY.

Many people find relief in some form of counseling. As we’ve mentioned in several other posts, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) works especially well for some people with trich. For many people, simply telling their story and how trich has affected their lives allows them to release a HUGE burden – for this, support groups are wonderful.

If you live in a large city, you may be able to find a local support group where you can go in person. Here is a great resource to see if there is a support group in your area: http://www.trich.org/treatment/support-groups.html.

Going to an actual group can be a big stretch for many people and/or they don’t have the luxury of having a local support group, so online support groups can play a vital role. There are many support groups out there, so find one that works for you. Here are a couple to get you started:

http://trichotillomania.supportgroups.com/

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Trichotillomania-Hair-Pulling/support-group

http://www.mdjunction.com/trichotillomania-ttm

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/TLCTrichSupport/

Check some of these out, read some of the posts and get involved to your comfort level. There are a LOT of people out there that know exactly what you are going through and just connecting with them may help ease some of your pain. It certainly won’t hurt.

There is a great quote that I have posted in my office – “True understanding is found through compassion.” Nowhere is this more true than with trich. Reach out and let yourself be supported.