We have talked a lot about the wide ranging effects that neurotransmitter function can have on various aspects of a person’s life (here is a short list of symptoms that are related to neurotransmitter imbalance). A recent client conversation highlighted this in regards to cognitive function and trichotillomania.
I have been working with a young, vibrant 10 year old girl – let’s call her Hope – for about six months to help her eliminate the urge to pull. When we started, Hope had pulled out all of her eyebrows, eyelashes and the hair on the sides and top of her head. She had always done well in school, but worried a great deal about her grades and found that she was often anxious.
As we worked with her, she gradually had less and less urges to pull. This last visit, she reported that she only had the urge to pull 3-5% of the time and that now, it was more of a habit than an urge in that if she pulled, it was subconsciously (“I didn’t even realize I was doing it”) and that once she realized she was pulling, she could stop. She reported that all of her eyebrows and eyelashes had grown back in and that she had a couple inches growth on her head. She was ecstatic!
In addition, her mom reported that over the last several months, Hope was excelling in school without the worry and fretting that she had experienced in the past. In addition, she had started to become much more active in extracurricular activities, including joining choir, running for student council and playing a couple sports. These were all things she hadn’t done in the past and her mom said she was really enjoying them.
Her dad also reported several changes, but the one that stuck out to him the most was her ability to sit down and get things done. He said that she now showed a great ability to focus and concentrate on the task at hand without getting distracted by other things that were going on around her. He noted that this was a big change from past behavior and it was really helping her get through her homework much faster.
This is not uncommon. Proper neurotransmitter function is important to not only eliminate the urge to pull, but also to improve focus, concentration and memory. In fact, we often use amino acid therapy to help those with conditions such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) improve their focus and concentration.
It is remarkable to speak with our clients as they go through the process of balancing their amino acid levels. They often come to us seeking help for one issue, like trichotillomania, but see benefits in many others as they achieve optimal neurotransmitter function. This is very rewarding to see; it is often life-changing to experience.
