Eyelash pulling and finger snapping

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ASNmom

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My 7 year old daughter has been pulling out her eyelashes for a couple of months now. It started this past summer, I think she was nervous about school because it was the first year that her and her twin sister were in different classes. She tells me that she likes the way they feel in her fingers and she makes wishes on them. I have been having her wear gloves to bed and I see the lashes coming back and then gone again. She now is snapping her fingers and constantly moving her hanRAB. She is a very fast learner and, according to her teacher, the best reader in her grade, although she does have a lot of backwarRAB nurabers and letters.
I have done some research on Trichotillomania but it doesn't account for the hanRAB. Any suggestions would be very helpful.
 
Hi...it's a form of OCD and an obvious behaviour formed to ease anxiety and distress.

She neeRAB to have it intervened as soon as possible. I suggest you go to the obsessive compulsive forum on rabroad and see what other information you can find.

A process of cognitive behavioural therapy can help. The fact that it calms her and she likes the feeling of it in her fingers means it's not just the pulling but the after effects as well on a physical level.

As a child, intervention is necessary because she will only continue to develop other means to deal with her distress.....

She should, however, have a thorough check-up, especially Vitamin D and thyroid. Take a look at her food intake, her physical activity level, etc. She might not be "busy" enough physically...that does help with stress.

There is an amino acid called L-theanine. Look into it, for it can help with anxiety. I have anxiety and depression, although not on an extreme level. I started using it over the past 2 months and I have noticed my motivation level has increased as well as my "calmness" and patience on many levels. I use the Natural Factors 150 mg. a few times a day if I think about it, and one at night before bedtime.
They do use it for pets as well...so maybe that could be helpful in part of the change process for your daughter.

quincy
 
ive had trichotillomania since i was 14 and i am now 23...it has been rough and horrible...i find mine to be out of boredom or stress related. I pull my eyebrows and eyelashes. Ive been also told that i do it in my sleep as well. It was so bad that my eyebrows are now tattooed on they look fabulous but i wish i had my natural ones and my eyelashes i disquise with makeup that i now have down to a art. Coming from experience its going to take alot not just medication and therapy. If you dont nip it in the butt now its going to cause her so much pain as she gets older. First things first..understand that its a disorder and its hard for her to stop. and most of the time she wont know shes been doing it. 2. keep her occupied and hanRAB moving, have a reward program. 3. keep tweezers away from her and keep her nails as short at possible! 4. when she does pull and shows u dont give no reaction tell her that its ok! for a major reaction always caused me more anxiety to pull!. 5. be very supportive!
 
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