Trichotillomania, compulsive hair pulling: Information, tips and help in Berlin & online

Hypnotherapy and Hypnobalancing™ in Berlin

Frequently asked question

What is trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania, also known as trich, is when someone cannot resist the urge to pull out their hair. Sufferers may pull out hair on their head or in other places, such as their eyebrows or eyelashes. Trich is more common in teenagers and young adults.

What causes trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania may be connected with negative emotions. For many sufferers, pulling out their hair is a way of dealing with negative or unpleasant feelings, such as stress, anxiety, tension, boredom, loneliness, fatigue or frustration.

Does trichotillomania eventually go away on its own?

Trichotillomania does not disappear by itself. It is a mental illness that can be treated for resolution.

Help with Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania, or Compulsive Hair Pulling, is an underestimated disorder in terms of its complexity, the number of people who actually have it, and its powerfully negative impact on people’s lives. It is a condition where a person feels compelled to pull their hair out; hair on their head or in other places, such as their eyebrows or eyelashes. Learn how hypnotherapy with Hypnobalancing™ can help you.

Overview

Trichotillomania or Compulsive Hair Pulling
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Trichotillomania or Compulsive Hair Pulling

Trichotillomania or compulsive hair pulling is an irresistible urge to pull out hair from the own scalp, eyebrows or other areas of the body. Sites of hair pulling may include any region of the body in which hair may grow, the most common sites being the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Stressful circumstances frequently increase hair pulling behavior, but increased hair pulling also occurs in states of relaxation and distraction.

Trichotillomania is an underestimated disorder in terms of its complexity, the number of people who actually have it, and its powerfully negative impact on people’s lives.

For some people, trichotillomania may be mild and generally manageable. For others, the urge to pull hair is overwhelming and can be accompanied by considerable distress. Hair pulling is a complex problem and has a great number of inputs, each of which, in turn, can be further influenced by a wide variety of factors.

For some clients, there is little or no awareness of their pulling.

Another group of patients reports an extremely pleasant or soothing feeling when pulling hair. The pulling itself is for them an immediately fascinating experience, and can function almost like a drug for some. Time seems to stand still for them when they are engaged in this activity of pulling hair ﹣ and other problems temporarily vanish into the background. Others may go on to ritualize or play with the hair after they have pulled it out. And there are those who report feeling no particular pleasure at all.

Finally, there are those whose pulling is done deliberately, and which seems closer to classic Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or Body Dysmorphic Disorder. They feel driven to pull hairs that are imperfect or wrong in some special way. By pulling out these hairs, they believe that they are fixing the way their hair looks, eliminating hairs that do not seem to belong and improving its appearance.

All these different groups have in common that the person feels upset because of what they have done, and the fact that they were unable to stop themselves. They don’t feel in control go themselves. Trichotillomania can have a significant impact on the quality of life. Trichotillomania can cause feelings of guilt, shame, isolation or embarrassment, which can affect the social life, the performance at school or work.

There is no absolute cause for obsessive hair pulling. Psychological and behavioral theories suggest that hair pulling may be a way of relieving stress or anxiety. In some cases, trichotillomania may be a form of self-harm, where people deliberately injure themselves as a way of seeking temporary relief from emotional distress.

Help

Some treatment options have helped many people reduce their hair pulling or stop entirely. One of those treatments combines elements of different therapies like hypnotherapy, Hypnobalancing, and others.

How to decide to ask for help?

Are you thinking about whether you need professional help to recover? You may feel that you should be able to handle things on your own, or that talking to someone means you are not a strong person. You might be worried that talking about your issue during treatment could make your symptoms worse. It is important to get all those obstacles out of the way.

When asking for help

It is good to know that it is important to help yourself. It’s also important to know when you need to reach out for some help. Therapy can be a good opportunity to learn both aspects of emotional strength, autonomy, and reliance on those you trust.

An experienced therapist will let you choose the pace of your therapy and won't force you to discuss things you're not ready for. Emotional strength involves learning on your own and knowing how and when support is helpful.

How do the symptoms influence your life?

One of the best ways to figure out if assistance is good for you is to consider how much the symptoms you are experiencing interfere with your daily life. Do you have limitations in your personal life, or at work? Are you able to focus? Is it easy for you to build and maintain fulfilling relationships with people? Do you enjoy your life? Is there a feeling in you that your life could be more fulfilling?

Who can assist you?

Are you considering getting my assistance? The easiest way for you to find out is if you know someone I've been able to help. Then you will know firsthand what to expect. If that is not the case, you will find on this website some information that will make it easier for you to get an impression of me. Trust is important, and that's why I aim for transparency.

Your therapist

For about two decades, I am specialized in the field of fears and anxiety disorders. I spend about 20 hours a week helping people to free themselves from their limitations and thereby gain a better quality of life. If you want to know how it all started and what you should know about me, please read my profile. And yes, therapy is a very personal matter: Because it is a very intensive collaboration, I reveal some details about myself. So you can get a first impression of me. Trust is important and that is why I focus on transparency.

The sessions are conducted either in German or English.

What does hypnotherapy cost?

Here are some organizational details. Please read them before the appointment reservation. People often ask, "How much does hypnotherapy cost?" What is meant by this are the presumed total costs, which result from the fee and the duration of the psychotherapy with hypnotherapy.

Fee for psychotherapy

The fee per session hour of psychotherapy (60 minutes) for appointments from Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 18:00:

A. Sessions by telephone or online with video support 179,- Euro
B. Sessions in my premises 199,- Euro.
C. For options A. and B. plus short-term appointment changes* once up to 24 hours before, add to the hourly fee 35, - Euro.

The fees for psychotherapy are exempt from VAT according to § 4 No. 14 a) UStG.

The first session usually lasts 90 minutes. Outside the mentioned business hours (Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.) I add a 35 % surcharge. The minimum duration of a session is 60 minutes, billing beyond that in 30-minute units. The minimum duration of a session is 60 minutes, billing beyond that in 30-minute units.

The fees do not include travel, accommodation, and allowance costs, which will be charged to the client. For traveling on my behalf: The costs for the journey will be charged according to time and effort. Within Berlin, at least an hourly fee is charged. Relevant is the individual agreement.

Postponement of meetings: For hourly fees A. and B. sessions that last up to 120 minutes can be once rescheduled up to 72 hours in advance (only weekdays count Monday till Friday, no holidays), longer sessions, or more than 120 minutes within 7 days at least 14 days in advance. Otherwise, they will be charged in full.

You can't come to my practice? Switch to a session with video or use your telephone.

Method of payment: The fee must always be paid in full by bank transfer 7 days before the session. I will send you details by mail so that you are well-informed.

Right of rescission: If registration by consumers for an event is made by telephone, letter, e-mail, or online form, the provisions of the Distance Selling Act shall apply. If the intended start of the event at the time of registration is within the withdrawal period according to the Fernabsatzgesetz (Distance Selling Act), the registration is considered a request to start the service within the withdrawal period. You have the right to revoke a service order/date without giving reasons. This is possible within 14 days of the order by telephone and in writing.

Cost coverage by health insurance companies and other insurers

Usually, the fee is not paid by national health insurance companies. Please contact your insurance company to find out about their policy details. Please discuss this with your insurer in advance. You will receive an invoice from me with classification according to ICD-10. Should applications etc. be necessary, we can do this together during the meetings.

Therapy duration

The first therapy session lasts 90 minutes, subsequent sessions can also be 60 minutes long. The number of sessions required is as varied as the personalities and situations of the clients. For anxiety disorders, I usually see clients for 3 to 8 sessions. Frequently, this question can be estimated by the clients themselves after the second session. I will then also give you an estimation based on previous experience.

Appointment booking

Please read the important information before making an appointment with me, including the contraindications for psychotherapy with hypnotherapy. I have answered frequently asked questions for you. For the success of your therapy, this information is of crucial importance. If this attracts you, then you can find out about booking your appointment here. The better you are informed, the faster we can focus on you and your wishes.

To make an appointment, you can preferably contact me by e-mail (mail@noack-hypnose.de) or by using the contact form (privacy policy) as well as by phone 01577 704 53 56 or 030 - 864 213 69. You will then receive a confirmation of your reservation by e-mail. In this reply, you will find the details for the first session. This usually happens within 24 hours. If you do not receive a reply, it could be because an email has ended up in the spam filter. In such a case, please call me.

There are only a few practice hours available, and they want to be used well. The fee for individual session hours is therefore always to be paid in full by bank transfer, with payment received at least 7 days before the session.

Why at least 7 days in advance? I would like to do it differently, but this is the best practice. Appointments that have not been confirmed with payment received seven days in advance are noticeably more likely to be canceled. And the repeated callbacks take up a lot of time. Because of this, I'm currently faced with the decision of whether and how to either significantly adjust fees to absorb this or to consistently organize in a way that is fair to all parties. Because of this, I am also offering options in terms of shifting appointments with the fees.

There is a maximum of 20 hours a week available for psychotherapy, and any canceled appointment means patients are unable to benefit from psychotherapy help. I understand that it would be more convenient for you otherwise, but this solution is the fairest for all involved.

You can use real-time bank transfer (costs 25 Ct. at Sparkasse Berlin, for example) for time-sensitive appointments, and the transfer takes a few minutes, or we can make an appointment with appropriate advance preparation. If this is not an option for you, please let me know immediately so that I can assign your appointment. Otherwise, I appreciate your understanding and look forward to intensive cooperation.

Preparation for the first session

With the confirmation of your appointment, you will receive recommendations on how to prepare for your first session with me. With your appointment confirmation, you will receive recommendations on how to prepare for your first session with me. You will also get an overview of what to consider regarding the Coronavirus during in-office appointments and how to prepare best for online sessions.

The first session: Step by step

The optimal prerequisites are set right at the beginning. In the first meeting, we create the basis for intensive cooperation. Step by step:

1. Preparation

The first session is generally 90 minutes so that there is enough time for an in-depth preliminary discussion, in which we can clarify questions. Then we begin with a detailed dialogue, with the anamnesis, in order to adapt the therapeutic plan individually to your personal needs. For this purpose, we define your goals and motives and discuss the steps.

2. First intervention

As soon as you are ready for it, we get to work. You set the pace. In the second part of the session, we figure out the easiest way to get you into a comfortable, relaxed hypnotic state. You will experience an introductory trance. This enables access to your unconscious and permits initial suggestions. How far we proceed with this in the first session will be determined by your reactions. Finally, I gently lead you out of the trance.

3. Evaluation, options, and outlook

Following the first trance, I will respond to your questions, and we will discuss how to proceed with your hypnotherapy. In most cases, you will receive recommendations you can apply to complement and enhance the work we do together, even beyond the sessions. It is crucial that you not only feel better in the session, but also have an improvement in your everyday life. The more effectively we work together, the sooner I make myself superfluous as your therapist. That's it!

You are not in Berlin or prefer an alternative instead of coming to me?

You are not in Berlin or do not want or cannot come to the practice for other reasons? Then it is worth reading the following information about the options:

a. Travel to Berlin

For clients traveling to Berlin, there is the possibility, if booked in advance, to hold 2 sessions on the same day. It should be discussed in advance by telephone whether this is a recommendable option, as it requires appropriate prerequisites. Any sources of additional pressure should be avoided in the interest of the therapeutic success.

Here you will find further information when considering to travel to me in Berlin.

b. Online sessions

At times a personal meeting is not possible. In such cases, a telephone session or a session with video support via the Internet is an alternative or supplement. I have been using this setting for many years, and many clients have achieved excellent results with it. These experiences make it easy to achieve very intensive sessions in this way as well. You are more flexible and can also use my support very promptly. There are currently reduced fees for such sessions.

You are also on the safe side regarding the coronavirus. By the way, this is also an option if you should be unexpectedly unable to attend a session personally.

Self-hypnosis

When appropriate, I will teach you self-hypnosis to complement the hypnosis sessions. Self-hypnosis is a tool to control unconscious processes and thus mental states by yourself.

After you enjoyed positive trance experiences with my support, you can learn self-hypnosis very quickly. This helps you to progress self-determined. It accelerates the process, deepens, and consolidates what has been achieved in the therapy sessions. Your autonomy is thus fostered. A good therapist makes himself superfluous as soon as possible. Self-hypnosis is an excellent method of self-help that can be used beyond the actual issue.

Just ask me personally.

Let's talk. Please read the privacy policy. If you are interested, you can contact me for questions and appointments via this contact form or by e-mail (mail@berlin-hypnosis.com), phone 030/86421369, and mobile phone 01577/7045356. The best time to contact me by telephone is Monday to Thursday between 9.00 am and 6.00 pm. During sessions, there is an answering machine. Leave a message and your phone number in Germany, and I'll call you back as soon as possible. Make sure I understand what you are asking for.

You can find answers to frequently asked questions, such as fees, on the home page. There are also lots of articles and details about me (profile) to help you get an idea of who I am. This will also make it easier for you to decide if I am the right therapist for you and your problem.

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Be sure to read the following notice

Before contacting me, please read the detailed information about fees, booking, contraindications to hypnotherapy and answers to other frequently asked questions (FAQ).

These pages are intended to provide information for those interested in psychotherapy using hypnotherapy. It is not intended to replace psychotherapy or personal consultation, examination or diagnosis by a licensed medical practitioner. I am not a medical doctor. I specialize in helping people with anxiety and anxiety disorders. The profession of a hypnotherapist (official license to practice psychotherapy according to the HPG) is fundamentally different from that of a medical doctor. Medical diagnoses are not made, nor are promises of healing made or medication prescribed. Hypnotherapy is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric intervention where this is required.

If you have any questions about psychotherapy with hypnosis, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to inform you.