Trichotillomania Treatment Options

Trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder which results in compulsive hair pulling from anywhere on the body. Although very difficult to stop, there are several psychological treatment choices available, as well as physical options.

Antidepressants

These types of drugs certainly help some sufferers, but many do not respond well to this treatment and much prefer to seek out alternative treatment options

Counselling

This can provide a good coping mechanism for the condition. Many sufferers report a significant reduction in hair pulling following attendance at counselling sessions.

Triggers

The initial stage of trichotillomania treatment is to discover the triggers for the patient’s hair pulling. These may range from stress, or maybe just boredom. A good idea is to keep a diary, writing down action, thoughts and feelings before starting to pull hair.

Relaxation

It is all very well knowing and understanding the triggers, but dealing with them is another matter. Relaxation is an ideal way to think about other things. This can be achieved through hypnosis, meditation or even by listening to music. Try to find what works the best.

Acceptance and Support

It is important to accept what is happening and talk to other sufferers. This will help in the realisation that sufferers are not alone and will boost self esteem.

In conclusion, it would seem that the best way of treating trichotillomania is to accept what is happening, discover what works best on an individual basis and seek out any necessary support.

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Trichotillomania Symptoms

Trichotillomania is distinguishable by pulling out hair. Some of the identifiable symptoms include the powerful urge to pull out hair from the body, bald areas appearing on the more hirsute parts of the body, such as the scalp, and even missing eyebrows. Another sign to watch out for is that some sufferers are prone to playing with pulled out hair, whilst some will attempt to chew and ingest it.

The repetitive nature of the condition may also result in the appearance of other issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome, which can affect the wrist and forearm. Persistent hair pulling may also damage hair follicles which may prevent hair regrowth. Depression and anxiety may also be exhibited by some sufferers due to the great embarrassment that the condition promotes, often leading to avoidance of any social contact.

Once medical causes have been ruled out, a psychiatrist may be the next step in treating the condition, usually involving habit reversal training.

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Trichtillomania Causes

A definitive cause of Trichotillomania is as yet undiscovered. Many have speculated that the hair pulling disorder is a result of biological, psychological or behavioural aspects. There is even a suggestion that young children may pick up this trait by observing adults, whereas others believe the causes to be chemical or stress related.

One of the more common theories highlights the emotional and psychological sides to the condition. Mental distress and anxiety are suggested by many to be instrumental in  causing the compulsive pulling out of hair from the head, eyelids, eyebrows and the body as a method of coping with these traumatic feelings. Some trichotillomania sufferers have also been known to display symptoms of other conditions, such as depression or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Biologically speaking, suggested trichotillomania causes range from gene mutation to chemical abnormalities. Some experts believe that trichotillomania sufferers carry an altered gene, SLITRK1, whose job is to tell the body to create specific proteins. This type of gene mutation is often suspected to be inherited by one or more close relatives.

Sometimes, the causes of trichotillomania can be linked to habitual or learned behavioural patterns. This hair pulling may arise in childhood as a result of observing an adult or sibling, leading ultimately to becoming a habit, and after time, may develop into a coping mechanism to help deal with stress.

Discover how to deal with Trichtillomania here.