Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a psychological condition characterized by the overwhelming obsession of pulling out his or her own hair. This compulsive pulling includes, but is not limited to, hair from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic area.

People with this disorder, however, do not all act in the same. Some pull hair out in large handfuls, leaving noticeable bald patches, while others pull their hair one strand at a time. Some are very aware of their habit, while others do not notice what they’re doing. Some pull their hair out, inspect it and/or play with it, while others put the hair in their mouths and swallowing it.

Trichtillomania is more prevalent in girls than guys; between 70% and 93% of victims are female. The cause for the disorder is not obvious, as the age of diagnosis varies. In some, symptoms are recognized as early as 1 year old. In others, a diagnosis is not made until preadolescence or adulthood.

To those with this disorder, all hope is not lost. Cognitive behavioral therapy (called Habit Reversal Training), medication, or a combination of the two have shown promising results in overcoming this debilitating disorder.

In therapy, a person is first taught to recognize when the urge to pull hair is coming on by analyzing the environment that he or she is in. This involves identifying situations, places, or times that have proven to trigger urges to pull hair. When these circumstances are identified, the therapist helps the person to change or eliminate these triggers. In theory, time will make the urges grow weaker and go away.

When a person is just starting this therapy, tension and/or anxiety are not an uncommon occurrence. In addition, the stigma that comes with the physical effects that pulling out body hair is likely to cause a reduction in self confidence and, in most serious cases, depression. This is why it is helpful to have an expert that can offer support and advice to aid the person through this process.

If needed, doctors can prescribe medication to supplement Habit Reversal Training. The drugs prescribed can help the brain better deal with the urges that come with Trichotillomania. There is a plethora of narcotics, used to treat primarily depression and obsessive compulsive disorder, which have proven beneficial to patients with Trichotillomania.

Interview with a victim of Trichotillomania.