Trichotillomania is a compulsive hair-pulling disorder in which a person pulls out their hair from anywhere on their body, including their head, face, eyebrows, or eyelashes.
This behavior is generally in response to either a habitual need to pull, a compulsive feeling, or anxiety. It is also known as trich or TTM. The urge to pull out hair is so strong that the person cannot resist. It typically begins between the ages of 10 and 13.
Trichotillomania’s symptoms
A person suffering from Trich experiences a strong urge to pull out their hair, which is accompanied by a mounting sense of tension until they finally do so. After pulling out their hair, they often experience a sense of relief.
Depending on the individual, some may pull their hair out in response to a stressful event, while others may do so without giving it much thought. Patches on the head may have an abnormal shape and impact the person’s side of the head more than the other.
This, in turn, causes feelings of shame and low self-esteem. An affected individual hesitates to discuss their condition and attempts to keep it to themselves.
Causes of Trichotillomania
People with this condition have different reasons for pulling their hair out. Some of these include:
- Some people engage in this activity just to experience the sensation.
- Few people like to see hair.
- People also nibble off the end of the follicle.
- Individuals see it as a way of dealing with stress or anxiety.
- It could be a chemical imbalance in the brain.
- Hormone levels change during puberty.
- It can also be genetic; someone in the family may have the condition.
How to Deal with Trichotillomania?
There are several things you can try yourself or share with someone you believe is dealing with this disorder.
- A stress ball, or something similar, is a good option to release the stress and keep your hands busy.
- When you feel the urge to pull out the hair, try to form a ball with your fist and tighten the muscles in that arm.
- People use fidget toys for pleasure and to keep their hands occupied.
- Try to wear a cap, bandana, or hat.
- A relaxing bath to ease any stress or anxiety
- Try to do deep breathing exercises until the urge to pull goes away.
- Any type of exercise that alleviates stress is beneficial.
- Keep your hair short.
- Talk to your family, friends, or anyone you can trust, as talking about your condition or the cause of stress helps decrease the level of stress and anxiety.
- Avoid taking any antidepressants because doctors rarely prescribe them to treat depression.
- Observe your hair-pulling triggers and learn how to avoid them.
- Note down daily in a diary the number of times you opt for hair-pulling.
When to Seek Medical Advice
If you or anyone in your surroundings has a habit of pulling out hair, you should consult a medical expert. This also applies to the practice of eating hair. This can cause hairballs to develop in the stomach, resulting in serious illness.
The medical expert will examine areas where the hair is missing to ensure that nothing else is causing it to come out, such as a skin infection. During the initial examination, the expert will ask you a series of questions, such as your family history, the exact onset of the disorder, and how you feel when you feel the urge to pull your hair.
Based on the analysis, he will then develop a treatment program. Typically, the preferred treatment for Trich is known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
You can search and obtain a list of the best mental hospitals in your area. Athena Behavioral Health is one of the government-approved mental hospitals with a strong reputation.
It is NABH-certified and has the best medical expert team. They understand the illness and, depending on the condition, provide the necessary therapy. If you’d like to get a treatment facility consultation from a professional, please contact us via email at customercare@athenabhs.com or by phone at +91 9289086193. It is our privilege to take the pain out of yours!
Also Read:
Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
Importance of Art Therapy for Mental Health
Mental Health Effects of Cell Phone Addiction
10 Tips to Meditate Effectively and Boost Your Mental Health
