Trichotillomania

To address our theme for this month, self-care and self-awareness, we decided to cover an impulse control disorder and how best one can work with their body and minds to resist it. Here’s a little bit of info on trichotillomania, by your very own Aszist!

Well, what is it?

Trichotillomania, commonly referred to as "hair-pulling disorder” is where patients have an uncontrollable need to pull out their hair, typically from their eyebrows, eyelashes, and scalp. They frequently lack impulse control despite knowing they can cause harm. When under stress, individuals could pluck out their hair in an effort to calm themselves.

Hair is pulled from anywhere on the body repeatedly, appearing as hair loss but is caused by the action of the patient. As this condition can greatly affect the appearance of the patient, it is associated with societal stigma. This stigma creates an environment of underreporting, attempts to conceal the disorder, and often a patient should seek treatment with a dermatologist before or completely in place of a psychiatrist.

People are aware of the potential harm they can cause if they act on their impulses, yet they are unable to do so. When under stress, individuals could pluck out their hair in an effort to calm themselves.

Trichotillomania usually arises between ages 10-13, is at times hereditary, and can stem from other mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Symptoms?

Noticeable hair loss, such as shortened hair or thinned or bald areas on the scalp or other areas of your body, including sparse or missing eyelashes or eyebrows. Preference for specific types of hair, rituals that accompany hair pulling or patterns of hair pulling. Biting, chewing or eating pulled-out hair.

Treatment and Home remedies

Trichotillomania is a complex disorder that frequently calls for the use of many treatment modalities as well as different specialties and cross-specialties. A primary care physician, a dermatologist, a psychiatrist, and a certified clinical psychologist might all see the patient. The adoption of therapy methods and possibly even medication will likely be part of the course of treatment. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and habit reversal training are two of the therapeutic modalities being researched at the moment for the treatment of trichotillomania.

The following therapies for trichotillomania may be beneficial:

Habit reversal training: The main therapy for trichotillomania is this behaviour therapy. You learn to identify circumstances where you're prone to scream and how to replace such actions with others. To help suppress the urge, you might tighten your hands, for instance. Habit reversal training may be combined with other therapy. Decoupling is a variation of this technique where you swiftly move your hand away from your hair and toward another area.

Cognitive therapy: This therapy might assist you in examining any erroneous beliefs you may hold around hair pulling.

Acceptance and commitment therapy: This therapy can help you learn to accept your hair-pulling urges without acting on them.

Prevention

There is no established way to prevent trichotillomania, however seeking therapy as soon as symptoms appear can be quite beneficial. Learning stress management is also an excellent idea, because tension frequently causes hair-pulling behaviour.

Coping and support

Many trichotillomania patients claim to feel isolated in their hair-pulling habit. Joining a trichotillomania support group can help you connect with others who have gone through similar things and can understand how you feel.

Request a reference from your physician or a mental health expert, or look up a support group for trichotillomania online.

Talk with your doctor about any medication that he or she suggests. The possible benefits of medications should always be balanced against possible side effects.