Trichotillomania, also known as ‘trich,’ is a mental disorder where some people experience a compulsive urge to pull the hair out from different parts of their body. According to recent studies, at least 4 in 100 people suffer from this condition. This disorder can be embarrassing for the patients since it leads to bald patches. If you suffer from this condition, you are not alone. Read on to learn what you should know about Trichotillomania.
What Is Trichotillomania?
Trichotillomania is a psychological condition where someone cannot stop themselves from pulling out their body hairs. Trich can lead to embarrassing skin damage and bald spots on the scalp. Hair pulling takes place in different areas that include the following: scalp, arms, legs, eyebrows, chest, beard, pubic region, and armpits. Trich develops when one is between the ages of 9 and 13, and it comes in two hair-pulling behavior types. Automatic hair pulling reflects subconscious behavior, and the patient may not remember anything afterward.
The other behavior is focused on when the person involved does it purposely. When someone pulls their hair, they feel a sense of relief, pleasure, and gratification for performing the action. In some cases, trich leads to tension buildup when the person is trying to resist the urge of pulling out their hair. The disturbances caused by this disease lead to distress or impairment in occupational and social functioning.
Causes of Trich
There are no definitive causes of trich, but research shows a great link with brain pathway abnormalities or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the individual. OCD can also be traced to family genetics concerning the transmission of trichotillomania. Mood disorders, anxiety, and depression are other factors that can contribute to trich. Traumatic life events are also said to cause this hair-pulling condition.
Symptoms of Trich
The symptoms of trich come in different forms since there is no straightforward diagnosing method. The symptoms usually begin to emerge at around the age of 13, and the most common symptom relates to the action of pulling hair or picking the skin. Picking the skin can lead to infection, and in some cases, some people feel the impact of eating the hair after pulling it out. There are also mental symptoms that include stress, depression, and anxiety. Some people may feel an intensified compulsion to pull their hair, and it becomes difficult to resist. These individuals are at risk of developing mental disorders that will impact their social functioning.
Trichotillomania Treatment
If you are looking to control the irresistible urge to pull out your hair, behavioral therapy is the best option. If you commit to the No More Hair Pulling initiative where you interact with other people with the same condition, you will realize that it becomes easier to cope with it over time. If you become aware of the underlying triggers and symptoms of trich, you will be able to replace this behavior with a healthier behavior. Therapy and counseling will help you stay motivated and find practical ways to cope instead of pulling your hair.
Medications
Three medications are believed to treat trichotillomania, and they include olanzapine, N-acetylcysteine, and clomipramine. Before using any of this medication, it is essential to consult your doctor first. Research on these drug trials was conducted using a small sample, so ensure that the drug will not cause side-effects.
Complications
If left untreated, trichotillomania can cause complications that impact heavily on your life. Many people suffering from trich report emotional distress, humiliation, and embarrassment. Others experience mental challenges like stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, leading to alcohol and drug abuse. Problems with work and social functioning may lead the affected individuals to withdraw from different activities for fear of their condition being discovered.
Trich can also lead to hair and skin damage; infections can develop around the areas where the hair is permanently pulled. Eating the hair you pull from your body can cause hairballs in your digestive tract. Ultimately, these hairballs can cause weight loss, impact the digestive system, vomiting, or even death.
So, to sum up, Trichotillomania is a condition characterized by an irresistible urge to pull out your hair or pick at your skin. This disorder is caused by psychological factors like anxiety, stress, or OCD. It has both physical and mental symptoms that can impact the life of the patients in many ways, and this condition can lead to other serious complications if left untreated. Behavioral therapy is one of the most effective remedies for trich, so if you or someone you know exhibits any of the above-mentioned symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek professional help.