Trichotillomania Masterpost
There are a number of mental health problems that are not as well-known or recognised as the “main ones”. One of these conditions is trichotillomania.
Trichotillomania is a body-focused repetitive behaviour where a person feels compelled to pull their hair out. It is an impulse-control disorder where the sufferer is unable to stop themselves carrying out this particular action.
People with trichotillomania - stylised as “trich” - may pull out the hair on their head, eyebrows, eyelashes or any other place. People with trich will experience an intense urge to pull out hair and tension will grow until they do. After a hair-pulling-session, they may feel a sense of pleasure or relief. Impulse- control disorders are more common amongst teenagers and young adults and trich generally affects girls more than boys, although this may be because women are more likely to seek help. In early childhood, both males and females seem to be affected equally.
The cause of trichotillomania is unclear, but several explanations have been put forward. It is considered as a type of addiction - the more hair you pull out, the more you want to keep doing it. It may also be a form of self-injury, where a person deliberately harms themselves as a way of seeking comfort or relief from psychological or emotional pain. Pulling out hair may be a way to reduce stress or anxiety and is more commonly a reflection of a mental health problem.
In trichotillomania, the bald hair patches are generally an unusual shape and may affect one side more than other.
There has been little medical research into notable treatments for trichotillomania. The most effective treatment is some sort of therapy to change this destructive behaviour as well as making sure the sufferer receives emotional support. Psychotherapy can be used to treat mental health problems and involves discussing issues with a trained therapist. In particular, CBT is a type of psychotherapy that is usually recommended. It helps challenge irrational thoughts and behaviours. CBT often involves behavioural therapy, also known as habit-reversal therapy, which aims to help you change the way you behave – for example, by reducing your hair-pulling behaviour.
Trichotillomania can have a highly negative impact on a person’s quality of life and can also cause other medical problems. It is highly distressing and can often cause feelings of guilt, shame, isolation or embarrassment, which can affect an individual’s social life {they may have fewer friends and find intimate relationships difficult} and can have a detrimental impact on their performance at school or work. People with trich may try to deny it or cover it up. It can make people feel unattractive and can lead to low self-esteem and isolation. Some sufferers may also feel angry or frustrated at being unable to control their urges and may also turn to other unhealthy coping mechanisms as a way to deal with these feelings. However, whilst most trich is focused - i.e. done to remove stress or other negative emotions, it can also be automatic, which is when the person does not realise they are doing it - this may be done during boredom.
The same person may to both focused and automatic hair-pulling, depending on the situation and their emotional state.
Other medical problems it could lead to include:
~ alopecia - this is basically a loss of hair - it could mean bald patches or total baldness.
~ infections - if you routinely pull from the same spot, this may lead to an infection of the site or even scarring.
~ trichobezoars - some people with trich may eat the hair they pull out and trichobezoars are the hair balls that can form in your stomach or bowls if you do. This can lead to serious problems such as:
> blocking or even making a hole in your digestive system, weight loss and vomiting
> acute pancreatitis - which is a painful inflammation of the pancreas.
> obstructive jaundice - this is when the hair ball blocks the tube that removes bile, which causes a build- up of bilirubin {a yellow substance}, which results in the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.
> in severe cases, stomach or intestinal surgery may be needed to remove the hair ball.
Many people who have trich may also bite their nails, chew their lips or pick their skin {this is known as dermatillomania}. Sometimes pulling hair from dolls, pets or other materials - such as clothes or blankets - may also be a way of trying to fight the urge.
Certain behaviours may also trigger trich, such as brushing your hair or resting your head on your hands. This is a chronic health problem in which symptoms can come and go for week, months or years at a time. On rare occasions, pulling may end within a few years of starting.
There are certain risk factors that may increase the chances of having trichotillomania:
~ Family history - Genetics may play a role in the development of trichotillomania, and the disorder may occur in those who have a close relative with the disorder.
~ Age - Trichotillomania usually develops just before or during the early teens — most often between the ages of 10 and 13 years — and it’s often a lifelong problem. Infants also can be prone to hair pulling, but this is usually mild and goes away on its own without treatment.
~ Other disorders - People who have trichotillomania may also have other disorders, such as depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder {OCD}.
~ Stress - Severely stressful situations or events may trigger trichotillomania in some people.
The important thing to remember here is that having trich is not your fault and you can be helped. There is a huge network of support out there and also here on this account, I can assure you that you are not alone. This is not something to be ashamed about and avoiding the problem is not the answer. If you have trichotillomania or think you might, then please reach out before it gets worse. We are here for you.
I hope you found this masterpost useful and thanks a lot for reading it,
izzy806
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jacobvanloon
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