Ways to Stop Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania (TTM), is an impulse control disorder, very much like compulsive gambling or kleptomania, which causes an individual to develop an uncontrollable urge to pull her hair out by the roots. The hair can be from the eyebrows, scalp or other areas of the body and an overwhelming sense of relief is achieved once the hair has been pulled. Trichotillomania starts anywhere from the early formative years to the teenage years; in some cases, it starts later.

Recognize the Signs

• An individual suffering from trichotillomania goes to great lengths to disguise this behavior, which can be discerned by the physical effects of thin or missing eyelashes, brows or bald areas on the scalp. The hair follicles can become infected from the pulling and an individual with this disorder usually has a noticeable social impairment which can affect the way he interacts with other people. This is due to the fact that he experiences a building tension which can only be relieved by pulling out his own hair and, in some cases, eating the root of the hair. He is always on edge about other people discovering his shameful secret. Thus, the first step in treating trichotillomania is for a person afflicted with it to understand and acknowledge that they do indeed have a problem which needs to be addressed. Trichotillomania is a serious disorder because it is a form of self-mutilation which is also addictive. Recognize the symptoms and get the individual to admit that there is a problem.

Identify the Triggers

• Trichotillomania is usually accompanied by depression in a majority of the cases. A person suffering from trichotillomania almost always has low self-esteem, or even no self-esteem and may also exhibit suicidal tendencies. This could be a trigger for a bout of hair-pulling. This is why the treatment of depression with antidepressants--like lithium, naltrexone and pimozide--has been used successfully to control incidents of trichotillomania. Other things might also serve as triggers for bouts of trichotillomania. For instance, a situation that the person who suffers from the disorder feels that she has no control over might lead her to resort to hair pulling in order to relieve some of her anxiety. Stress at work, anger or feelings of inadequacy are some triggers.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Trichotillomania is a disorder of the brain which cannot be stopped without help from specialists and behavioral therapists. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of talk therapy which is combined with medication to stop trichotillomania. It teaches an individual with the disorder to recognize when the urge to pull her hair is upon her and recommends how to resist the temptation. This could be by keeping a diary of these incidences and finding other things to do with the hands to keep them busy and away from the hair.