Trichotillomania tends to take a toll on your mental health without you being aware of it. There is a possibility that someone around you might be suffering from Trichotillomania; all you need to do is pay attention to it.
Not everyone asks for help, but it doesn't mean that they don't need it. To help others, you must understand what Trichotillomania is and how to spot trichotillomania symptoms, which is crucial for effective trichotillomania management and recovery.
Bond Hair Bar has listed the various symptoms, causes, and treatments of Trichotillomania. Before that, it is essential to understand what it is in simple terms.
Trichotillomania: What is it?
Trichotillomania is a type of impulse control disorder that's usually called a hair-pulling disorder. People who suffer from it experience an irresistible desire to pull hair out of their body areas like the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and more, making trichotillomania management a challenge.
A person with Trichotillomania is conscious of its outcome and knows that it can cause them damage if they act impulsively. However, they still cannot stop doing it.
Trichotillomania usually results in noticeable bald patches on your scalp that lead to low self-esteem and confidence. People with Trichotillomania pull out their hair when they are under stress or anxious to relax, making coping with trichotillomania essential for their well-being.
They may also go to great lengths to hide the loss of hair. It can be mild and manageable for some or could exist for years for others.
Trichotillomania: What are the symptoms?
If you closely observe someone, you can figure out whether they are suffering from Trichotillomania, a hair pulling disorder, or not. It could be because of genetics or other trichotillomania causes too, highlighting the importance of understanding trichotillomania causes.
Some of the trichotillomania symptoms are:
- Pulling out hair continuously from areas like eyelashes, eyebrows, or the scalp
- Sense of tension while trying to resist the urge of pulling hair
- Deriving a sense of satisfaction after pulling out the hair
- Visible loss of hair and patches on the scalp
- Shortened or thinned hair
- A particular pattern or habit of hair pulling
- Rubbing the pulled-out hair on the face or lips
- Unable to resist the urge of pulling
- Notable issues in social situations like school or work because of the compulsive disorder of pulling hair
Trichotillomania: What are the causes?
The trichotillomania causes are not that clear. It could arise from either genetic or environmental or both reasons. Understanding these causes is essential for effective trichotillomania management and treatment. The causes have been listed below:
- Family history - Genetics play a significant role in the development of trichotillomania. The disorder may show up in those who have a close relative with the disorder.
- Age factor - Trichotillomania typically develops just before or during the early teens, most often between 10 and 13 years. It's usually a problem that stays for life. Infants can also be prone to hair pulling, but this tends to be mild and goes away without any treatment.
- Any other disorder - People who have trichotillomania may also suffer from other disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or OCD.
- Stress - There are situations when people are so stressed that it triggers trichotillomania in them.
How does trichotillomania affect your life?
You might not realize it, but trichotillomania can severely impact your life, making coping with trichotillomania a significant challenge and highlighting the need for effective trichotillomania therapy.
Some complications might include:
- Emotional agony- Many people with trichotillomania have reported feeling shame, humiliation as well as embarrassment. They may experience depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, and alcohol or street drug use because of their condition.
- Social life issues- People with trichotillomania usually wear wigs, style their hair to hide bald patches, or wear false eyelashes. Some people may avoid intimacy because of the fear that their condition might come to light.
- Hair and skin damage- Trichotillomania causes various damages and infections to the skin on the scalp. It could also result in a particular area where hair is pulled and can permanently affect hair growth.
Trichotillomania: Treatment at Bond Hair Bar
There are many options for trichotillomania treatment, but it doesn't mean everything and anything will work for you. Emily at Bond Hair Bar, suggests habit reforming counseling (link to YouTube: Counsellor interview) which we have contacts for, while wearing a hair replacement system that's customized just for you. We do not have to shave your hair, it grows underneath your hair system. The beauty of this treatment is that you won't be able to pull your hair in the process, aiding in your trichotillomania recovery. Thus giving you time under your belt to be pull-free. This is something which has worked for our patients, just see their success stories about effective trichotillomania management and recovery Trichotillomania interview on our Youtube Channel.
Bond Hair Bar has listed several treatment options for trichotillomania therapy that you can consider:
- Therapy
The types of therapy that you can consider are:
- Habit reversal therapy is the primary trichotillomania therapy. You can learn how to recognize situations where you're likely to pull your hair and how to substitute other behaviors instead of that. For example, you might clench your fists to help you to stop the urge or redirect your hand from your hair to your ear.
- Cognitive therapy can help you identify and see the beliefs you may have about hair pulling.
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Commitment therapy will help you accept this habit and then act on the urge differently.
- Hair extensions and Non - Surgical Hair Replacements
Hair Extensions are one of the best things that you can opt for if you have trichotillomania. Hair extensions have several varieties that you can choose from at your convenience, aiding in trichotillomania management and supporting trichotillomania recovery.
Some of the options of hair extensions are:
- Clip-in hair extensions - You need to clip the hair extension to your natural hair that will take only 5-15 minutes to apply. The benefit of hair extension of this type is that it's the least permanent and damaging.
- Hair Replacement Systems are customized to each client's head. We make a mold and have the hair customized to the mold in Italy. We then, use a safe medical graded adhesive to adhere to your hair and scalp. You will not able to pull your natural hairs with our customized hair replacement systems. You will be able to swim, sweat and shower care free, while living a lifestyle you deserve
We hope that the trichotillomania symptoms, causes, and treatment options will be clear to you by now. Schedule an appointment with Bond Hair Bar to discuss the options of hair extensions as a treatment for trichotillomania recovery and effective trichotillomania therapy.
If you’re dealing with hair pulling and want a solution that lets your hair rest and regrow without the option to pull, our Hair Replacement Systems are worth exploring — learn more here.
