What is Trichotillomania?

The cause of trichotillomania is not very known. But there has been some evidence that it is a neurological disorder and that genetics actually play a role in the disorder.

Those that suffer from trichotillomania, although there isn't definite evidence on exactly what causes it, it's said that those who suffer from this disorder have a neurologically based predisposition to pull the hair from their head as a "self-soothing mechanism." The condition can also come from stress, depression, but it's not just a nervous disorder. Well-adjusted people can also be suffering from the disorder, making it difficult to pinpoint the sufferer as a certain personality type. So it can also occur with people experiencing some sort of emotional trauma, anxiety or stress.

Some symptoms include:

-sense of tension before the urge to pull out the hair or tension in trying to resist the urge
-feeling of relief after pulling the area is signs of a disorder
-presence of bare patches where the hair has been pulled out several times
-presence of other related behaviors like hair twirling, pulling or eating

Most of the time when a doctor suspects this disorder, the patient is referred to a psychiatrist, since it is considered often to be a neurological imbalance in the brain, as well as either a biological or behavioral condition. However, determining the follicular loss is due to pulling and not another factor can help determine the cause and rule out other potential causes. This condition is not as openly discussed and the many who suffer from it often cover up or hide their hair so it does not seem obvious that they are pulling it.

The main treatment for the condition is behavioral therapy called habit reversal training. This type of therapy helps the sufferer determine when they feel the urge to pull the hair, as in what is causing them to do it and how are they feeling when they feel this urge. Once that is determined, the goal is then to reverse this behavior when those certain feelings arise. This can also help with relaxation. Medication is also sometimes prescribed but this depends on the patient. The importance is for the sufferer to get treatment as soon as they notice the urge to pull.