Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania

People occasionally twirl or tug on their hair, with some even putting it in their mouth, but others begin to have compulsions to pull and play with their hair so much that it falls out. To hide the hair, some consume it, which can cause serious stomach problems. Uneven hair and wearing lots of hats may be one indicator of a problem, especially if the behavior becomes worse over time. Because of the physical and psychological dangers associated with trichotillomana, it's important to consider treatment for the disorder - for instance online treatment here at Mentaline.com. Before showing how you can get help with this impulse-control disorder, here are some other facts about trichotillomania.

Causes of Trichotillomania 

Not much is known about the causes of trichotillomania, but they are thought to be similar to the reasons people develop other compulsive disorders. The disorder tends to affect children and adolescents. Some of the physical causes are thought to be hereditary, dealing with serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain. Basically, some type of neurological disorder is usually the cause of the impulsive behavior that leads to trichotillomania. While the causes may be biological, there are many emotional symptoms that may appear along with the disorder.

Symptoms and Dangers of Trichotillomania 

The most obvious symptoms of trichotillomania is the hair loss or attempts to hide hair. A child or teen who lies about the hair pulling may also be more likely to be diagnosed with this impulse-control disorder. Other types of self-injury may also be present. On an emotional level, the symptoms are same to other disorders of this type. Namely, they center around intense anxiety before the hair pulling, followed by a sense of gratification after the hair is pulled. When this cycle is repeated over and over compulsively, it can lead to hair loss and other serious problems, especially if the hair is eaten to "hide" the evidence.

Treatment for Trichotillomania 

Behavioral therapy concentrating on habit reversal is one of the recommended ways to treat trichotillomania. Here at Mentaline.com we offer that as well as counseling that can help with emotional issues related to this impulse-control disorder. Online therapy for trichotillomania is an effective way to get the guidance and support needed to deal with this issue before it causes serious damage physically or emotionally. Psychotherapy can be very useful in curbing the negative behaviors associated with trichotillomania.

Definition of Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a disorder that causes a person to have an uncontrollable urge to pull their hair. Sometimes the person will eat the hair, causing further problems. Treatment with therapy and counseling has been shown to help with trichotillomania.

Symptoms of / Reasons for Trichotillomania

• Uneven hair
• Constant pulling or twirling of the hair
• Other types of self-injury
• Bowel blockage - if the hair is eaten
• Lies about the hair pulling
• Sense of pleasure or gratification after the hair is pulled
• Tension or anxiety before the hair is pulled

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