When a person starts to have an uncontrollable impulse to pull their own hair, such condition may be known as trichotillomania. Such urges may be overwhelming. This condition is known to affect 2% of the population but many people still suffer in secret because they are convinced that they are the only ones afflicted with such disease. Trichotillomania fit into a cluster of impulse control disorder that is often caused by stress. People do not want to pull their hair but they cannot help themselves.
Commonly, people who suffer trichotillomania are female although it is known that 1 or 2 in 50 people pull their hair at some phase of their life. Trichotillomania may be triggered by major life events such as death, abuse, divorce, bullying, etc. The pulling of the hair may also offer a short term diversion from pressing uncertainties due to anxiety, depression, anger or dependency although hair pulling may then stimulate a new sequence of all these worries. This may then trigger a ferocious cycle that may then be very difficult to control and manage.
Feelings of hopelessness, shame and embarrassment are the sentiments of a person suffering from trichotillomania. Many tend to conceal their condition and endure this disease in isolation.
One must strive to help the people they know who are affected by trichotillomania. Hair replacements may not be the answer to such a condition but hair replacements may be used to conceal patches of baldness that resulted to hair pulling.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapists are the main specialists that can treat trichotillomania.
