TRICHOTILLOMANIA

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Trichotillomania is a mental disorder that involves recurrent, irresistible urges to pull out hair from your Scalp, Eyebrows, Eyelashes and other areas of your body.

Hair pulling from the scalp often leaves patchy bald spots, which causes significant upset and can interfere with social or work functioning. People with Trichotillomania may go to great lengths to disguise the condition.

Trichotillomania may be mild or strong as it varies from person to person. The compulsive urge to pull hair can be overwhelming. Some treatment options have helped many people reduce their hair pulling or stop entirely.

Symptoms

• Repeatedly pulling your hair out, typically from your scalp, eyebrows or eyelashes, but sometimes from other body areas, and sites may vary over time
• An increasing sense of tension before pulling, or when you try to resist pulling
• A sense of pleasure or relief after the hair is pulled
• Noticeable hair loss, such as shortened hair or thinned or bald areas on the scalp or other areas of your body, including sparse or missing eyelashes or eyebrows
• Preference for specific types of hair, rituals that accompany hair pulling or patterns of hair pulling
• Biting, chewing or eating pulled-out hair
• Playing with pulled-out hair or rubbing it across your lips or face
• Repeatedly trying to stop pulling out your hair or trying to do it less often without success
• Significant distress or problems at work, school or in social situations related to pulling out your hair

Most people with Trichotillomania pull hair in private and generally try to hide the disorder from others.

For people with trichotillomania, hair pulling can be intentional to relief stress or tension however some people pull their hair without even realizing they're doing it such as when they are reading or watching TV.

Trichotillomania can be related to emotions both happy and sad with triggers being both for pleasure and as a direct result of a stressful situation.

How Can We Help

There is no definitive cure or treatment for this condition however

at Catherine Queen Non-Surgical Hair Restoration we believe the Volumiser System can be used as method of interrupting the pattern of pulling as it creates a barrier between your hands and your common pulling areas whilst also restoring your confidence by giving you a full head of hair.

Psychological treatment and medication provided by a licenced doctor should also be considered when trying to combat this complex condition.

This condition has a high rate of relapsing we would strongly encourage you to contact us when you feel this is happening.

Mirrored Support

When applicable we may be able to pair you with another person suffering from this condition as a buddy to support each other at times when you struggle, we believe having someone who knows exactly how it feels to navigate this condition could be extremely beneficial.

Breaking the Habit

Take deep breaths

Count to 10

Distract your mind

Get a hobby that keeps your hands moving

Join a support group

Keep a diary of triggers and be on high alert when they are approaching