Hair Pulling (Trichotillomania)

Trichotillomania is a disorder where the sufferer has the urge
to pull out their hair . It is a type of compulsive behaviour
disorder ,and some people with this may also suffer from skin
picking or nail biting. It is a problem which can lead to a lot
of embarrassment as some people will get bald patches and they
will try to cover this up .

Hair pulling is not always just related to the scalp, some
people pull out their eyelashes, or other body hair. Some
doctors think this is an ocd disorder (obsessive compulsive
disorder), and some think it may be caused by an imbalance of
chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters.

Whatever the cause of hair pulling, it can be really distressing
for the sufferer, as it is really difficult to stop. It can seem
worse when the person is stressed or worried about something,
and some people do not seem to be aware that they are pulling,
however for a lot of sufferers it is like a kind of release ,and
makes them feel better ,if only for a moment.

If you suffer from Trichotillomania, you might feel like you are
the only one ,however this is more common than you think, but
most people tend to keep it to themselves as they feel ashamed
of what they do.

Medication can help some people, so it is worth a try but not
everyone wants to resort to taking tablets. Some people find
that keepin busy helps, especially if there are certain triggers
that start the hair pulling , like some sufferers find that they
pull while watching tv, so they try to keep their hands busy ,
maybe doing a crossword or knitting.

Trichotillomania affects twice as many women than men , and it
can start at any age Alot of sufferers find that relaxation
helps with the pulling . One thing worth a try is hypnotherapy
which apparently has quite a high success rate. If you are
interested in finding out about this technique then check out
this site.

http://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/?2437

About the author:
Julie Savill is a mother of two children and works in
healthcare.