Trichotillomania Cure is not so Obscure
Hypnotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy may help stop hair pulling, but there is a way to cure not only the hair pulling, but also the worry thoughts, attention problems and insomnia, which often accompany the disorder.
Neuroscientists are continually detecting and documenting the ever-changing structure of the brain, and finding new ways to bring about that feel-good factor. Such change is brought about not by radical surgery or medication, but through altered attitudes and behaviour.
Trichotillomania affects the basal ganglia, at the frontal cortex of the brain.
High activity at the left frontal area of the cerebral cortex indicates happiness and high energy, while activity in the left frontal area of the cerebral cortex indicates sadness and stress.
Genetic, organic, and neurochemical foundations for impulse control are formed in the first two years, as are rationality and sensitivity to other people.
DNA and detrimental early experiences can cause a child to develop learning challenges and hyperactivity, emotional difficulties, and/or poor impulse-control, including hair or eyelash pulling.
The orbitofrontal cortex of the brain controls sociability and relationships. For this reason, people with trichotillomania are often shy and may be misdiagnosed with social phobia. The frontal cortex also determines our sense of self, episodic memory and our perception of our future. A good clinician will recognise that worry thoughts and social challenges are symptoms of trichotillomania, and not separately diagnose other disorders, such as Attention Deficit Disorder.
It has been proven possible, though, to reduce the distress neuro transmitters which flood these areas of the brain , and either cause, or are the cause of, hair or eyelash pulling.
In Trichnotherapy we encourage people to make long term significant changes structurally, to bring about a sense of wellbeing.
The key behaviours which boost the brain and stimulate serotonin, include:
1. Community … a sense of belonging to something is crucial (even an online community like our interactive site) nurturing close relationships. Self-expression. You may feel shy, but isolation will increase your urges to pull.
2. Eat healthily and frequently. Regularity of food, sleep, exercise, activity, inactivity and companionship are essential for Growth.
3. Consciously choose positive thought when faced with negative thought.
4. Act happy, change body language, posture and smiling.
5. Meditate : live in the NOW and give full attention to everything you do.
While hair loss can have many natural causes one disease - Trichotillomania - causes sufferers to compulsively pull out their own hair. While this medical condition, or psychological condition, results in hair loss it can also lead to other conditions such as depression.
What is Trichotillomania?
Trichotillomania is a medical condition that is characterised by the need or overwhelming urge, to pull one's own hair out by the root. While this compulsion is more commonly limited to the pulling of hair that is attached at the scalp, some sufferers also tug on and remove the hair from their eyelashes, eyebrows and pubic areas.
Although many people believe this act of hair pulling to be a habit that the sufferer should be able to stop, it is actually a type of anxiety disorder that compels the patient to continue pulling even when they desperately do not wish to.
Symptoms and Causes
Although scientists and doctors do not know the exact cause of trichotillomania they do have a few theories as to how it develops. Some believe that the condition is caused by a disruption or abnormality in the chemicals that are sent between nerve endings in the brain. Others believe that the disease is genetic and brought on by episodes of intense stress or anxiety. No matter which theory they prefer, all agree on the symptoms of this disorder.
While hair loss can have many natural causes one disease - Trichotillomania - causes sufferers to compulsively pull out their own hair. While this medical condition, or psychological condition, results in hair loss it can also lead to other conditions such as depression.
What is Trichotillomania?
Trichotillomania is a medical condition that is characterised by the need or overwhelming urge, to pull one's own hair out by the root. While this compulsion is more commonly limited to the pulling of hair that is attached at the scalp, some sufferers also tug on and remove the hair from their eyelashes, eyebrows and pubic areas.
Although many people believe this act of hair pulling to be a habit that the sufferer should be able to stop, it is actually a type of anxiety disorder that compels the patient to continue pulling even when they desperately do not wish to.
Symptoms and Causes
Although scientists and doctors do not know the exact cause of trichotillomania they do have a few theories as to how it develops. Some believe that the condition is caused by a disruption or abnormality in the chemicals that are sent between nerve endings in the brain. Others believe that the disease is genetic and brought on by episodes of intense stress or anxiety. No matter which theory they prefer, all agree on the symptoms of this disorder.
Although scientists and doctors do not know the exact cause of trichotillomania they do have a few theories as to how it develops. Some believe that the condition is caused by a disruption or abnormality in the chemicals that are sent between nerve endings in the brain. Others believe that the disease is genetic and brought on by episodes of intense stress or anxiety. No matter which theory they prefer, all agree on the symptoms of this disorder.
Individuals who are suffering from trichotillomania experience an unbearable need to pull their own hair, they sometimes pull individual strands but more often pull out entire clumps at a time, which results in noticeable bald spots on the scalp. These individuals also experience excessive periods or feelings of tenseness prior to pulling on their hair that are intensified when they try to resist the action. They also experience relief, a feeling of relaxation, or feelings of pleasure as they are pulling on their strands of hair.
Although the symptoms of trichotillomania can develop at any age, they are more commonly seen in adolescents. These symptoms are thought to be brought on by extremely stressful events, such as abuse, the death of a family member, problems at school or conflict at home. However, the symptoms can also be triggered by hormonal changes brought on by the onset of puberty.
When an individual or a person close to the individual, starts noticing these symptoms and compulsions it is time to make an appointment with a doctor.
Can Trichotillomania be Treated?
Although trichotillomania cannot be cured, it can be treated be treated and controlled. The two main types of trichotillomania treatment include medications and therapy. Since the disorder mirrors many of the symptoms of anxiety disorders and impulse control disorders the drugs used to control trichotillomania are usually the same. These medications include Anafranil, Depakote, Lithium, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft. Once a doctor has done a full medical history, a complete exam, and a close study of the current symptoms, he will determine which drug offers the most hope and at what dosage that medication should be taken.
Along with medication therapy, many doctors recommend that their patients seek behavioural therapy to help them control their hair pulling urges. In this therapy the counsellor or psychologists will teach the patient to recognise their trichotillomania behaviours, their triggers and their actions of hair pulling. Once a patient becomes aware of the pulling he is then taught to substitute other, healthier behaviours for the hair pulling.
Behavioural therapy is also used to teach patients ways to resist the urges caused by their disorder, ways to defuse the stress and anxiety caused by the disorder and ways to build self-esteem since trichotillomania can lead to feelings of failure, frustration, embarrassment and reduced self-respect.
Although treatment can take time and the road to recovery can be difficult and frustrating, trichotillomania does not have to be a debilitating disease. With the right medication, therapy and support this disorder can be conquered and controlled.
The first and the foremost way to cure trichotillomania is to know almost everything about it. Hair pulling disorder is basically a mental disorder or variance that leads to several horrid consequences like pathological nail biting, gambling, picking ones own skin, setting up fires, stealing and aggressive behavior and pulling own hair. However, several people have different takes on pulling hair disorder. Some experts believe that it is an anxiety disorder, a tic or addiction whereas others believe that it is an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It is interesting to know that the term disorder was given to trichotillomania only 20 years ago.
The foremost danger for these patients is the addiction of pulling own hair in such an extent that it becomes chronic leading to bald spots. Scientists claim that in almost 10% cases, the patients indulge in pulling own hair and eating it. This pathological disorder is called Trichophagia and it eventually causes bezoar or hairball after the ingestion. Individuals suffering from it make use of several pullers like their own fingers, pins, tweezers and much more for pulling own hair. Hence, to cure hair pulling disorder, heavy medical intervention is necessary to avoid several appalling consequences. Several people believe that pulling own hair is done consciously by the patients. However, doctors believe that most of these urges are fulfilled unconsciously.
The onset of the symptoms is between the range of ages from nine to fourteen. Reports claim that more than 75-95% patients suffering from hair pulling disorder are females. The primary symptoms might lead to several other secondary symptoms like depression or panic attacks. The main root cause of pulling hair disorder is still unclear. However, many people believe that it is a genetic disorder. There are several other people who believe that trichotillomania is a learned behavior thereby refuting its genetic basis.
Many doctors suggest that one can cure in two important ways. The first way of treatment involves the use of drugs or medications whereas the second treatment to stop hair pulling disorder involves the use of psychological intervention.
Medication based therapy: This involves the use of several medications and drugs to cure trichotillomania owing to the fact that its root cause is the chemical imbalance created in the brain.
Psychology based therapy: This involves the use of several behavioral or psychological therapies and training protocols to cure trichotillomania owing to the fact that its root cause is the learned behavior itself.
There are five simple ways to cure trichotillomania. They are as such:
1. Determination of the root cause: This involves a quick study for the care takers. They should observe the components that trigger the trichotillomania symptoms like pulling own hair and eating it. The triggers can be stress, boredom, unhealthy diet, trauma encountered in childhood and many more. Once these triggers are controlled you can cure trichotillomania.
2. Adaptation to stress and its triggers: Many doctors believe that the simplest way to cure trichotillomania is to carefully handle your stress within your tolerance limits.
3. Medications like Prozac, Luvox, Anafranil and so on so forth can cure trichotillomania.
4. Behavioral therapy: This involves meditations and substitution behavior therapy. There therapies reduce the stress levels and urges significantly and thereby helps you to cure trichotillomania.
5. Acceptance: The acceptance of the disorder would miraculously lower your stress and thereby helps you to cure trichotillomania.
Comments