Many people have the urge to pull at their hair periodically, but for some the habit of pulling their hair out is irresistible. These cases are classified as trichotillomania, or hair-pulling disorder. Those with trichotillomania have an unstoppable desire to pull hair from their head, eyebrows and even body hair. This disorder is believed to be caused by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors, according to MayoClinic.com. When trichotillomania is diagnosed, several treatment options are available.
Therapy
One of the most effective and widely used treatments for trichotillomania is behavioral therapy, states the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Center of Los Angeles. Behavioral therapy focuses on defining what triggers the hair-pulling behavior, and then works to help you be more aware of these triggers. Once you are more aware of the causes, behavioral therapy can help provide techniques to help deal with or avoid the trigger to stop the behavior.
Medications
Medications are another common option for treating hair-pulling disorder. Medications that may be used to treat trichotillomania include fluvoxamine, paroxetine, valproate, fluoxetine, sertraline, clomipramine and lithium carbonate. Most of these medications are also used to treat depression and obsessive compulsive disorders and are commonly combined with behavioral therapy to increase their effectiveness, according to Mental Health America.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is an alternative treatment that is sometimes used for hair-pulling disorders. Biofeedback helps you change and control the way your body physically responds. According to Marc Lehrer, Ph.D, of the Biofeedback Clinic of Santa Cruz, biofeedback is used in trichotillomania by helping program the body to deal with stress and the release of tension in other ways than hair pulling.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is an alternative treatment that is sometimes used for trichotillomania. During hypnosis, a hypnotherapist places you in a relaxed and heightened state of suggestibility. During these suggestible times, the therapist will work to change the hair-pulling habits by using the unconscious mind to help the conscious mind to cope with and prevent the habit. Hypnosis may be combined with behavioral therapy to provide a higher rate of success.
References
- Mental Health America: Factsheet: Trichotillomania
- MayoClinic.com: Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder)
- TLC, Trichotillomania Learning Center: Hypnosis and Trichotillomania
- OCD Center of Los Angeles: Trichotillomania - Symptoms and Treatment
- TLC, Trichotillomania Learning Center: Its Use and Application
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