Do you have Trichotillomania? Me too. This book provides reliable information on hair pulling, self-help resources to get you started on your healing journey, and includes my own personal story of hair pulling. I hope this helps generate compassiona...
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For some people, hair pulling disorder is a mild problem, merely a frustration.
But for many, shame and embarrassment about hair pulling causes painful isolation and results in a great deal of emotional distress, placing them at risk for a co-occurring psychiatric disorder, such as a mood or anxiety disorder.
The most successful management strategies make use of a variety of therapeutic techniques that address actionable emotional and behavioural components. While learning how to manage the behaviour, it is important to remember that emotional discomfort that influences the behaviour is subjective rather than objective. This realization empowers you to choose how you experience these emotions and enables you to alter your behaviour.
Physical effects such as pruritus, tissue damage, infection, and repetitive motion injuries to the muscles or joints are not uncommon. Those who ingest the pulled hair or parts thereof may experience gastrointestinal distress or develop a trichobezoar (hairball in the intestines or stomach), which could lead to gastrointestinal blockage and require surgical removal. Although trichobezoars are rare, they are a serious risk for those who ingest hair.
Hair pulling can lead to great tension and strained relationships with family members and friends.
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References [1] Hair pulling: Trichotillomania: BFRB – TLC Foundation for bfrbs. TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors. (n.d.). https://www.bfrb.org/bfrbs/hair-pulling
