TRICHOTILLOMANIA

What is trichotillomania?

It is a compulsive disorder of pulling out hair, eyelashes, eyebrows or other body hair. People who suffer from this disorder feel unable to stop the action, even though they are aware of the damage it is doing. This sort of compulsive disorder falls into the same group as skin picking, nail biting, eating disorders and tic disorders.

Why do people suffer from it?

It is not known why people suffer from it, although stress, depression and trauma such as post traumatic stress disorder does sometimes appear to trigger it. Also, people suffering from OCD have a higher disposition towards it.

Who suffers from it?

There are defined categories; pre-school, pre-adolescent, young adults, adults. Young children tend to have a more subconscious response, whereas adults will often have quite a specific pattern of pulling and will be more aware of the routine and the feeling they get when they perform the habit.

What is the treatment?

There are a variety of different treatments, hypnotherapy has shown to be very effective in helping to deal with symptoms, along with habit reversal training, cognitive behavioural therapy and medication.

What is a habit?

A habit is formed through repetition of a behaviour. We can be very good at any sort of habit through repetition. We have many good and helpful habits and behaviours which are part of our every day routines, such as brushing our teeth. We can also 'learn' unhelpful or unwanted habits and then become very good at these through repetition!

How can hypnotherapy help?

Hypnotherapy is a way of breaking the association between the action and the feeling and introducing a new 'program' to the brain which puts the person back in control of their actions. Strategies to redirect the energies formerly used to perform the habit into a more positive action are introduced to provide a feeling of conscious control.

Want to get some help?

Contact Andrea at www.halotherapies.com 01202 830456 andrea@halotherapies.com