Treatment of trichotillomania

Trichotillomania, also called compulsive hair pulling, is a behavioral pattern in which one feels the urge to pull out one's own hair.

Treatment of trichotillomania - by Eva Rustad

Eva Rustad

71 96 00 86
Info@bemerk.nu

Note is a psychologist in Aarhus, which helps with patient treatment and companies with supervision. This article is about Trichotillomania. If you need treatment, contact a psychologist at Bemerk.

This behavior may be concentrated on a specific area of the body, or it may vary between several areas. Often, it involves the more accessible hair growth, such as hair from the head, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard stubble. However, trichotillomania can also involve hair pulling from the legs, underarms or pubic hair. For some, it involves randomly selected hairs, but others may specifically select hair based on, for example, thickness, shape, colour, length or the surface of the skin to which it is attached. For some, the urge to pull out hair is greatest when they become nervous or stressed. For others, the urge is difficult to resist when they need to relax in front of the television or with their phone. The pulling is typically so frequent or extensive that it results in visible patches of hair loss or other signs on the skin. It can also occur that, especially in children, it involves an impulse to pull hair from others or from one's pets.

We treat trichotillomania in Aarhus, so book an appointment and receive treatment from psychologist Eva Rustad.

What are the symptoms of trichotillomania?

Symptoms of trichotillomania are often seen together with a tendency to, for example, bite nails or excessively itch. Mental disorders such as anxiety, OCD and depression can often be seen in connection with the disorder. In general, a state of mental unrest is associated with trichotillomania. For many, hair pulling can offer an activity to focus their attention on, which provides a break from psychological discomfort (e.g. thoughts, feelings or bodily sensations.) Engaging in hair pulling can occupy the senses and attention in a way that can feel all-consuming, and which can become an escape from reality. Many experience an outlet for unpleasant emotions after pulling hair. This feeling of relief is satisfying and therefore tempting to return to.

Trichotillomania is a condition in which a person is unable to control their impulses to pull out hair. This condition is related to, among others, kleptomania, gambling, pyromania and OCD.

How is trichotillomania treated?

In the treatment of trichotillomania, it is important to map out the situations in which the behavior occurs. This involves an awareness of what precedes the action and what feelings and thoughts are associated with these situations. Here, one will work with the discomfort that can be registered in the body, and develop alternative ways of accommodating this discomfort. In this context, it may be relevant to draw on elements from cognitive behavioral therapy, ACT and mindfulness-based methods.

In parallel, you will focus on developing the ability to consciously shift focus, and therefore gain a better overview of how your focus can move around in different areas. This is a powerful ability to master, and benefits us in dealing with psychological discomfort in general.

Using the combined and tailored therapeutic methods at Bemerk, many have managed to experience significant improvement in obsessive-compulsive conditions such as trichotillomania and OCD.

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You are welcome to book an appointment. Contact us by email or phone if you cannot find an available time. We will then find a time that suits you.

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