Trichotillomania: What To Know And What Not To Say

Trichotillomania, or hair pulling, is something you may not be familiar with unless you or someone you know suffers from this condition. It is actually more common than you might think, with 280 million or 3.4 percent of the world’s population having trichotillomania on a daily basis, according to Health Research Funding.

What Causes Trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania is a psychological disorder that is triggered by things like stress, anxiety, boredom and a host of reasons that are psychological in nature. Some do it unconsciously while others get a sense of relief from hair pulling.

What Not to Say

If you know someone with trichotillomania, there are a few things you should not say to the person.

• Just Relax
  While anxiety and stress are certainly a trigger for those suffering from this condition, telling someone to just relax is not going to make their life suddenly perfect. It isn’t as simple as that. Just like you would not tell someone to relax (or rather you shouldn’t do so) if they are having an anxiety attack, this is a similar situation. It’s more difficult than simply relaxing when it comes to trichotillomania.
• Just Stop
  This falls under the same umbrella as telling someone to relax. If “just stopping” were that easy, this condition wouldn’t exist. In fact, putting pressure on someone to stop and implying that it will solve their problems actually causes more stress.
• Don’t Cover It Up
  Similar to self-harm, shaming someone by telling them to stop covering up what they have done is not positive and doesn’t help. Actually, this can lead the person to feel worse about themselves and hopeless at being able to recover. If they feel the need to hide what they are doing, then let them. In this same vein, do not point it out if you catch them participating in hair pulling. This may be embarrassing and shameful and will only deter their recovery. If you or someone you love is suffering from trichotillomania, a psychologist may help with recovery, while hair restoration or hair replacement can gain back their confidence and self-esteem.

Hair Loss Solutions for Men & Women

Men and women of all ages suffer from thinning hair and balding. In many cases, hair loss is a matter of genetics.  But it can also be caused by medical treatments such as chemotherapy, or other causes such as Trichotillomania or trauma.  Regardless of its cause, hair loss is not something you have to just live with. Whether you are looking for proven hair loss solutions in Fremont, California or looking for a hair replacement specialist in Alameda County, we encourage you to take the time to learn everything you can about the many proven hair loss treatment and hair restoration options available today.

Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3190970/