What is Trichotillomania?

It is estimated that over 10 million people are suffering from some type of an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Up until now, people have had to live with the shame and isolation of not knowing why they have a compulsion and how they will be able to overcome it.

Most people who live through the pain of this psychological disease are very often quite intelligent, thoughtful and sensitive people. A common thread shared by sufferers is that they have a perfectionist type personality. The day to day coping that must be maintained in order to keep their compulsion going can be exhausting and sometimes lead to thoughts that the future seems hopeless.

There are many forms of obsessive-compulsive disorders that exist and many new forms that are being discovered . Trichotillomania is one of these and can be one of the most insidious. What is it? The compulsion to repeatedly pull hair from ones self . One form of OCD. One who has the intense need to constantly obey repeated thoughts in their mind that will lead to an uncontrollable urge. They are filled with a "pathological doubt", if you will, a feeling that this is something they have to do. To these brave sufferers, this habit seems impossible to gain control over.

Francois Henri Hallopeau, a French dermatologist, was the first to describe trichotillomania in 1889 to the medical community. The word mania leads one to believe the person suffering might be crazy, which is very misleading. Pulling hair is an automatic impulse that the victim might not even be aware they have or are even knowingly in the process of doing. There are also some who suffer that report an intense pleasure and soothing feeling that they encounter when in the procedure of pulling their hair. The hairs chosen to be pulled are somehow imperfect and in immediate need of being removed. After the hair is pulled out, it might start out as a relief of some sort, but ultimately they are left with a horrible feeling of hopelessness as to weather this will ever end.

Those who suffer from TTM also frequently pull the hairs from other parts of their bodies, including eyebrows, eyelashes, arms, legs, and even the pubic area. It doesn't stop there, however they have been known to pull hairs from their pets, from sofa cushions, and lint or fibers from their clothing. The sense of immediate pleasure associated with this disorder often can make this form of OCD one of the most difficult to treat.

The people who have this compulsion struggle with low self-esteem and believe that they are responsible for their own demise. They are victims of a psychological disorder and are not to be blamed. TTM is in the early phases of being researched . Three are several treatments being investigated such as behavioral therapy and some types of medication. This is extremely emotional and impacts their lives in many ways. Sufferer's end up feeling they have to hide from the world, it can range from not wanting to have a relationship for fear of being found out to going to get a simple haircut and having to explain why they have random bald spots. Hopefully, with more information and research, there will come an ultimate plan for healing and treatment that will allow recovery to be fully realized.