What does hair pulling indicate?

What does hair pulling indicate?

For many people with trichotillomania, hair pulling is a way of dealing with negative or uncomfortable feelings, such as stress, anxiety, tension, boredom, loneliness, fatigue or frustration.

Is trichotillomania an OCD or anxiety?

Trichotillomania was previously classified as an impulse control disorder but is now considered an obsessive-compulsive related disorder in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Version 5 (DS-5, American Psychiatric Association).

Is hair pulling a form of OCD?

Co-occurring Conditions. Trichotillomania is on the obsessive-compulsive spectrum, which means that it shares many symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), such as compulsive counting, checking, or washing.

Is trichotillomania a symptom of ADHD?

The ADHD child often also experiences overstimulation and often require an external avenue to restore calm. Since trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder, those affected with ADHD may begin hair pulling to relieve the tension caused by the impact of sensory issues.

What does it mean when you pull your hair out randomly?

For people with trichotillomania, hair pulling can be: Focused. Some people pull their hair intentionally to relieve tension or distress — for example, pulling hair out to get relief from the overwhelming urge to pull hair. Automatic.

What should I do if I can’t stop pulling out my hair?

If you can’t stop pulling out your hair or you feel embarrassed or ashamed by your appearance as a result of your hair pulling, talk to your doctor. Trichotillomania is not just a bad habit, it’s a mental health disorder, and it’s unlikely to get better without treatment. The cause of trichotillomania is unclear.

What is trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder)?

Trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-nee-uh), also called hair-pulling disorder, is a mental disorder that involves recurrent, irresistible urges to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body, despite trying to stop.

What age do kids start pulling their hair out?

Children less than 5 years old often pull their hair out unknowingly. In the same way that thumb-sucking stops spontaneously for most children, the majority of children who begin to pull their hair at this early age will stop on their own. Trichotillomania often begins between ages 9 and 13.