Trichotillomania Treatment
Trichotillomania is a rare yet serious psychological condition, wherein a person feels the constant urge to pull out his or her own hair. This could result in a noticeable difference in one’s appearance, such as the emergence of bald spots on the scalp or blank hairless patches on the skin. This condition can be self-sustaining, in the sense, that anxiety or depression may initially lead to the constant urges associated with Trichotillomania, which in turn leads to further anxiety and depression, completing this vicious cycle.
There are a few different trichotillomania treatments. But before one embarks on the journey to find the correct trichotillomania cure, you have to understand the reasons behind the disorder. Trichotillomania is one of the symptoms of OCD or obsessive compulsive behavior.
Parents of younger children suffering from Trichotillomania are encouraged to ignore the habit, as most often they grow out of it. For the children in the pre-adolescent to adolescent phase, it is very important that Trichotillomania is diagnosed and the family understands the illness. At this stage, positive family support is very essential to breaking the habit. If a person continues to suffer from trichotillomania as an adult, then it becomes necessary to find a more permanent trichotillomania treatment.
There are a few medications that are prescribed by doctors as treatment for trichotillomania. But contrary to popular belief, any illness with psychological roots cannot be completely cured only with pharmaceuticals. The thing about drugs is that they may have a positive uplifting effect on the body and mind as a whole, but they may not be able to control specific impulses. Prescribed drugs can be a stop-gap measure, bringing in some relief to the patient while a more permanent solution is found.
Psychotherapy in the form of cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT is becoming widely accepted as a crucial ingredient in trichotillomania treatment. In a very primitive way, parental intervention at a younger age is a type of CBT. But as the condition worsens, a trained and experienced psychologist or psychiatrist is the need of the hour. The idea is that the patients mind can be re-structured by introducing new behaviors to replace the impulsive trichotillomania behavior. Many people also find that support groups are very helpful in living with and eventually overcoming the disorder. As with most problems, there is no single treatment for trichotillomania. You have to try different approaches in order to find the right trichotillomania treatment that suits you best.
