Hair Pulling: Impact & Effect
The Emotional and Social Impact of Trichotillomania
For some people, trichotillomania is a mild problem, merely a frustration. But recent research has shown that the overall impact of trichotillomania on its sufferers and their families tends to be more severe.
Feelings of shame about this behavior are exacerbated by how poorly trichotillomania is understood by both the general public and medical professionals. Trichotillomania often causes painful isolation. Shame leads many hair pullers to drastically curtail work, social and educational pursuits. Fear of exposure also leads many individuals to avoid vital medical care of all kinds, from gynecology to dentistry to dermatology. Hair pulling can lead to great tension and unhealthy dynamics within families. The time and expense spent covering up hair loss and seeking treatment are also significant.
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Hair pulling can lead to repetitive motion injuries, which do make it painful to move the arms or hands to pull hair. But often the pain cannot deter the urge to pull the hair.
Swallowing Hair
Biting or swallowing all or part of the pulled hairs is not uncommon. This behavior can range from harmless when hair roots are nibbled and swallowed, to dangerous when the entire hairs are ingested. The formation of a hairball (trichobezoar) can lead to intestinal blockage and may require surgery. This is a rare but serious condition that can even be fatal if not treated promptly. The danger is amplified by the fact that many people with trichotillomania are too embarrassed to seek medical treatment.
How Long Does Trich Last?
It is impossible to predict the duration of trichotillomania for any individual person. Without treatment, trichotillomania tends to be a chronic condition that may wax and wane in severity throughout a lifetime. Yet in some cases, especially in infants or early childhood, hair pulling may be a very temporary problem that begins and ends quite mysteriously.
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