If your teen’s response to stress, anxiety, or even boredom is to pull out their hair, chances are they aren’t doing this for attention or to act out. Instead, they are likely struggling with a mental disorder known as trichotillomania.
People with trichotillomania have strong and almost irresistible urges to pull out their hair from their scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, or other parts of their bodies.
Those who are affected by trichotillomania can experience this condition in different ways. For some people, there is the urge to pull out single hairs one by one. Others will pull fistfuls of hair at a time. Some people with this disorder play with the hair they pull out or eat the hair once it has been pulled, and others leave theirs alone. Some people are fully aware of their actions while others do not realize their hair-pulling tendencies.
Regardless of how this disorder influences teens, it often has a negative impact on their mental health.
Although roughly 3.5% of the population meets the clinical criteria for this condition, it is a cause of shame and embarrassment for many teens. When teens try to hide their hair loss from their families, it can make it difficult for them to get the help they need to conquer their desire to pull their hair.
If you believe your teen may have trichotillomania, it is important for you to offer them support and guidance without judgment so that they will feel more comfortable seeking treatment.
What causes trichotillomania?
Experts aren’t quite sure exactly what causes some people to experience trichotillomania, but there are several factors that are believed to play a role:
Anxiety: While trichotillomania is not an anxiety disorder, it is often associated with anxiety because it can be a way for teens to cope with stress. Teens with trichotillomania often feel a sense of comfort or relief when pulling out their hair which can temporarily alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety.
Genes: Some experts believe that genetics can cause individuals to be predisposed to trichotillomania.
Chemical imbalance: People are more likely to develop this disorder if they have OCD or difficulty managing compulsions and impulses, which can signal chemical imbalances in the brain.
Treatment options for trichotillomania
Regardless of which factors contributed to your teen developing trichotillomania, it is important for both you and your teen to know that there are treatment options available to help them combat this disorder.
Here are a few ways that a licensed professional can help your teen cope with trichotillomania:
Habit substitution: Your teen’s therapist will help them find other, healthier habits to try whenever they feel the urge to pull out their hair. By replacing this urge with another one that is less harmful, your teen can start to decrease the frequency of their hair pulling.
Talk therapy: Talk therapy will give your teen the strategies and awareness they need to better manage their anxiety, stress, and compulsions. Furthermore, talk therapy will help teens handle any feelings of embarrassment or frustration that come with experiencing trichotillomania.
Medication: Professionals who are able to prescribe medication can make sure your teen receives medication that can help correct chemical imbalances that lead to trichotillomania.
Supporting your teen
While it is essential for you to seek out professional help for your teen if they are suffering from trichotillomania, you can also make a difference as a parent when you know ways to support your teen as they manage this disorder.
Here are a few steps you can take to support your teen during this time:
Encourage urge surfing: Remind your teen that if they “ride the wave” of their urges long enough, these urges will eventually subside. Urges don’t have to turn into actions.
Teach healthy coping skills: Make sure your teen has coping skills that can help them manage stress and any other intense emotions they may be feeling.
Practice active listening: Let your teen know they can come to you and share anything they are feeling so that they aren’t trying to hide their trichotillomania from you. Let them know that there is nothing wrong with them, and that you are always available to offer support when they need it.
Empathize: Although you may not be experiencing trichotillomania yourself, you can still empathize with your teen’s condition. While you may not think a couple of small bald spots are a big deal, for instance, your teen might feel mortified and want to wear a hat or otherwise cover up these spots. Make sure you are validating their feelings and wishes and empathizing with them even if you don’t fully understand what they are going through.