No one knows why trich affects certain people and not others.  Some doctors have noticed that for a number of people with this problem, a certain part of the brain works a little bit differently.  For some people, the brain may send signals that stimulate pulling.  For others, when a hair is pulled, instead of the brain sending the message, "Ouch!  I won't do that again"!  It send the message, "Hmmmmm...that feels kind of interesting."  This difference can quickly move hair pulling from being an occasional, harmless behavior to a disfiguring problem.

Recent research shows that trich is a complex behavior and best managed on an individual basis.  Everyone's hair-pulling habit is unique.  Each "trichster" has a combination of sensations, habits, emotions, thoughts and environmental triggers. 

WILL COUNSELING HELP MY CHILD?

TPS, Inc. has the privilege of working with Ruth Goldfinger Golomb, author of The hair pulling habit and You:  How to Solve the Trichotillomania Problem.  Ruth has worked for the Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington ( BTC) since 1980.  she has specialized with clients with anxiety disorders and has also been a co-investigator in a number of research projects involving trichotillomania. Using an assessment and treatment approach developed by Dr. Charles Mansueto, Director of the BTC, Ruth modified and adapted the approach for use with children and teenagers.  

The book is a self-help approach.  It gives control to the child and support for the use of strategies and processes to help control trich.  However, a therapist can be a pivotal piece for people learning to control and manage trich.  Counseling is recommended to give the child  the support of a professional while working through the steps in the book.  A counselor can also give support, encouragement and guidance to parents and other family members who may be baffled by the hair-pulling.  

Many people who have struggled over time wonder if they will ever manage the hair pulling habit.  This approach CAN help most people.  You and your counselor will read the book together.  Parents will read the Parent's Guide.  The program is designed for parent participation, but it can be done working alone as well.  The program works whether or not someone is taking medication.

Here's an excerpt from  the Parent's Guide:

Q.  Is my child's hair pulling my fault?

A.  NO!  Just as you cannot take credit for your child's ability in ballet or lack of ability in soccer, you cannot take responsibility for your child's difficulty with hair pulling.

Some children have a genetic predisposition to hair pulling and through a unique set of circumstances end up pulling out their hair.  Other children who SHOULD have a genetic predisposition to hair pulling NEVER PULL THEIR HAIR.  Other children have NO GENETIC  history of TTM at all, but pull their hair anyway.  Most children DO NOT HAVE PARENTS WHO HAVE HAD TRICHOTILLOMANIA..

There was nothing that you could have or should have done differently that would have prevented your child's difficulty with hair pulling.  The most important thing you can do now is to learn how you best can help her to manage her problem.

If you would like to learn more about trichotillomania, go to "Links" on this site and contact the Trichotillomania Learning Center (TLC) at 1215 Mission Street, Suite 2, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.