Hair Pulling and Trichotillomania: How Therapy Can Help You Take Back Control
Hair pulling can be difficult to understand, particularly if you have never experienced it yourself. You may know that you want to stop, yet find yourself pulling your hair almost automatically. You might promise yourself that today will be different, only to discover that you have done it again without fully realising it.
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.
Hair pulling disorder, also known as trichotillomania (TTM), is a recognised mental health condition that can cause a strong urge to pull out hair from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes or other areas of the body. It can affect people of all ages and can have a significant impact on confidence, relationships and everyday life.
At OLIP Therapy, we understand that hair pulling is not simply a matter of willpower. Our experienced therapists provide compassionate, personalised support to help you understand the patterns behind hair pulling and develop healthier ways of responding to urges.
What is trichotillomania?
Trichotillomania is sometimes referred to as hair pulling disorder. It involves repeated urges to pull out hair and difficulty reducing or stopping the behaviour.
For some people, hair pulling happens consciously. For others, it can become an almost automatic behaviour that occurs while watching television, working, reading, using a computer or sitting quietly.
You may notice yourself:
Pulling hair from your scalp
Pulling eyebrows or eyelashes
Searching for particular hairs to pull
Running your fingers through your hair looking for hairs that feel different
Pulling while feeling stressed, anxious, bored or overwhelmed
Pulling without consciously realising you are doing it
Feeling relief or satisfaction immediately after pulling
Experiencing guilt, embarrassment or shame afterwards
Trying to hide areas where hair has been pulled
The experience can vary considerably from one person to another.
And importantly, you are not weak or lacking self-control because you struggle with hair pulling.
Why do people pull their hair?
There is no single reason why someone develops trichotillomania.
Hair pulling can become associated with a variety of emotional states, situations and sensory experiences. Some people notice that they pull more when they are anxious or stressed. Others find that boredom, frustration, tiredness or concentration can trigger the behaviour.
For some people, the sensation of pulling itself can become rewarding. The behaviour may temporarily reduce tension or provide a feeling of relief.
This can create a cycle:
Trigger → urge → hair pulling → temporary relief → increased likelihood of pulling again
Over time, this pattern can become deeply ingrained.
That is why simply telling yourself "I must stop pulling my hair" is often not enough.
Hair pulling and anxiety
Hair pulling can sometimes occur alongside anxiety, stress or other emotional difficulties.
You may notice that your hair pulling becomes worse during particularly challenging periods of your life. Equally, the hair pulling itself can create anxiety.
You might worry about:
Someone noticing bald patches
Someone seeing you pull
How your hair looks
Going to the hairdresser
Being photographed
Intimate relationships
People asking questions
Whether you will ever be able to stop
This can lead to a cycle in which anxiety contributes to hair pulling, while hair pulling creates further anxiety.
Breaking that cycle can be an important part of therapy.
The emotional impact of hair pulling
The physical effects of hair pulling are only part of the story.
For many people, the emotional impact can be considerable.
You may feel embarrassed or ashamed. You may avoid social situations or change your hairstyle to conceal areas where hair has been pulled. Some people become extremely self-conscious about their appearance.
You might even feel as though you have to hide the behaviour from the people closest to you.
These feelings can be incredibly isolating.
It is important to remember that trichotillomania is a recognised condition not a character flaw.
Seeking help is not something to be ashamed of. In fact, asking for support can be the first step towards changing a pattern that may have been present for years.
How can therapy help with hair pulling?
At OLIP Therapy, we don't believe in taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
The most appropriate therapy depends on the individual, their circumstances and what is maintaining the hair-pulling behaviour.
Therapy may involve exploring the thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, triggers and behaviours associated with hair pulling.
This can help you develop a greater understanding of what happens immediately before you pull and identify opportunities to interrupt the cycle.
Hypnotherapy for hair pulling
Hypnotherapy may be helpful for some people experiencing unwanted habits and repetitive behaviours.
During hypnotherapy, you enter a focused and relaxed state in which you may be able to explore and work with the patterns associated with hair pulling.
Rather than simply trying to suppress the behaviour, therapy can focus on developing alternative responses to urges and reinforcing healthier patterns.
At OLIP Therapy, our approach is tailored to the individual rather than treating the symptom in isolation.
CBT for hair pulling
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be particularly useful when thoughts, emotions and behaviours interact to maintain a problem.
CBT can help you identify situations in which hair pulling is more likely to occur and understand the thoughts and feelings surrounding those situations.
It can also help you develop practical strategies for responding differently when an urge appears.
A related behavioural approach called Habit Reversal Training (HRT) is commonly used for body-focused repetitive behaviours. It focuses on becoming more aware of the behaviour and learning alternative responses when the urge to pull occurs.
Understanding your triggers
One of the most useful steps can be developing awareness of when, where and why hair pulling happens.
For example, you may discover that you are most likely to pull:
When watching television
While working at a computer
When studying
When feeling anxious
When feeling bored
When you are tired
When you are alone
When you are concentrating
When you are lying in bed
Once these patterns become clearer, it becomes possible to develop strategies specifically for those situations.
Therapy that looks beyond the behaviour
At OLIP Therapy, we believe it is important to understand the whole person rather than simply focusing on the behaviour.
Sometimes hair pulling may have become a way of regulating uncomfortable feelings or managing tension.
That doesn't mean the behaviour is deliberate.
It means that your brain may have learned that pulling provides some kind of short-term benefit - even though it creates problems in the longer term.
Understanding this can replace self-criticism with curiosity:
"What is happening for me immediately before I feel the urge to pull?"
That can be a much more productive question than:
"Why can't I just stop?"
What happens during therapy for hair pulling?
Your first session is an opportunity to talk openly about what you are experiencing in a supportive, confidential environment.
You don't need to feel embarrassed or worry that your therapist will judge you.
Your therapist may explore:
When the hair pulling began
How frequently it happens
Which areas of the body are affected
Whether pulling is conscious or automatic
Situations that trigger urges
Your emotional state before and after pulling
Previous attempts to stop
How the behaviour affects your confidence and everyday life
Other factors that may be contributing to the problem
From there, your therapist can discuss an appropriate treatment approach with you.
You don't have to fight this alone
If you have been pulling your hair for months or even years, you may have tried repeatedly to stop.
Perhaps you have promised yourself that you won't pull again.
Perhaps you have worn hats, changed your hairstyle, kept your hands busy or tried to distract yourself.
And perhaps none of these approaches has provided the lasting change you hoped for.
That doesn't mean you can't change.
It may simply mean that you need a different approach: one that addresses the patterns and triggers underlying the behaviour rather than relying on willpower alone.
At OLIP Therapy, we provide a compassionate, confidential environment where you can talk about what is happening without judgement.
Our therapists have experience working with a wide range of emotional and behavioural difficulties, and we can help you explore which therapeutic approach may be most appropriate for you.
Take the first step towards overcoming hair pulling
Living with trichotillomania can be exhausting. The behaviour itself can feel frustrating, while the secrecy, embarrassment and self-consciousness surrounding it can make things even harder.
But you don't have to be defined by hair pulling.
With the right support, it is possible to understand your triggers, change established patterns and develop healthier ways of responding to urges.
If hair pulling is affecting your confidence, relationships or quality of life, OLIP Therapy is here to help.
You don't need to wait until the problem becomes worse before asking for support.
Contact OLIP Therapy today to discuss how therapy could help you take back control.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Pulling and Trichotillomania
Is hair pulling a mental health condition?
Yes. Trichotillomania, or hair-pulling disorder, is a recognised mental health condition involving recurrent hair pulling and difficulty stopping the behaviour.
Can anxiety cause hair pulling?
Anxiety and stress can be triggers for some people with trichotillomania, although hair pulling can have several different triggers and contributing factors. Understanding your individual pattern is an important part of treatment.
Can hypnotherapy help with hair pulling?
Hypnotherapy may help some people change unwanted habits and behavioural patterns. Your therapist can assess your individual circumstances and discuss whether hypnotherapy is an appropriate option for you.
Is trichotillomania curable?
There is no single treatment that works for everyone, and experiences vary. However, evidence-based psychological and behavioural approaches can help people reduce hair pulling and develop better ways of responding to urges.
Why can't I just stop pulling my hair?
Hair pulling can become an automatic or strongly reinforced behaviour. It is therefore not necessarily something that can be stopped through willpower alone. Therapy can help you understand the cycle and develop alternative responses.
Where can I get help for hair pulling?
OLIP Therapy provides confidential therapy and support for people experiencing unwanted behaviours such as hair pulling. Contact the team to discuss your circumstances and find out which approach may be appropriate for you.
If you are struggling with hair pulling, you don't have to be embarrassed and you don't have to deal with it alone. There is support available, and taking the first step can make a real difference.
