Signs and symptoms of trichotillomania often include:  Repeatedly pulling your hair out, typically from your scalp, eyebrows or eyelashes, but sometimes from other body areas, and sites may vary over time An increasing sense of tension before pulling, or when you try to resist pulling A sense of pleasure or relief after the hair is pulled Noticeable hair loss, such as shortened hair or thinned or bald areas on the scalp or other areas of your body, including sparse or missing eyelashes or eyebrows Preference for specific types of hair, rituals that accompany hair pulling or patterns of hair pulling Biting, chewing or eating pulled-out hair Playing with pulled-out hair or rubbing it across your lips or face Repeatedly trying to stop pulling out your hair or trying to do it less often without success Significant distress or problems at work, school or in social situations related to pulling out your hair  Many people who have trichotillomania also pick their skin, bite their nails or chew their lips. Sometimes pulling hairs from pets or dolls or from materials, such as clothes or blankets, may be a sign. Most people with trichotillomania pull hair in private and generally try to hide the disorder from others. For people with trichotillomania, hair pulling can be:  Focused. Some people pull their hair intentionally to relieve tension or distress — for example, pulling hair out to get relief from the overwhelming urge to pull hair. Some people may develop elaborate rituals for pulling hair, such as finding just the right hair or biting pulled hairs. Automatic. Some people pull their hair without even realizing they're doing it, such as when they're bored, reading or watching TV.  The same person may do both focused and automatic hair pulling, depending on the situation and mood. Certain positions or rituals may trigger hair pulling, such as resting your head on your hand or brushing your hair. Trichotillomania can be related to emotions:  Negative emotions. For many people with trichotillomania, hair pulling is a way of dealing with negative or uncomfortable feelings, such as stress, anxiety, tension, boredom, loneliness, fatigue or frustration. Positive feelings. People with trichotillomania often find that pulling out hair feels satisfying and provides a measure of relief. As a result, they continue to pull their hair to maintain these positive feelings.  Trichotillomania is a long-term (chronic) disorder. Without treatment, symptoms can vary in severity over time. For example, the hormonal changes of menstruation can worsen symptoms in women. For some people, if not treated, symptoms can come and go for weeks, months or years at a time. Rarely, hair pulling ends within a few years of starting. When to see a doctor If you can't stop pulling out your hair or you feel embarrassed or ashamed by your appearance as a result of your hair pulling, talk to your doctor. Trichotillomania is not just a bad habit, it's a mental health disorder, and it's unlikely to get better without treatment.
signs symptoms trichotillomania include:  repeatedly pulling hair out  typically scalp  eyebrows eyelashes  body areas  sites may vary time increasing sense tension pulling  try resist pulling sense pleasure relief hair pulled noticeable hair loss  shortened hair thinned bald areas scalp areas body  including sparse missing eyelashes eyebrows preference specific types hair  rituals accompany hair pulling patterns hair pulling biting  chewing eating pulled-out hair playing pulled-out hair rubbing across lips face repeatedly trying pulling hair trying success significant distress problems work  school social situations pulling hair  people who trichotillomania pick skin  bite nails chew lips  pulling hairs pets dolls materials  clothes blankets  may sign  people trichotillomania pull hair private generally try hide disorder others  people trichotillomania  hair pulling can be:  focused  people pull hair intentionally relieve tension distress — example  pulling hair relief overwhelming urge pull hair  people may develop elaborate rituals pulling hair  finding just right hair biting pulled hairs  automatic  people pull hair realizing they're it  they're bored  reading watching tv   person may focused automatic hair pulling  depending situation mood  positions rituals may trigger hair pulling  resting head hand brushing hair  trichotillomania can emotions:  negative emotions  people trichotillomania  hair pulling way dealing negative uncomfortable feelings  stress  anxiety  tension  boredom  loneliness  fatigue frustration  positive feelings  people trichotillomania find pulling hair feels satisfying measure relief  result  continue pull hair maintain positive feelings   trichotillomania long-term (chronic) disorder  treatment  symptoms can vary severity time  example  hormonal changes menstruation can worsen symptoms women  people  treated  symptoms can come weeks  months years time  rarely  hair pulling ends years starting  see doctor can't pulling hair feel embarrassed ashamed appearance result hair pulling  talk doctor  trichotillomania just bad habit  it's mental health disorder  it's unlikely treatment
trichotillomania