Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania aka Hair-Pulling Disorder — a mental health condition in which a person feels a recurrent, irresistible urge to pull out their own hair, resulting in some hair loss and significant  stress or shame about their hair-pulling.

It is categorized under Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders in the DSM-5 and is part of a group called Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs).

Core Features of Trichotillomania

• Repetitive hair-pulling from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, pubic area, or other body parts.
• Unsuccessful efforts to stop or decrease the behavior.
• The pulling causes hair loss, which may lead to shame, concealment, or social avoidance.
• Episodes may be automatic (unconscious) or focused (intentional).
• Often associated with tension or urge before pulling, and a feeling of relief or satisfaction afterward.

 Types of Hair-Pulling

1. Automatic Pulling
   
   • Occurs without full awareness (e.g., during other tasks)

1. Focused Pulling
   
   • Occurs in response to specific urges or thoughts — more deliberate

Most people experience a combination of both.