Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling) Support Group

Impulsive control disorder is the inability to resist an urge, temptation, or impulse, even when it may cause negative effects to the self or to others. If you or a loved one suffers from impulsive contorl disorder, join the community to find support and share your challenges with others who know what you're going through.

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rttsmom 01/29/2015

i'm thinking trich is related to hormones. i get my strongest urges while breastfeeding, which triggers the rise and fall of a few different hormones. i'm wondering if it's the dopamine that has something to do with trich. during breastfeeding, oxytocin and prolactin rise while dopamine drops. dopamine has to drop in order for prolactin to rise. i also experience something called Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER ), which causes me to feel negative emotions upon milk let down. it's thought that a drop in dopamine level is what causes these negative emotions, which for me include shame, guiltiness, loneliness, and hopelessness. what do you think?

justasimplemind 02/02/2015

I've noticed something similar to this as well! When I am in a very good mood, I don't pull hardly at all. I just don't feel that urge and if I do it is more out of habit (certain time or place). And I'm sure like many others, pulling seems to happen more when I'm stressed, anxious, sad, or lonely. Even if I'm not obviously conscious of my bad mood, my hand seems to have a mind of its own.
I definitely think there is something to the dopamine hypothesis and I'm a big believer in the power of hormones in helping to regulate our behavior.

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