Imbalances in Neurotransmitters Often Cause Trichotillomania

We have a novel approach to help those with trichotillomania eliminate the urge to pull which allows them to stop pulling their hair out.  It is based on underlying biochemical imbalances in brain chemistry, and it works.

Here we begin a multiple part series describing the science and research behind this approach.  This may not be great bedtime reading, but it does provide the basis behind why this approach works, and explains why most other treatments fall short.

Like so many other disorders, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, ADD/ADHD, Parkinson’s Disease, restless leg syndrome and obsessive compulsive disorders, trichotillomania often results from imbalances in neurotransmitter levels.  Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that control the flow of information (called ‘nerve impulses’) inside the nervous system.  Imbalances in neurotransmitter levels occur for many reasons and set the stage for the disorders listed above.

What causes these imbalances?

The easy answer is that there are a number of factors that can cause neurotransmitter imbalances in any given person; often times, several factors will affect one person. They include:

  • Genetics
  • Trauma
  • Stress
  • Dietary deficiency
  • Toxic exposure

No matter what the cause, there are two prevailing theories in medicine as to how these imbalances occur: the monoamine theory and the bundle damage theory.  We will delve further into these in our next post.  Stay tuned…