Causes of Trich (by Pam)

,

Hi All 

You have to remember that at this point - no one knows the cause of
trich. 

They are just beginning to study Trich - so there is no factual evidence
on the causes of trich one way or another (as in totally proven) -
because the research is all in the early stages. But they do have a lot
of powerful, significant theories under investigation.

A lot of the research is also overlapping - i.e. some is about what may
be the cause of developing trich, and some is about how it manifests
itself, etc. I.e. different things point to multiple components, that
lead to differences in the symptoms and severity. 

The research into the genetic component is being studied this year with
blood samples 
- but they arleady know that the liklihood by % is higher among families
and cousins, etc., so its still being studied. That would point to the
genetic predisposition to developing trich (my analogy to the light
swich we have, that other people don't have) -- not necesarrily to the
reason [trigger] for actually starting trich [which varies greatly, for
some just pulling a hair out in biology class, for some abuse, etc].

No one has done a nutrition study - but anecetoal reports do come in of
people finding out that they have a nutritoinal deficiency or allergy,
anad fixing it then relieves the symptoms of Trich. 

For some people, it doesn't manifest itself until later adulthood (not
hte norm) and then only after a trauma like a car accident. 

Technically, this could still all be one cause - a genetic
predisposition which other people do not have - but with different
severity level - ie a health related issue could 'trigger' it to start,
a trauma , or even pulling out a hiar in biologay class. 

What will be really interesting to me (and helpful) - is when they
finally get to studying blood samples from people withOUT trich [who
have the gene if that turns out to be the case] and find out why they
the trich did NOT maifest itself.

Brain imaging studies do show differnces in our brain lobe size, and
some neural pathway's behavior -- but they also know that trich is "not"
caused by a deficieny in serotonin.

Theories on how it manifests itself once it has been triggered to start
-- talk about trich regulating our nervous system, to always try and
bring our bodies back in balance ... i.e. we pull when we are either
understimulated [bored, TV, etc) or overstimulate [stress, anxiety,
excited]. This theory also doesn't rule out stress created by health
problems such as an illness, nutritional deficiency, or allergy.

So what does alll this mean now? That we still have to find our
individual triggers and reasons for pulling, and find our individual
ways to help ourselves. It is a layered approach-- for most people,
one thing will not stop your pulling, but may reduce a %. So keep
trying different things, keep the things that help and try to add more--
but don't put all your eggs in one basket :)

Love to All

Pam