trik-oh-till-oh-may-nee-ah

Characterized by the repeated urge to pull out scalp hair, eyelashes, facial hair, nose hair, pubic hair, eyebrows or other body hair, sometimes resulting in noticeable bald patches. Trichotillomania is classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) as an impulse control disorder. It may seem, at times, to resemble a habit, an addiction, a tic disorder or an obsessive–compulsive disorder. Anxiety, depression and obsessive–compulsive disorder are more frequently encountered in people with it. Trichotillomania has a high overlap with post traumatic stress disorder, and some cases may be triggered by stress. Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichotillomania

i have this habit..a habit started when i'm 11 yrs old...i like to pull my hair but not to the extend by removing the whole hair strand from the scalp, i just like pulling the hair until i can feel the pressure on the scalp. It helps to release some tension in the head. However, sometimes i accidentally pullout the whole strand and causes some small parts of bald patches on my head. Besides that, i also like to skin picking in the scalp area...can't stand the urge to do this especially when my scalp itches. A serious skin picking habit has its special term too which is known as dermatillomania. But my version of dermatillomania and trichotillomania doesn't hurt my scalp but it hurt my shoulder a lot because i lifted my hand most of the time to satisfy my urge in doing so. Day by day i will make new day resolution not to pull my hair or pick my scalp but ended to no avail. :(

Why i loooouuurrrveeee to pull my hair and pick my skin ? This might be the answer (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatillomania)

In some animal models, it has been shown that animals which excessively pull their hairs have more endorphin receptors in their brain than animals who do not. Endorphin receptors enable endorphins to have an effect on the brain. If this is true for humans, people who are particularly compulsive about their repetitive habits may have more endorphin receptors in their brain as well. This may explain why sufferers get more enjoyment out of picking their scabs than others.

A tip from the web that i can consider to help with my mania from Wikipedia:

Habit Reversal Training (HRT) has the highest rate of success in treating trichotillomania. With HRT, doctors train the individual to learn to recognize their impulse to pull and also teach them to redirect this impulse.(Yeah... it is to see psychiatrist again )