Monday, December 31, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Study: Emotional Cycles Maintaining Trichotillomania (Hair-pulling) Across Subtypes.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
*UPDATE: I did see my new family doctor, but I did not tell him that I had trich. There really wasn't a need to tell him (at least not at this time).
Monday, December 3, 2012
Another Trichster update
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Josie's making some noise!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Open up
Image via imgfave.com |
Monday, November 26, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Mrs. North Carolina 2013
Mrs. North Carolina 2013 Josie Sanctis photo by Angelia Hudson Photograghy |
How cool is this?!~ Mrs. North Carolina 2013 Josie Sanctis is bringing awareness to trich! "Josie is a role model for all the women in North Carolina with her positive goal oriented can do attitude. She is constantly giving back to her community and bringing awareness to Trichotillomania disorder a condition affecting her and one she will champion as Mrs. Carolina." according to Frederick Galle Director Mrs. Amercia and Executive Director for Mrs. North Carolina. You can check out her facebook page here and follow her journey as Mrs. North Carolina. Good luck, Josie!! You're making the trich community very proud :)
Monday, October 22, 2012
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Image via Karen Salmansohn at notsalmon.com |
Monday, October 8, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Trichotillomania: The Secret I'm Finally Letting Go.
Thanks for sharing your story, Sandy, and bringing more awareness.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Trichotillomania & Skin Picking Awareness Week
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Image via SharpGraphicArt |
Saturday, September 1, 2012
N-Acetylcysteine, anyone?!?
And a little disclaimer here: I'm not saying you should go take N-Acetylcysteine if you have trichotillomania. Like all drugs and supplements, check with your doctor first.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
MUST WASH HAIR!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Then I found out that someone I went to high school did hair... First she started cutting my kids' hair. And eventually I got a enough guts to tell her about my trich. She had actually heard of it and knew someone that had it. Phew! I was so relieved and actually excited. I found someone who could style my hair and I would feel comfortable! Not once have I felt anxious going to see her. Not once have I thought that she's judging me. I've felt... normal. You know? Like what most people feel like when they get their hair done. And feeling normal is one of the greatest feelings!
I figured she'd be my stylist for life- I mean, did she really have a choice? :) Well... turns out she does. She's having a baby this fall. And I knew she'd obviously be taking time off, some sort of maternity leave. But when she said her last day was in October- I didn't realize she meant her very last day. She's done.... like done done.
I'm... sad. I don't know- not really sure what I'm feeling. I guess that anxiousness is starting to come back cause I know that I now need to find a new person and explain my disorder. I was hoping I wouldn't have to do that ever again (as open as I may seem- it's a lot easier on the computer than in person).
I'll keep you posted... hopefully in a few months you'll be reading a post about my new favorite stylist. Fingers crossed.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Not alone
Monday, July 30, 2012
Image via Elle |
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Shaving
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
"No Make-up Allowed!"
Thursday, June 14, 2012
"What beautiful eyes!"
Monday, June 11, 2012
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Pink eye?
Thursday, May 24, 2012
My husband and I were on our way to church. About halfway there I realize that I have no make-up on. I freak out and want to go home. But my husband insists that we just go. I beg him to sit in the back so hopefully no one will see me. I had no eyelashes and was very conscience of it. I felt very ugly and wanted to hide.
Thankfully I woke up before anyone made fun of me... and thankfully it was a just a dream.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Shine
Monday, May 7, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Caught in the act
Thursday, April 19, 2012
When people stop hiding
I think it's true. Although my pulling has varied over the last 20 years... Just being open about it has helped me feel better about myself and the fact that I have this disorder. And sometimes I think that's more important than the actual hair growth.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
It's all about the growth
Source: getbusyliving.org via Laura on Pinterest
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Do not give up
12 Step Information adapted for Trichotillomania and Skin Picking
The Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.
The Twelve Steps
1. We admitted we were powerless over trichotillomania - that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God, as we understand God.
4. Made a searching and fearless personal inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of what we learned in our inventory.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these negative beliefs and behaviors.
7. Humbly asked God to remove our negative beliefs and behaviors.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed -- including ourselves -- and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends wherever possible, except when to do so would injure anyone.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and promptly acted on what we discovered.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other hair pullers, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
The Twelve Traditions
1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon group unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority -- a loving higher power as expressed to our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for membership is a desire for recovery from trichotillomania.
4. Each group should remain autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or 12 Step Pickers/Pullers as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to other hair pullers who still suffer.
6. 12 Step Pickers/Pullers ought never endorse, finance, or lend the group name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary spiritual aim.
7. 12 Step Pickers/Pullers ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. 12 Step Pickers/Pullers should remain forever non--professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. 12 Step Pickers/Pullers as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. 12 Step Pickers/Pullers has no opinion on outside issues; hence the group name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions: ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
The Twelve Promises
I can expect a miraculous change in my life by working the program of 12 Step Pickers/Pullers. As I make an honest effort to use all of the tools of the program...
1. I know a new sense of belonging. The feeling of isolation and loneliness will disappear.
2. I am no longer controlled by my compulsion. I act with courage, integrity and dignity.
3. I know a new freedom.
4. I release myself from shame, worry, and regret about pulling.
5. I know a new love and acceptance of myself. My self-esteem comes from within.
6. I enjoy stable periods of freedom from pulling.
7. I am capable of enjoying life without feeling that I have to hide from others.
8. I learn that it is possible to mend - to heal from the shame and pain of the past, and to learn new behaviors and attitudes that will help prevent my pulling.
9. I acknowledge that I am a unique and precious creation. I treat myself with gentleness, patience and dignity.
10. I trust a guidance I receive from my higher power and come to believe in my own capabilities.
11. I learn to see myself as beautiful, worthy and capable. Whether I am abstinent or not, I enjoy a healthy sense of self-esteem and the love and support of others.
12. I gradually experience serenity, strength, and spiritual growth in my daily life.
Tools of the Program:
- Meetings
- Buddies
- Abstinence
- Literature
- Slogans
Slogans:
- Easy Does It
- First Things First
- Be Gentle With Yourself
- Let it Grow
- Progress, Not Perfection
- One Day at a Time
- You Are Not Alone
- Let Go and Let God
- Together We Can Make It
- Keep It Simple
- Love, Learn and Grow
- Just For Today
- Let It Begin With Me
The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous have been borrowed and adapted for use for people with TTM. For more Information on the twelve steps and how they developed, please contact Alcoholics Anonymous.
12 Step Information adapted for Trichotillomania and Skin Picking taking from TLC.