I now have 10 videos that have reached 1 million+ views

I started sharing about my trichotillomania in 2018 through an anonymous Instagram account called @thetrichsterdiaries and now I have 10 videos with millions of views and over 21,000 followers across my social media accounts. GIRL, WHAT?

I share all of that not to flex but because you never know where your story will lead you.

I never, ever, EVER, thought I would be so open about my trichotillomania. It was something I was incredibly embarrassed about and ashamed of. I did everything in my power to hide it and when someone noticed it ruined my whole day. I remember crying in my bedroom after large pulling sessions dreading going to school the next day. I hated my trichotillomania so much I started hating myself.

One random night (December 1, 2018) as I was falling asleep, I felt prompted to start sharing my experience. As I said earlier I started sharing anonymously and did for almost two years before I felt comfortable sharing my name and face. I was scared to death!

I was scared that all of the negative things I used to say to myself would be said to me by strangers. That I'd receive hate comments and feel ashamed again. Spoiler alert: that didn't happen!

Instead, I was met with open arms from the most welcoming and supportive community I have ever been a part of: The Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior (BFRB) Community. I started building relationships with others who were just like me! I wasn't alone! I never was! I wasn't ashamed anymore. I started feeling comfortable and dare I say even more beautiful as me, trichotillomania and all.

As I became more comfortable with sharing, I got more creative and started making videos. I thought they were pretty funny and relatable and so did others! But what really drove me to continue creating content was that I kept receiving comments that said things like "I thought I was the only one" or "Thank you for sharing this. I never met anyone else like me." I grew up not knowing or even seeing anyone that looked like me and dealt with trichotillomania. The fact that I could be this person for others? Say less!

Sharing your experience is freeing.

It heals you.

It opens the doors for others to do the same.

It spreads awareness.

It changes lives.

It changed mine.