My dearest friends, and I really do mean friends! I am so deeply touched by the overwhelmingly loving and thoughtful responses I have received on my new blog. I so look forward to developing this as a wonderful exchange forum, for us all to grow together in recovery. My comment about “friends” is very apt, and I will tell you why.
The internet is a fabulous tool, and I am ever grateful for it, and the walls it helps to remove. That said, there truly is something very, very special when we get together in person, and I will try to explain this if you have never met another person with trich or picking.
Early on, I was incredibly desperate to meet others. And at that point, the internet was only used by academics and was not really a daily tool most had access to. I had the opportunity to sit in a room, in 1990, with about 20 people with trich. It was at the Stanford OCD clinic, and it was my first attempt to bring those of us together who were being treated at the clinic.
Well. We were all so different, in size, shape, color, education, background, etc. And yet, NONE of that mattered.
At all.
We had a common bond of experience that transcended all outer issues. It was elemental, and profound. I found that I was comfortable with people who did not share my world view, my belief system, and my values in a way that was incredible to me. We connected at such a core level, and then built our acceptance of each other from that place. We simply agreed to utterly disagree on some levels, while holding solid to our shared experience. For me this was a beginning roadmap for really understanding how to be at peace with others.
This was the first time I had ever experienced the following: I sat there and felt like we were all old friends – we just hadn’t met yet! Throughout the years, this continues to be true in every single gathering of us I have the honor to be a part of.
I have to smile, it’s now been enough years that often I am with friends I HAVE met before!
Anyway, it’s high time I head in to the TLC office, we are working on the mid-year fundraising letter today. If you are not a TLC member, I do urge you to become one, or to make a donation to support this very important work!
I just wanted to do a brief post, to catch up and say thank you to all of you. Later today or tomorrow, I will spend some time answering some of the questions that have been raised in the comments. So please check back soon!
My love to all, Christina
5 Comments
Thank you! It’s really incredible to me that something like this even exists– a forum where tons of other people with the condition I thought for so long was unique to me can come together to exchange ideas and support each other. It’s truly amazing and I want to thank you for facilitating it. From the very bottom of my heart, thank you.
I didn’t even this had a name. I have been doing both since I was about 7 years old. Im a lot better than I used to be. Thank you for this blog
I have been using Latisse(FDA approved) for lash growth, and it is remarkable!!! Over a 1/4 inch in a month and a much less desire to pull.
THis is a first in 30 years
The internet really is amazing
However, I do wish there was something like TLC in the UK. There are lots of people online from the UK with trich, though there is no real organisation that I know of. But I’m sure it will change in the future. It’s why I write my blog – every little helps when it comes to raising awareness and connecting with people. And you’re right – connecting with people is amazing. We are all so different but it feels so special to talk to everyone I meet through my blog.
~Penny – Trichotillomania Blog
Have just found out my habit has a name, and that there are others. Hello.
Yes have been a puller on n off for 40 years. Have had a phase lately and so have not been leaving the house much.
Doc doesnt seem to take much notice. Wot can i do next?