Trich Talks!

Starr @starrjauregui is a musician and BFRB advocate who has experienced both trichotillomania, the hair-pulling disorder, and dermatillomania, the skin-picking disorder throughout her life. Although there are moments where things feel terrible, Starr wants you to know that things can get better.

Andrew @neurospicycounseling is a husband, father, and therapist who lives with ADHD and dermatillomania, the skin-picking disorder. Andrew's purpose in life is to let others know they are not alone by actively working as a mental health professional and creating content. Through his work, content, and sharing his story, he is able to do just that.

Yael @yaelstrichyjourney is a student, mental health advocate, poet, and artist who lives with trichotillomania and OCD. Yael uses her social media presence to share her journey and educate others.

Luce @calmstrips is a mother of 5, a horror movie lover, a BFRB/mental health advocate, and a Shark Tank star, among other things. Her life completely changed when she met Michael and became a member of the Calm Strips team. What first started as packing up orders to help a friend, quickly turned into a full-time career. Through this process Luce learned about BFRBs and that she actually had a few of them.

More about Calm Strips:

Calm Strips are reusable textured sensory stickers designed to help regulate restless energy and increase focus. They provide a cool and convenient way to manage sensory needs; whether you're simply touching, scratching, or tracing the textured surface, or utilizing one of our interactive grounding/breathing designs.

Luce and Michael from Calm Strips were featured on Shark Tank! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJpOvKFpdX8

Jayden @stateofirreality has been living with trichotillomania since she was 10 years old. Now 17, Jayden is ready to spread awareness and share her story with the world. She has learned so much from her experience and wants others to know that they are not alone and that sharing your story will feel like releasing a huge burden.

Carlee @carleebusby has lived with trichotillomania for over 22 years but is happy to share that she is now in recovery. She has worked tirelessly to understand her triggers and learn from them. Carlee earned an MS in nutrition and functional medicine and uses her expertise to help others in the BFRB community. To learn more and/or to work with Carlee please visit: bfrbrecovery.com

Clare Mackay @thetrichprof is a professor of imaging neuroscience at The University of Oxford, mother, and someone who has lived with trichotillomania for most of her life. Within the last year, Clare has started openly sharing her story and using her expertise in neuroscience to help bring more insight into what it means to have a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB).

Read Clare's published article featured in the BMJ Mental Health Journals here: https://mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/26/1/e300795

Read Clare's blog in the University of Oxford's Department of Psychiatry here: https://www.psych.ox.ac.uk/news/trichotillomania-emerging-from-under-the-cloak-of-shame

Listen as I speak with Mari of @habitaware about her experience with dermatillomania, the skin-picking disorder. Mari is the lead designer, marketing coordinator, and community engagement manager at HabitAware. Mari aims to make positive change through her work and is delighted to do so for the BFRB community.

Jason @fidgetpodcast is a BFRB and ADHD coach, podcast host, and BFRB advocate. Jason found his way into counseling after leaving his civil engineering career and overcoming a decade of shame and anxiety with his own compulsive skin-picking. Jason offers virtual BFRB and ADHD workshops and support groups. To learn more, you can listen to Fidget, his podcast about his BFRB journey here: https://fidgetpodcast.com/