Finding My Community at BFRBCon
Let me tell y’all a quick story.
This weekend at The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior (BFRB)’s annual conference, I pulled out an eyelash in a room filled with other hair pullers. The second the hair came out and I realized what I had done, I felt oddly connected to the other BFRBers in the room who may or may not have realized I had just pulled out an eyelash.
I pulled out my hair for 20 years before I met anyone else with my BFRB, trichotillomania. I believed that although there were others out there with the hair-pulling disorder, I would never meet them.
I was resigned to walk my trichotillomania journey alone - me and my inner dialogue of shame and embarrassment caused by 20 years of hair pulling.
This changed when I publicly shared my trichotillomania journey with all of you. I am lucky enough to no longer feel alone. Since then, I’ve met so many wonderful people who know the shame I’ve lived with for years having a BFRB.
Don’t let your inner dialogue fool you like mine fooled me. Your Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior is NOT a journey that you have to take alone.
The Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior Conference is one way you can connect with other BFRBers (like I did this past weekend!). The TLC Foundation for BFRBs hosts a conference annually. Next year, it’s going to be in Chicago. You can find more information for it here: https://www.bfrb.org/find-help-support/events
Our network worldwide is growing! The conference is not the only place that you will find others with the disorder. Find a support group (they have them both online & in many cities and towns around the world), or reach out to others online who are sharing their trichotillomania journey.
If there’s one thing I learned this weekend, it’s that I am not alone (and neither are you!). There is a beautiful community out here of people who understand what you’re going through. We understand the ups and the downs, your best moments and your worst as you navigate your life with a BFRB.
To learn more about Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, check out: https://dorinazerad.com/blog/guide-to-body-focused-repetitive-behaviors-bfrbs