Trich Talks!

Carter is a husband, new father, and scientist currently pursuing his PhD in Physics. He has lived with trichotillomania since his teens, primarily pulling his eyebrows, and has spent years exploring different approaches to managing the condition, including therapy, CBT, support groups, and microblading. In his journey, Carter has come to a place of greater acceptance while continuing to navigate...

Elliot has had trichotillomania since third grade, when someone challenged them to pull out more eyelashes than he could. Now 25, they’ve fully embraced their journey, their hair (or lack thereof), and everything that makes them who they are. Happily engaged and unapologetically themselves, Elliot wants everyone to know that the people who truly love you will love you no matter what your hair look...

Annie has been pulling out her eyelashes since she was 11 years old. From ages 11 to 21, her trichotillomania was relatively mild and would come and go, sometimes disappearing for years at a time. At 21, her trichotillomania intensified, and she began pulling hair from her head as well. Since then, it has become something she deals with on a daily basis rather than something that comes and goes. T...

Tesa (@tesa.heiney) has lived with trichotillomania since the age of 8. Her journey has been filled with periods of stopping and starting, learning that even when you stop pulling, the urge never truly disappears. Over the years, she has learned different coping strategies and ways to manage the urges, while navigating the emotional side of living with a disorder that can feel incredibly isolating...

On today’s episode of Trich Talks , Barbara sits down with Aneela Idnani—her boss, mentor, personal hero, and BFRB advocate extraordinaire—to talk about her memoir, Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows? and the core belief that continues to guide her: love is the answer. Aneela is the co-founder of HabitAware, a company dedicated to helping people with body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and has...

Leanne Christian (@thoughtfully_human) is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina with a special interest in working with people with body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), including skin picking and hair pulling. She also lives with a BFRB herself, giving her a unique perspective as both a clinician and someone with lived experience. Leanne’s work with BFRBs grew from no...

In this episode of Trich Talks, Barbara sits down with Samantha, administrator of the NYC Trich Support Group, to talk about her personal journey with hair pulling and the powerful role that community has played along the way. From attending her first support group meeting as the youngest person in the room, to now finding herself right in the middle—and serving as the group’s administrator—Samant...

In this episode of Trich Talks , Barbara sits down with Hania to hear her honest and inspiring story of living with trichotillomania. Hania shares how her experience with hair pulling began and how, through that journey, she discovered a passion for hair that sparked her dream of becoming a hairdresser. It’s a story of turning a challenging experience into a meaningful path forward. — Living with...

In this episode of Trich Talks , Barbara sits down with Heidi (@thelifeofatrichster) to talk honestly about relapse, recovery, and what it means to keep showing up for yourself. After nearly five years of being pull-free, Heidi recently experienced a relapse. Together, they explore the emotions that can come with returning to pulling after such a long period of time and how Heidi is choosing to mo...

In this episode of Trich Talks , host Barbara takes a deep dive into the history of her eyelash pulling—from how it all began after pulling her eyebrows as a child to the specific sensory triggers like "sharp" growing lashes that make it so challenging. Barbara walks listeners through her journey from ages 10 to present day, sharing the tools that have helped her along the way, including liquid ey...

In this episode of Trich Talks , Barbara sits down with her close friend Sara (@saracannonportraits) for a lighthearted, honest conversation about the hidden financial costs of living with hair pulling. They each share their top 10 items—from least to most expensive. Some of their items may surprise you! Sara shares the origin story behind coining the phrase "Trich Tax," breaking down how recogniz...

In this episode of Trich Talks , Barbara sits down to answer community Qs. No gatekeeping here—check out the full list of questions covered in today's show below! How often do you pull? I notice that I pull more when my period is close. What do you think about the poor representation of BFRBs in the movies? How did you start feeling comfortable sharing that you have trichotillomania? It’s only bee...

Sally (@_sallyval_) is an advocate and BFRB warrior from the country of Georgia. Living with both trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder) and trichophagia (hair swallowing), Sally uses her lived experience to raise awareness and foster international connection within the body-focused repetitive behavior community. By speaking candidly about the emotional and physical aspects of her diagnosis, she...

Have you ever noticed that your pulling or picking completely vanishes while you're away, only to hit like a tidal wave the second you walk through your front door? In this episode of Trich Talks , host Barbara reflects on her recent trip to the Annual IOCDF Conference in Seattle. She shares her favorite highlights from the weekend—including the pure joy of meeting long-time online community frien...

For years, Thea Bryan (@jazzwinebook) kept her hair pulling a secret—even from her best friend of over 40 years. As a mental health professional working in recovery, she understands the power of compassion, healing, and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. After trying countless approaches and continuing to explore new options, including minoxidil and TMS therapy, Thea is now sharing her...

Today's episode of Trich Talks is dedicated to parents. After receiving hundreds of comments and messages from parents seeking guidance on how to support their children with trichotillomania and other body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), Barbara shares a special PSA created just for them. In this episode, she covers: • What trichotillomania really is—and why parents aren’t the cause • How to...

Barbara is back with another Your Questions, My Answers episode of Trich Talks! In this episode, she tackles questions from the trichotillomania community, including: Does trichotillomania cause gray hair to appear sooner? What is the best way to grow hair back faster? How do hair-pulling episodes start for you? Are they caused by stress or something else? Will my eyelashes ever grow back? How do...

Kailey (@embracingmysuperpower) returns to Trich Talks with an exciting milestone to celebrate—8 weeks pull-free! Having shared her journey on the podcast before, she's back to reflect on the progress she's made, the challenges she's overcome, and the confidence she's rebuilding along the way. With the unwavering support of her family, friends, and coworkers, Kailey has reached meaningful mileston...

Shiffy Andelman (@shifkay) shares her experience living with trichotillomania and hopes to bring more awareness and understanding to hair-pulling and related behaviors. — Living with a BFRB isn’t about willpower, it’s about awareness. The Keen2 by HabitAware gently vibrates to help you notice pulling or picking in the moment , so you can pause and choose what comes next. It’s not about stopping pe...

Ava has experienced trichotillomania, including pulling her hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows, since she was 8 years old. Only recently, after discovering the HabitAware Collective community, has she truly begun to manage, accept, and confront her BFRB. Outside of her BFRB journey, Ava is a college student who also works part-time at her local zoo. ^We did not pay her to say this! — Living with a BFRB...

Amber (@amberinthedriversseat) is a stay-at-home mom of four who has lived with hair pulling since a young age. After only recently discovering the official name of the disorder just two months ago, she has turned her experience into advocacy, using social media to raise awareness, share her journey, and help others feel less alone. In this episode, Amber opens up about living with trichotillomani...

Lauren D. Fulter (@laurendfulter_author) published her first book at age sixteen, but she's been writing her fictional friends ever since she could hold a crayon. As a neurodivergent creative with trichotillomania, she’s passionate about helping people feel seen in the media they consume. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCWBI) and is a marketing assistan...

Jennifer Mbanu (@jenmbanuwellness) is a passionate patient advocate and wellness entrepreneur dedicated to raising awareness around body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), including Trichotillomania, which she has personally navigated for the past 33 years. After opening her wellness business this past October, Jennifer continues to create spaces for education, healing, and community support. S...

In this episode of Trich Talks , Barbara responds to questions from the community, offering both practical guidance and honest insight into living with trichotillomania. She shares how listeners can join a supportive, judgment-free group and explores alternative strategies for managing urges—especially in areas like eyelashes where physical barriers can be challenging. From there, the conversation...

Brandi Davis (@brandidcozytrichtalk) is a trichotillomania advocate who has been navigating life with the condition since she began hair pulling at just 8 years old. Now 34, she shares her lived experience with honesty and compassion, helping others feel less alone while raising awareness about trichotillomania. Through her platform, Brandi creates a supportive space for open conversation, breakin...