My name is Jennifer and I started making my crafts beyond the fact that I love to be creative. I have trichotillomania (trich for short), which is a disorder that causes me to pull out my hair- in my case, my scalp. It's recognized in the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR) as an Impulse Control Disorder. The trich started when I was 14 years old, but I wasn't diagnosed until I was 22. I'v
e struggled with this disorder for over two decades. Since high school, my hairstyle has been dictated by my trich. Depending on the location of my bald spots or areas of significant thinning, I've had to cut/style my hair accordingly. It's a frustrating and overwhelming disorder because on a conscience level, I feel like I *should* be in control. But the truth is-- going bald isn't a "choice" I make. That brings me to my shop. The choice I *DO* make is to use the strategies I've learned from great therapists in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-- particularly Competing Response Training. For me, this means doing things that utilize both of my hands so that I can't pull my hair. As a teacher, I can't craft while at work but when I'm home and relaxing, this strategy has been a godsend. I continue to make my crafts but there's only so much I can do with them. At school I'm constantly giving my lanyards away to my colleagues (since we have to wear our name badges at all times) and everyone tells me I should sell them (I mean, how many lanyards can one girl have?!). So, here I am!... I'm not in this to make money-- just to share my story and my crafts. For more information on trich, go to http://www.trich.org.
