SCAMP to Skin Picking Recovery Tips to Help Conquer Trich
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in volume 5 | issue 74 toucha publication of the trichotillomania learning center fall 2014 Tips to Help SCAMP Conquer Trich to Skin Picking Recovery Christina Hammell Dana Marie Flores Coordinator, BFRB Support Group TLC Board of Directors Oaklyn/Camden County, NJ Phoenix, AZ Adapted from a speech given at the 2014 International Today started Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Foundation Conference like most days, startled awake by My name is Dana many years. For 23 years I thought I the annoying buzz Marie Flores. I’m 44 years old and I live was the only skin picking freak! of my alarm clock. in Phoenix. I have been on the Board But this morning of Directors for the Trichotillomania At my worst, I was picking for up to 42 is different- I woke Learning Center since 2009. I have hours per week. Once I learned how to up with a sense of a successful career in the mortgage implement Cognitive Behavior Therapy peace in my heart. industry, raised two children through tools into my daily activities, I was able The heaviness, the teenage years, have a rewarding to reduce my picking to one hour per guilt, shame, lies, fear and lack of and exciting love life AND I’ve been a week. personal love are all gone. Although I skin picker for over 30 years! have Trichotillomania, today I awoke 2 In 2005 I saw a local news story about years into my remission. I am a very typical case; I started to Trichotillomania. A blonde-haired girl pick at my skin uncontrollably when I spoke of her struggle, often pulling for I started to pull from my scalp when I was 12 or 13 years old. It started with hours and hours, to the point her arm was 9 years old. I was terrified of my 4th acne on my face and I would turn a was completely numb. She described grade teacher for the upcoming year. simple zit into a month-long project. I agonizing urges that, although she Ironically, she ended up being one of soon moved on to my arms and legs. was doing immense damage to herself, my favorites. I was misdiagnosed with The picking on my legs has caused she could not stop. Others spoke of having Alopecia and was lying to my me the most heartache. If you are a severe guilt and shame, under a cover parents, my teachers, my friends and leg picker you know the skin on your of lifetime hiding. They spoke of how mostly myself. I knew that I was pulling legs will scar very easily, and heals very they spent their lives not wanting my hair out. slowly. I would spend hours studying anyone to know. One woman had her the geography of this vast canvas that face blacked-out, ready to speak of her For the next 23 years, I continued to makes up my body. I was easily able disorder, but not willing to let viewers struggle in secret, until one afternoon, to reduce anxiety with an hour-long connect it with a face. my daughter would say something search and destroy mission. that triggered something deep inside I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. of me. I remember standing in my I felt powerless for many, many years. I Every aspect, every urge and kitchen, leaning against the breakfast visited a psychologist in 1989 and was symptom sounded just like me. I bar, fiddling around on the computer. not told there was one other person had always kept my ears open to I didn’t realize it, but I was pulling my like me and that the behavior would hopefully, at last, solve this 23-year hair out while she was watching me. probably continue, during stressful mystery. The only thing that didn’t Her sad little blue eyes met mine, and periods, for the rest of my life. I left make sense was, I didn’t pull my hair. she asked me innocently, “Mommy, defeated, still feeling like the only freak I pick at my skin. I scrambled to find a what are you doing?” Then it hit me on earth and assuming I would have piece of paper and pen. I wrote down hard, like someone kicked me in my to continue to deal with these picking the word “trichotillomania” and then stomach. “What AM I doing?” behaviors on my own, by myself…and found trich.org – the Trichotillomania I did just that, very unsuccessfully for Learning Center. Continued on page 8 Continued on page 6 intouch intouch Upcoming Events Safe by Molly Hill, 18 years old Annual BFRB Awareness Week TLC's Annual Conference The Trichotillomania Learning Center’s mission This burning, this itching, Oct. 1-7, 2014 SAVE THE DATE! is to end the suffering caused by hair pulling is buried deeper than skin deep. Plan now to raise awareness in your community and April 10-12, 2015 - Arlington, VA disorder, skin picking disorder, and related body- My flesh is tearing itself apart social networks! See the back page for a list of ways Sponsors needed! Help support the ONLY conference focused repetitive behaviors. under the surface, you can get involved, including joining or hosting an in the world specifically focused on hair pulling, skin the muscles tumbling and twisting, Awareness Walk! Check the website for event updates as picking, and related behaviors. Contact leslie@trich. Donations from members and friends are TLC's screaming to be freed. we get closer to October 1st. org for information. largest source of support, and they are the sole reason TLC can provide help and healing to My whole body is tense with anticipation. New York City One-Day Workshop people with compulsive hair pulling and skin Power surges through Oct. 11, 2014 Call for Conference Workshop Proposals picking. It is people like you, giving what they are my seasoned fingertips. Clinicians, researchers, support group leaders, activ- able, who make our work possible. All donations with Merrill Black, LCSW, Reiki Master, Hypnotherpaist My mind numbs and ists, poster presenters and other inspiring speakers are are tax deductible - please consider making a Marla Deibler, PsyD, TLC Professional Training Faculty the world goes black. invited to submit proposals to present at TLC's Annual donation today! Conference in Arlington, VA: April 10-12, 2015. Crooning in the distance is my New York City BFRB Awareness Walk TLC Board of Directors Joanna Heitz, President heart, pulsing with sorrow, Oct. 12, 2014 but drowned out by this Check www.trich.org for presenter guidelines and Deborah M. Kleinman, Treasurer Walk/Run to raise awareness and funding for TLC! submission information. Brenda Cameron, Secretary white noise of temptation. Starts at 11am at Central Park-exact location TBA Jon E. Grant, JD, MD, MPH, Scientific Advisory Board Chair Suggested donation $10-$15 Amy Buckman I know better than this. Dana Marie Flores I am stronger than this. Contact [email protected] with interest in Conference Sponsors Needed! Brian Haslam participation as a walker, runner, or volunteer. Further For all I know, this single dark drop of blood Share your message with the BFRB community! Douglas Robson reflects a future of loneliness and guilt details to be given after participants are finalized. Susannah West and it’s just one piece Sponsor, advertise or exhibit at the TLC Conference. it’s just one more peel Seattle One-Day Workshop Staff it’s just one tiny bit, it won’t matter Why sponsor or advertise at the TLC Conference? Jennifer Raikes, Executive Director Oct. 25, 2014 in the long run and I Alice M. Kelly, Membership Services/Accounting Manager 2,000 members, 17,000 email subscribers and 30,000 give in. with Stacy Shaw Welch, PhD, and David Kosins, PhD monthly website visitors look to TLC to provide accurate Leslie Lee, Program Manager/Editor Phinney Neighborhood Center Mya Stark, Development Director information about treatments, products and services Shannon Sinclair, Program Assistant And it is done. that can make a difference in their lives. Dana Hickerson, Office Manager Atlanta One-Day Workshop An hour later, Betsy Wootten, Administrative Support Nov. 1, 2014 Your support gives back to our community. my soul is sold. Christina S. Pearson, Founder The deal is done. with Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD, Sponsorships help lower conference registration fees, I wash my hands. Natalie C. Arnette, PhD, LLC, and Elana Zimand, PhD making the event more accessible to those who need it. TLC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and all You'll also be supporting TLC services such as research, contributions are tax-deductible. And my soul aches with guilt treatment provider training, outreach and awareness Our Tax ID number is: 77-0266587. Professional Training Institute InTouch is a quarterly publication of the as I begin the ordeal of re-burying my secrets Oct. 24-26, 2014 - Chicago programs. Trichotillomania Learning Center, Inc. beneath gauze and ointment A Continuing Education Program for Licensed Clinicians To submit articles or send letters write to: and makeup once more. Contact Leslie at 831-457-1004 or email [email protected] Facilitated by: Trichotillomania Learning Center for more information on sponsorship or advertising at 207 McPherson Street, Suite H Charles Mansueto, PhD, Jon Grant, MD, JD, MPH, And the lights are out. our annual conference. Santa Cruz, California 95060 And I emerge into Fred Penzel, PhD, Renae Reinardy, PsyD (831) 457-1004 the hallway again. www.trich.org And I float to the living room, The Professional Training Institute (PTI) offers [email protected] And I curl up on the couch, Check www.trich.org for Editor: Leslie Lee clinical training in effective, CBT-based treatment for And I flip on the TV, trichotillomania, skin picking, and related body-focused And my mind goes blank, Copyright © August 2014.