Trichotillomania is a disorder in which anxiety, stress, or boredom cause one to pull out their own hair, as a means of gratification and ease of their anxiety. Trichotillomania can range from mild to severe, and I personally have had experience with trichotillomania. I have an incredibly mild version of trichotillomania, and I have a tendency to play with my hair and pull it out when I am feeling stressed about something. Although my own condition of trichotillomania is not severe, I struggle not to pull it out on a daily basis, for no reason, it's just difficult not to initiate the behavior. Even though I have experience with the disorder, I have recently come across two individuals who have experienced trichotillomania at a severe level, and it makes me feel grateful that my own trichotillomania has not reached the same level that theirs has. The first person I came across, who has shared their own experience with trichotillomania is named Sandy Rosenblatt, and after reading her testimonial, I feel even more compassion for people who have this disorder in general. I learned that Sandy, as a result of having trichotillomania due to a stressful household as a child, became a victim of bullying and peer violence, and to think that people would harm an innocent little girl over a disorder makes me disgusted. Sandy explains in her testimonial, that her hair pulling still continues to this day, but it is not as severe as it had been during her childhood. I feel proud of Sandy, because at the end of her testimonial, she explains that while she has shame for her disorder, she knows she is an amazing human being, and she insists that she won't let her trichotillomania hold her back from being her best, and that is a big deal to have self-love when an individual has a disorder. Besides Sandy, I also read a testimonial by a woman named Kelsie Hanna. I think Kelsie's trichotillomania story is very inspiring, because although she battles trichotillomania, she has persisted against her condition enough to become a hair dresser. In Kelsie's story, she explains that throughout her life, Kelsie got recurrent migraines and felt as if ants were crawling on her head, and the only way in which those feelings would go away, was if she pulled out her hair. Over time, she explains that it simply became a habit, even if her symptoms were not occurring. I personally can't even believe that Kelsie's trichotillomania had symptoms of ants crawling on her head, and that makes me understand just how awful this disorder can truly get. I feel inspired by Kelsie as well, because she decided to make a support group for people suffering from trichotillomania, and as a result, she now believes that she was given trichotillomania as a gift, not only to help herself, but to help others, and that makes me realize that disorders can be used as an element of self-growth and determination. Although both of these women have lived lives which have involved severe cases of trichotillomania, it makes me realize that Jesuit Values are a large part of living with, and overcoming effects of mental disorders. With trichotillomania specifically, and with the two women's testimonials, it is obvious that cura personalis, magis, men and women for others, unity of heart and mind, contemplatives in action, and finding God in all things are all important elements of having, and living with a disorder. Between Sandy and Kelsie, both women used cura personalis, because they each realized that they needed to care for themselves, even though they had a disorder. In magis, both women focused on it, because they both strive for excellence, even though they live with trichotillomania. For men and women for others, Kelsie was specifically involved, because she used her own illness to make a support group for others experiencing trichotillomania, and in that group, she also helped people to understand that they are not alone, which is unity of mind and heart. Besides those Jesuit values, both of the women also were contemplatives in action by posting their stories to help others, and both women found that their disorder actually brought about some good in their lives, which is the value of finding God in all things. Overall, I feel deeply for the struggles of embarrassment, frustration and sadness, that trichotillomania has caused for both women, however, I am also proud of both of them for being stronger than their disorder, and it really shows the toll in which a disorder can take on an individual. Also, I believe that the six Jesuit Values are significant factors which can help someone with a mental disorder, to become aware of the good that can come out of their disorder, and the further potential that a disorder can cause someone to reach.
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Have-Trichotillomania/2637302
http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/my-health-story/hair-puller-hairdresser/
Rosenblatt, S. (2012). I Have Trichotillomania. Experience Project.
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Have-Trichotillomania/2637302
Hanna, K. (2014). From Hair Puller to Hair Dresser: Kelsie's Life With Trichotillomania.
Everyday Health. http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/my-health-story/hair-puller- hairdresser/
