The 5 Unexpected Benefits of Having Trichotillomania // A Beginner’s Guide to a Trichy Life

For about the past decade, I’ve suffered with a disorder called Trichotillomania. Here’s the NHS definition if you want to know more about it, and here and here are my past posts about the subject, if you want to know more from the horse’s mouth (or mine. whichever).

I’m not going to spend time explaining the whole thing again, so if you don’t already know, then do some learnin’, then come back to me. If you have any questions about Trich, mental health, or just want to chat, send me a comment.

Until then, here are the Five Unexpected Benefits of Having Trichotillomania…

1. Appreciating What You Have

And even sometimes, what you don’t have. Knowing that everyone else in the world takes their beauty for granted (long hair, long lashes, flawless brows, the ability to walk outside and be carefree, etc.), makes you feel like you might have something to be grateful for. Because something being rare makes it so much more precious. And, obviously, you never fully appreciate something until it’s gone.

2. Empathy

From having Trich, I’ve been able to associate some of my feelings with types of people that I never thought I would, and no one could expect. From addicts, to Obsessive Compulsives and some even stranger. I can empathise with certain traits of theirs, because we match. Uncontrollable urges? Check. Shame and guilt? Check. Ability to hide something very very well? Check mate.

3. A Sense of Achievement

You know that feeling you get after you study REALLY hard for something, or work super hard at making something The Best You’ve Ever Done? And then the satisfaction when that grade or that payslip comes in and everything’s right with the world? Same. But with eyelashes.

4. Having a ‘Friendship Test’

Trich is like a metaphorical sieve. It lets you filter away the bullshit and bad friends from the ones you want to keep. I once had a ‘friend’ who lied to me about having Trich as well so I would fancy them and stop leaving them in the “Friend Zone” (yeah). I’ve also had friends that pinched me when I pulled to get me to stop (without my asking). Needless to say, the Trich Sieve has since filtered out that crap and left me with some gems who actually want to get to know me, and can deal with my disorder properly.

5. Mad Make-up Skills

Some people wear makeup because they want to. We wear makeup because we have to. And after a couple of years, you start to get really bloody good at it. You just have to. Because if you don’t, people will see. And that’s not what you want. You don’t want people looking harder at your shitty brows, because that’s the whole reason you covered them up.

Plus, knowing that when you receive compliments about your eyeliner or eyebrows, you deserve them so much more than everyone else. Honestly. When I get a makeup compliment, it makes my entire MONTH better. Because it means I did a good job. I looked normal.

Thanks for reading, lads. If you have any questions, let me know, I’m happy to answer and I don’t get super offended over everything. Have a fab day, much love…

Jess x