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 is recognized in the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR) as an Impulse Control Disorder.

The trich started when I was 14 years old (over 2 decades ago) but I wasn't diagnosed until I was 22. 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 is a frustrating and overwhelming disorder because I consciously feel like I *should* be in control. There are moments when I "hate" myself for the fact that I "choose" to go bald--but that's the thing-- this 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 create my crafts 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… I mean, how many bracelets can one girl wear? 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.

Jennifer