Samantha on Trichotillomania, BFRBs, & Learning to Sit With the Urge

Today’s episode is a very special one for a number of reasons. Samantha is not only a conflict resolution expert, mediator, volunteer organizer, and all-around incredible human being, she also happens to be my sister.

In this episode, Sam talks openly about her 20+ year journey with trichotillomania, a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) that causes compulsive hair pulling. Together, we unpack what BFRBs actually are, how they differ from everyday habits like nail biting or skin picking, and what it means to live with a condition that can feel both invisible and incredibly visible at the same time.

We talk about:

• What trichotillomania and BFRBs actually are
• The overlap between BFRBs, anxiety, and OCD
• The role genetics may play ...