Trichotillomania is More Common Than You Think | Get Real | Refinery29 - video Dailymotion

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Trichotillomania is More Common Than You Think Subscribe to Refinery29 for more: http://bit.ly/subscribe-to-r29 Growing up with trichotillomania was hard for Jillian Clark, who didn't even have a name for the disorder until she Googled "pull out my hair." After years spent on Internet forums and in fruitless doctor's appointments trying to save her hair, Jillian did something radical– she shaved it off. Though she admits it's not a cure all, it's the only thing that's worked for her. Jillian is an editorial photographer based in Raleigh, N.C. To see more of her photography, visit www.jillianclarkphoto.com.   Subscribe to the Refinery29 channel: http://bit.ly/subscribe-to-r29 For the latest trends and videos, visit: refinery29 [dot] com Like Refinery29 on Facebook: Refinery29 Follow Refinery29 on Twitter: @refinery29 Heart Refinery29 on Instagram: @refinery29

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00:00When you're feeling around for a place to pull your hair out, certain places stick out

00:04more.

00:05The place that makes you feel something is the place that you pull from.

00:12I didn't realize it was a disorder until I Googled pull out my hair.

00:17People don't realize it's a disorder, they think it's a yucky habit, and it's not.

00:23Growing up with it is so hard because you want to be pretty and you're destroying what

00:28makes you pretty to the public.

00:30I was 18 and I decided to shave my head.

00:34I've had it shaved for almost three years.

00:37I have no urge to pull.

00:40At first it definitely wasn't a fashion statement, it was very utilitarian.

00:44But over time I realized that it really worked for me.

00:47I'm an editorial and portrait photographer.

00:54I never would have photographed myself when I had hair.

00:58The hair had to come off and then I wanted to find out who this new person was.

01:02It's one of the best ways to learn how to see what other people are seeing.

01:06People started commenting on my hair so much.

01:09Oh my god.

01:10Holy shit man.

01:11You look amazing.

01:12Really nice.

01:12I would never do that.

01:14It looks so good on you.

01:15I finally decided if they had a moment to listen I would tell them about it.

01:19What's the point of them giving me this compliment if I'm not going to be real with them?

01:23It's not a cure all.

01:25There's so many different facets of trick.

01:27There are people that pull out their pubic hair, there are people that pull out their armpit

01:30hair, people that pull out their eyelashes and eyebrows, people that pull out a hair

01:34and rub it on their lips because that feels good.

01:37I think if I grew my hair out today I'd probably pull it out again.

01:41I'm trying to learn how to see myself overall.

01:44The hair has kind of brought me to that.

01:46I'm trying to learn how to see my body for what it is.

01:48I'm trying to learn how to see my work for what it is.

01:52I feel very confident about who I am as a person and I feel confident about my hair

01:57and I hope the rest kind of follows suit.

Trichotillomania is More Common Than You Think | Get Real | Refinery29

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