Content Creator's Trichotillomania Journey: Hope & Support

0:00On March 24, a 24-year-old content creator from Abersac in Wales is speaking out about his trickle tillomania, a disorder that makes him, compulsively pull out hairs from his beard or eyebrows when stressed or bored. Ruben Trolton Owen was diagnosed 10 years ago, and the condition affects about 1-2% of people worldwide. At his lowest, Ruben pulled out most of his eyebrow hairs, which left him avoiding mirrors and photos while hiding under a cap. He now shares his story online to encourage others not to feel ashamed and to seek support from charities or communities. His partner, Amber, first noticed the habit while watching TV and his learned ways to help him manage it. She praises his efforts to raise awareness about the condition, which often starts between ages 10 and 13. Experts like Oxford professor Claire McCuy, who has lived with it for 40 years, explained it's a body-focused repetitive behavior, similar to. She notes self-help strategies and connecting with others work well, alongside therapies

1:03like acceptance and commitment therapy. Ruben recently tried microblading, a cosmetic tattoo to reshape his eyebrows, which has curved his urges. His openness has already inspired at least one person to get help, showing how sharing experiences can make a real difference in managing this chronic issue.