Heather's Story

Hello.  My name is Heather.   I am a thirteen year-old who at the age of 11, was diagnosed with a hair-disorder called Trichotillomania. I started pulling my eyelashes and eyebrows out when I was only in the fourth grade and I wasn’t sure why, so my parents and I decided to get some help.

We went to go see a Christian Psychologist who gave me several tools to help me keep occupied during TV and study time.  Eventually my stronghold increased to the point that my Psychologist referred me to a clinical Psychiatrist.  The doctor began to try medications to see if I would get relief.  The medication actually made matters worse and I went from a little pulling to massive pulling and I went from a bandana to a hat that covered my whole head.  I was feeling very depressed and alone and I pulled away from my friends because I felt different and I was doing harm to myself.    I was told there was no hope.  I would never stop pulling my hair out no matter how hard I tried. 

My parents continued to do research.  My dad started to go to a secular support group and he coached me to minimize my alone time and he helped me use to the tools I had.  I I learned a lot about Trich, but I continued to allow the stronghold to control my life.

My parents continued to search for answers and God allowed them to find a Christ centered website that focused on Trich.  The head of this ministry was a woman named Camilla.  My dad contacted her and it turned out that she, herself had Trich, but somehow had overcome it.  This was excellent news for my family and I.  My parents contacted her over the phone and began to learn ways a Christian handled trich.  My dad and I flew to Atlanta and met with Camilla at her home.  I learned that the number one way to control Trich is to rely on God and not myself.  Camilla supported me and told me that the number one way to get out of strong hold situations (pulling) is to be quick to acknowledge the situation and immediately pray for God to give me strength to stop what I was doing and to walk away.  I also learned to view Trich as nothing more than a temptation.  Camilla offered the first true hope that I heard in over 2 years.

I came home from Atlanta determined to “Walk in Freedom” with God’s help.  I began to rely on God only to get me out of temptation.  Months went by and I began to do better and to set my goals higher.  On the weekend of Easter, my hair had gotten thick and long enough to cut and style, so that weekend, I got my haircut and that was the biggest accomplishment I had made in two years.  Though I had cut my hair, I still continued to pull a little.  That little bit of pulling began to increase and my hair began to get thin again.  I was determined to never go back to the hat, so I started praying harder and putting all my trust into God’s hands. 

I went off to church camp this summer, and when I returned, I had excellent news for my parents. For that whole week of camp, I did not pull one single strand of hair from my head.  I had no one to give the glory to except my God.  It is now August 25, and I have continued to walk in freedom since that week of camp.  God is so wonderful and I give Him all the glory. Without Him, nothing is possible!  God has been working in me for over a year and I will do great for a while and sometimes have set backs.  When I first began pulling, I never experienced any days of freedom.  Over time, HE continues to teach me to depend on HIM and because of that I am doing better today than I have in 3 years.

I realize that this temptation will be with me for a long time, and that I may have set backs, but I remember where I once was and how far God has brought me.

I hope this is an encouragement for people with strong holds. If you want to contact me please feel free to e-mail my dad at douglasrduty@abott.com   I also want to thank Camilla and her vision to help others.                  

Philippians 4:13   “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”