100 Changemakers for 100 days of BFRB Awareness
As a proud BFRB Changemaker, I actually began my journey as the OG Skin Picking Change Starter!!!
After thinking I was alone for many years, I never expected the rapid growth in BFRB awareness which would follow from incredible individuals with their own stories to share these past 15 years.
With no media stories and minimal information online before 2010, I released my memoir FOREVER MARKED: A Dermatillomania Diary to share my story because I didn't want to continue living a life of hiding in shame, and was featured in the first television interview about skin picking!
Though I had no understanding of the disorder, which wasn't yet in the DSM, I wanted to raise awareness and was overwhelmed with the support I received, along with messages from others who also picked their skin!
I didn't expect the rush of opportunities for awareness that followed, including filming the documentary Scars of Shame (free online) and appearing on the CBS show The Doctors, which offered me successful therapy from Karen Pickett (@KarenPickett) in 2015! My life story was even re-enacted for a Japanese mini-documentary series!
During the second wave of the pandemic, I evolved Skin Picking Support (@skinpickingsupport) from an informative website to an online facebook support group that met monthly and discussed topic-based issues surrounding dermatillomania.
Our forum is still active, but meetings have unfortunately been postponed due to personal health issues, though I hope to bring them back later in the New Year!!!
I've been dealing with chronic pain conditions since 2012 and my skin picking recovery has wavered because of its impact on my day-to-day living. In being able to manage my picking urges and reduce them before, I know I can get there again- but I first need to heal the distress in my body before I can truly heal my mind.
I can't wait to provide a safe community through monthly Skin Picking Support meetings again when I'm better and actively raise BFRB awareness through great organizations, such as BFRB Changemakers, once my nightmare is over.
In the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out through social media or by email if you have any questions! I would love to hear from you!
💜 Angie
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Visit Skin Picking Support's website, join us on Facebook, & follow on Instagram
Follow me @angelahartlin on Instagram and TikTok
Support BFRB Changemakers
BFRB Changemakers supports BFRB healing through community. Our mission is 3-fold:
- raise awareness of debilitating conditions of Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) such as compulsive hair pulling (trichtotillomania), nail biting (onychophagia), and skin picking (dermatillomania),
- increase and improve access to care, and
- advance community recovery.
Through the BFRB Changemakers Training Academy we strive to increase access to care by offering Continuing Education training to new and seasoned mental health treatment professionals.
BFRB Changemakers is a 501c3 non-profit (EIN #93-1544492). Please make a donation to support these efforts!
