Desre's Story


My name is Desre(27y). My life (I imagined it would be like this forever) as a trich started at the age of 7. I only pull hair from the top of my head.
Many other contributing factors at that time in my life was pointed out to be the problem. So I was diagnosed with stress. Life at school was tough, I became a very sensitive and introverted child. It was a very difficult time for me to cope with the fact that I was pulling out
my hair and that i was to scared and embarrassed to tell anyone even my parents. School for me was like Chinese water torture , the kids at school didn't know either what was going on and the easiest way to deal with it was to tease me endlessly, that was hard and it leaves a lingering emotional scar. Getting through high school was like trying to jump the grand canyon, i was with a psychiatrist for my Grade 11 and 12 on a weekly basis (even school holidays). 

Being a trich puts you in a cage. You feel limited in what you can do, because you are carrying this secret inside of you and you feel guilt and shameful most times. I think for girls it must be the hardest. I had the same hair style through out my entire school career (no perms, trendy hair styles or just lovely long locks of hair to flaunt and flip casually over the shoulder like all the over girls).

Then you get the doctors (they actually mean well) who are dumbstruck over your condition and you get subjected to many various kinds of antidotes and treatments, at one stage I was getting cortisone injections into the hollow that was you fontanel 50 injections in one go. I got to the stage when I told my Mom that it must STOP now! I was so sick and tired of seeing doctors and drinking pills which weren't helping I just refused, the coaxing from my parents fell on deaf ears and they then let it be. 

My mom did not take my "condition" to well and she fell into depression, my parents carried the burden upon themselves for they believed it was their doing, but as I became so accustomed to my features and made peace with the fact that i will be like this forever she too became more accepting. 

I met my husband (Jacques) in Grade 11 , we helped each other with school home work , and we were great friends.  We started dating the year after we matriculated and only then did I have the courage to tell him the truth. I'll never forget his words: " Des, you're not the only person in the world who isn't perfect but I can tell you that you're the only person in the world perfect for me." A year later we were married. A more understanding and supportive husband I couldn't ask for . Thank you my love.

One day I was at the doctors waiting , I flipped through a magazine and saw the letter Amanda wrote to them about the article they had published about her. I sat there rooted. Could this be true???? I came home and immediately phoned her. I couldn't believe that there were others out there, and that I'm not alone, I'm not weird, mad etc. Talking to Amanda was like opening a new book, I told her everything, I cried and was so overwhelmed by all of this. I would never ever talk to a complete stranger about my problem.  You know what was so good about it, was when she said that she knows exactly how Ii feel and for the first time in my life I could actually believe that she means what she says and that made me feel like tons of dead weight off my shoulders.

Amanda told me about the JK Diet and sent me more information. I was very sceptical at first because you think that how can something this simple work?  WELL, I was amazed, I noticed a difference within a week and the urges just seemed to fade with each passing day. I also kept a dairy of when ,where, who. That was very useful , I realized I only pulled with my left hand and that night times were the key reasons.  I did a lot of reorganizing to stop the patterns and it really has paid off for me. What an wonderful feeling. Today (12-11-2001) in exactly a month that I have been pull free this means that it was for me as easy as 1+1. DIET + willpower = TOTAL FREEDOM You know boys have heroes like Superman, Spiderman etc. I have AMANDA. Words cannot describe my gratitude and the feeling one feels to see the results with your efforts I have 2 cm of growth on my head, WOW.

I hope this testimonial will inspire others to tell their story or to seek help.
No matter how alone you feel we are all out there thinking of all the others that might be suffering.

Good luck to those out there and Gods peace in your mind, heart and soul.

Loving regards
Desre