Interviewing LeeAnn Smith

In this episode of Trich Talks, Madeleine B. shares her journey with trichotillomania, from the many different types of hair extensions she has used over the years to conceal her hair loss to the ways her triggers have shifted and changed throughout different stages of life. As she embraces a new chapter as a newlywed and looks toward the possibility of having children one day, she opens up about her thoughts and questions surrounding how hair pulling may play a role in this next season of life. Madeleine also reflects on the power of vulnerability and how sharing our stories, even the parts we may have once wanted to hide, can create meaningful connections and bring us closer to others.—You’re probably here because you too live with trichotillomania or another BFRB. What if I told you there was an online community just for us that I’m also a part of? Let me introduce you to the HabitAware Collective, a safe and supportive place where people with BFRBs feel successful in their journeys. The HabitAware Collective offers daily accountability, two support groups each week, webinars led by experts, among other amazing resources. Learn more by visiting habitaware.com/community todayAneela Idnani, the muse and co-founder of HabitAware and my incredible boss, released her memoir, Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows? This year. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy and I truly believe it is something you should read too. You will feel seen in these pages, quite possibly, for the first time ever. Get your copy of Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows today by visiting habitaware.com/memoir

LeeAnn has lived with trichotillomania for as long as she can remember — or, as she puts it, for as long as she's had arm hair! For years, she learned to navigate and manage her BFRB without even knowing there was a name for what she was experiencing.In 2021, she finally received her diagnosis, and since then, she's made it a point to be open about her trichotillomania both in her everyday life and online. She understands the power of sharing your story because you never know who might come across your words, see themselves in your experience, and think, "I needed that."—You’re probably here because you too live with trichotillomania or another BFRB. What if I told you there was an online community just for us that I’m also a part of? Let me introduce you to the HabitAware Collective, a safe and supportive place where people with BFRBs feel successful in their journeys. The HabitAware Collective offers daily accountability, two support groups each week, webinars led by experts, among other amazing resources. Learn more by visiting habitaware.com/community todayAneela Idnani, the muse and co-founder of HabitAware and my incredible boss, released her memoir, Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows? This year. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy and I truly believe it is something you should read too. You will feel seen in these pages, quite possibly, for the first time ever. Get your copy of Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows today by visiting habitaware.com/memoir

In this episode of Trich Talks, Barbara answers three community questions about living with trichotillomania. She opens up about her childhood experiences, shares heartfelt advice on disclosing trichotillomania to a romantic partner, and offers practical hairstyle tips and product suggestions for covering thinning or bald areas. Through personal stories and compassionate guidance, Barbara reminds listeners that they are not alone and deserve understanding, support, and self-acceptance.—You’re probably here because you too live with trichotillomania or another BFRB. What if I told you there was an online community just for us that I’m also a part of? Let me introduce you to the HabitAware Collective, a safe and supportive place where people with BFRBs feel successful in their journeys. The HabitAware Collective offers daily accountability, two support groups each week, webinars led by experts, among other amazing resources. Learn more by visiting habitaware.com/community todayAneela Idnani, the muse and co-founder of HabitAware and my incredible boss, released her memoir, Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows? This year. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy and I truly believe it is something you should read too. You will feel seen in these pages, quite possibly, for the first time ever. Get your copy of Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows today by visiting habitaware.com/memoir

Carter is a husband, new father, and scientist currently pursuing his PhD in Physics. He has lived with trichotillomania since his teens, primarily pulling his eyebrows, and has spent years exploring different approaches to managing the condition, including therapy, CBT, support groups, and microblading. In his journey, Carter has come to a place of greater acceptance while continuing to navigate the physical and emotional challenges of trich, including its impact on his health and daily life. He hopes to share his perspective as a man living with trichotillomania, how the condition has evolved through different stages of his life, and how it intersects with marriage, fatherhood, and family relationships.—You’re probably here because you too live with trichotillomania or another BFRB. What if I told you there was an online community just for us that I’m also a part of? Let me introduce you to the HabitAware Collective, a safe and supportive place where people with BFRBs feel successful in their journeys. The HabitAware Collective offers daily accountability, two support groups each week, webinars led by experts, among other amazing resources. Learn more by visiting habitaware.com/community todayAneela Idnani, the muse and co-founder of HabitAware and my incredible boss, released her memoir, Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows? This year. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy and I truly believe it is something you should read too. You will feel seen in these pages, quite possibly, for the first time ever. Get your copy of Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows today by visiting habitaware.com/memoir

Elliot has had trichotillomania since third grade, when someone challenged him to pull out more eyelashes than he could. Now 25, he has fully embraced his journey, his hair (or lack thereof), and everything that makes him who he is. Happily engaged and unapologetically himself, Elliot wants everyone to know that the people who truly love you will love you no matter what your hair looks like. His message? Stop giving a shit about what other people think. Your people will love you for YOU, exactly as you are.—You’re probably here because you too live with trichotillomania or another BFRB. What if I told you there was an online community just for us that I’m also a part of? Let me introduce you to the HabitAware Collective, a safe and supportive place where people with BFRBs feel successful in their journeys. The HabitAware Collective offers daily accountability, two support groups each week, webinars led by experts, among other amazing resources. Learn more by visiting habitaware.com/community todayAneela Idnani, the muse and co-founder of HabitAware and my incredible boss, released her memoir, Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows? This year. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy and I truly believe it is something you should read too. You will feel seen in these pages, quite possibly, for the first time ever. Get your copy of Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows today by visiting habitaware.com/memoir

Annie has been pulling out her eyelashes since she was 11 years old. From ages 11 to 21, her trichotillomania was relatively mild and would come and go, sometimes disappearing for years at a time.At 21, her trichotillomania intensified, and she began pulling hair from her head as well. Since then, it has become something she deals with on a daily basis rather than something that comes and goes.Through this podcast, Annie’s goal is to face her fears about talking openly about her experience and to share her story. She hopes that by bringing her trichotillomania into the open instead of hiding it, she can better understand and manage it.—You’re probably here because you too live with trichotillomania or another BFRB. What if I told you there was an online community just for us that I’m also a part of? Let me introduce you to the HabitAware Collective, a safe and supportive place where people with BFRBs feel successful in their journeys. The HabitAware Collective offers daily accountability, two support groups each week, webinars led by experts, among other amazing resources. Learn more by visiting habitaware.com/community todayAneela Idnani, the muse and co-founder of HabitAware and my incredible boss, released her memoir, Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows? This year. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy and I truly believe it is something you should read too. You will feel seen in these pages, quite possibly, for the first time ever. Get your copy of Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows today by visiting habitaware.com/memoir

Tesa (@tesa.heiney) has lived with trichotillomania since the age of 8. Her journey has been filled with periods of stopping and starting, learning that even when you stop pulling, the urge never truly disappears. Over the years, she has learned different coping strategies and ways to manage the urges, while navigating the emotional side of living with a disorder that can feel incredibly isolating. Tesa is passionate about sharing her story openly and honestly in hopes of reminding others with trichotillomania that they are not alone—and that recovery doesn’t always mean the urges disappear; sometimes, it means learning how to live through them.—You’re probably here because you too live with trichotillomania or another BFRB. What if I told you there was an online community just for us that I’m also a part of? Let me introduce you to the HabitAware Collective, a safe and supportive place where people with BFRBs feel successful in their journeys. The HabitAware Collective offers daily accountability, two support groups each week, webinars led by experts, among other amazing resources. Learn more by visiting habitaware.com/community todayAneela Idnani, the muse and co-founder of HabitAware and my incredible boss, released her memoir, Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows? This year. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy and I truly believe it is something you should read too. You will feel seen in these pages, quite possibly, for the first time ever. Get your copy of Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows today by visiting habitaware.com/memoir

On today’s episode of Trich Talks, Barbara sits down with Aneela Idnani—her boss, mentor, personal hero, and BFRB advocate extraordinaire—to talk about her memoir, Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows? and the core belief that continues to guide her: love is the answer.Aneela is the co-founder of HabitAware, a company dedicated to helping people with body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and has spent years using her own experience to advocate for greater awareness, understanding, and support for the BFRB community.And this isn’t Aneela’s first time on Trich Talks—it’s her third!If you’ve listened to her previous episodes, you already know there’s always plenty to learn, laugh about, and maybe even get a little emotional over. If you’re new to Aneela’s story, this is a wonderful place to start.Listen to today’s episode—and then go back and catch her first two appearances! Aneela’s first appearance on Trich Talks: here Aneela’s second appearance: here—You’re probably here because you too live with trichotillomania or another BFRB. What if I told you there was an online community just for us that I’m also a part of? Let me introduce you to the HabitAware Collective, a safe and supportive place where people with BFRBs feel successful in their journeys. The HabitAware Collective offers daily accountability, two support groups each week, webinars led by experts, among other amazing resources. Learn more by visiting habitaware.com/community todayAneela Idnani, the muse and co-founder of HabitAware and my incredible boss, released her memoir, Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows? This year. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy and I truly believe it is something you should read too. You will feel seen in these pages, quite possibly, for the first time ever. Get your copy of Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows today by visiting habitaware.com/memoir

Leanne Christian (@thoughtfully_human) is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina with a special interest in working with people with body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), including skin picking and hair pulling. She also lives with a BFRB herself, giving her a unique perspective as both a clinician and someone with lived experience.Leanne’s work with BFRBs grew from noticing how often clients would disclose picking or pulling only after they felt safe enough to talk about it. She became interested in the gap between knowing a BFRB is a problem and actually having the space, tools, and support to address it.Her approach is grounded in compassion, awareness, acceptance, and curiosity rather than shame or perfection. She helps clients understand the functions and patterns behind their BFRBs and build practical, individualized toolboxes of skills they can practice in everyday life.Through her practice and educational work, Leanne is creating accessible tools, exercises, and short-form resources designed to make BFRB support feel less intimidating to begin—and to remind people that their BFRB deserves attention and care, even when it isn’t the most important thing happening in their lives.—You’re probably here because you too live with trichotillomania or another BFRB. What if I told you there was an online community just for us that I’m also a part of? Let me introduce you to the HabitAware Collective, a safe and supportive place where people with BFRBs feel successful in their journeys. The HabitAware Collective offers daily accountability, two support groups each week, webinars led by experts, among other amazing resources. Learn more by visiting habitaware.com/community todayAneela Idnani, the muse and co-founder of HabitAware and my incredible boss, released her memoir, Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows? This year. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy and I truly believe it is something you should read too. You will feel seen in these pages, quite possibly, for the first time ever. Get your copy of Aneela, Where Are Your Eyebrows today by visiting habitaware.com/memoir

In this episode of Trich Talks, Barbara sits down with Samantha, administrator of the NYC Trich Support Group, to talk about her personal journey with hair pulling and the powerful role that community has played along the way.From attending her first support group meeting as the youngest person in the room, to now finding herself right in the middle—and serving as the group’s administrator—Samantha shares how far she’s come, what the support group has meant to her, and why finding a community that understands can make such a difference.—Living with a BFRB isn’t about willpower, it’s about awareness.The Keen2 by HabitAware gently vibrates to help you notice pulling or picking in the moment, so you can pause and choose what comes next. It’s not about stopping perfectly — it’s about building awareness with compassion.If you’ve been looking for a tool that supports you without shame, the Keen2 can be a powerful place to start. Use code LallyLove at checkout to save 10% on your Keen2 when you visit barbaralally.com/habitaware today.You don’t have to navigate BFRBs alone. HabitAware’s peer coaching connects you with someone who truly understands what it’s like to live with a BFRB because they’ve been there too.Peer coaches offer guidance, encouragement, and real-life strategies rooted in lived experience, not judgment. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for extra support, peer coaching can help you feel seen, understood, and supported on your journey. Visit habitaware.com/coaching today.