For 22 years, from the age of 12 until 34, when I found others also struggled with BFRBs, I suffered in inner isolation and fear of exposure due to my severe compulsions to pull my hair and pick my skin.

Thinking I was the only one, I lived a sordid, kind of dual existence, smiling brightly for the world, but shrouding my inner self with a cloak woven of terrible, suffocating shame. Yes, I was capable of looking “good” and functioning on the outside (I was a successful small business owner in a partnership, with 14 employees, and well-respected in the community), but within? I swam endlessly with no guidestar in an ocean of agony, desperate to shed the shame that was killing me.

Once I discovered others did what I did, and that they often felt JUST LIKE ME, it was as if I had landed on a whole new, unexplored world. It was revelatory, and I yearned for help. however, upon searching, I found there were no resources, or even much awareness of these disorders! I was furious. After 3 days of these ferocious, deeply overwhelming feelings, and lots of raging and crying, I gathered myself up, threw out my soggy kleenex, and sat down with pen and paper to make a plan.

I thought “Do I write a book?; go back to school to get a therapeutic degree?; start a 12step program?; open a school?”

After much musing, I settled on the self-directed question of “How Do I Reach the Children?” I realized one doesn’t reach children directly, you reach their parents, teachers, pediatricians, nurses, childcare workers; you reach the people AROUND them.

I realized the first step to address this need was to create some sort of credible institution in the world, that would anchor itself in science, education, and outreach, becoming over time a trusted resource, in order to reach those AROUND the children, as well as all sufferers.

As the size of my undertaking began to take form it was mindboggling to me. I thought surely, no-one would listen to me. At that point, I was truly terrified, but the vision of Love yearning to be freed from the entrapment of BFRBs was so life-altering, it compelled me to take action.

I felt if I did not jump in and just trust, that I would be failing God, the Universe, and my deepest self. My discussion with God went like this: “Okay, Okay! I will do this, but you gotta hold my hand and comfort me.” Then I jumped in with both feet.

Thus, TLC was born. I hope to write the whole magical story someday, but today I shall end with this;