For those who are unfamiliar, trichotillomania is a hair-pulling disorder which is often derived from an anxiety disorder. Affecting roughly 2.5 million people in the United States alone, trichotillomania often goes ignored in popular society, hence many individuals not being familiar with the term.

Trichotillomania is not any more 'gross' than any other mental disorder. No mental illness is glamorous. Though it affects physical characteristics of a body, it is just as crushing and irritating as any other mental illness.

My sister has battled with trichotillomania since the age of 9, but her progression since obtaining the disorder has been surreal. In her situation, she picks her eyelashes and hair from her eyebrows. Though many serious forms of trichotillomania like hers are nearly impossible to recover from, she has worked effortlessly to erase the disorder from her life.

Brittany, since you are reading this, I want to thank you for being so strong, even when nobody wanted to take the time of day to understand why you were having these difficulties.

I am sorry that you were seen as an 'oddity' for so many years of your childhood. I am sorry that you were asked why you couldn't just 'grow your eyebrows back'.

I apologize that light is rarely shed upon your disorder. I thank you for speaking up to so many people about trichotillomania and dermatillomania and spreading awareness of those disorders.

You are not 'disgusting' for your disorder. Your struggle does not exist for someone else's judgment.

I applaud you for your hard work and succession with reducing your trichotillomania. You may not be aware, but all of the work that you have put in has really paid off. Though it is much easier said than done, do not feel ashamed when you slip up and wake up one morning with half of a set of eyelashes. This is going to repeatedly happen, and you know this all too well.

Thank you for sticking up for me and listening to me when I need to speak up about my anxiety disorder or my depression. You've heard me say things that I would never tell a soul. The trust that I have in you is a trust that I have for nobody else. You've seen me on the carpet in tears, and you've seen me share the most awful puns to customers at our job.

With every waking hour, you've had my back, and I'll always be here to listen to you. Know that you are in fact different, but never be ashamed of your differences. Keep on unconsciously using sign language in the middle of English conversations and eating a bowl of Cheetos for lunch.

Trichotillomania doesn't define you, but the way that you volunteer to help others who deal with trichotillomania does.