What do you think?
Rate this book
Life is Trichy: Memoir of a mental health therapist with a mental health disorder
LIFE IS TRICHY is the true story, a psychology memoir, of a twenty-nine-year-old lifelong perfectionist, who struggled with the mental health disorders of skin picking, nail biting, and hair pulling. Starting from a young age, this resulted in years spent hiding her body focused repetitive behaviors from everyone she knew, while simultaneously pursuing a professional career in psychology to treat others with the same exact challenges. She tactfully weaves the actions, feelings, and thoughts from years of sitting in the patient's seat, with her professional, psychological knowledge in the clinician's seat. Lindsey's personal struggle mixes with factual information to elucidate the tricky and unspoken truth about a classification of disorders affecting approximately five percent of the population. Life is Trichy is appropriate for clinicians, patients, family and friends of hair pullers, and curious minds.
192 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2014
18 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey M. Muller
2 books5 followersLindsey Marie Muller was born and raised in South Florida. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical/Counseling Psychology, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, in addition to three years of doctoral level education. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California where she enjoys the perfect weather, exercising, healthy cooking, sugar-free baking, spas, and meditation. She currently works in private practice. Life is Trichy is her first publication.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 10, 2020
2.5/5⭐️ So much potential, but it just missed the mark! One of the most relatable moments was the hair salon story which was in the Resources section at the end of the book. But it was more important in the main story to read how she could pair this type of uniform shirt with that type of uniform pant or skirt in school. Or unpacking at the conference hotel.
This is a good book for a family member or friend to get a better understanding of TTM. The author has degrees in psychology, but no helpful information was really given other than some resources and references. I know it’s more of a memoir, so I guess she didn’t really need to go into the clinical aspect, but I just felt it was a waste since she has the knowledge.
I read this for the PopSugar 2020 Challenge category “A Book with a Pun in the Title.”
This is a good book for a family member or friend to get a better understanding of TTM. The author has degrees in psychology, but no helpful information was really given other than some resources and references. I know it’s more of a memoir, so I guess she didn’t really need to go into the clinical aspect, but I just felt it was a waste since she has the knowledge.
I read this for the PopSugar 2020 Challenge category “A Book with a Pun in the Title.”
July 12, 2017
This book is somewhat difficult for me to review. As a fellow former "victim" of Trichotillomania, I suppose I expected an account that was more relatable.
I completely empathised with the first half of the book, and reading about how there was no specific reason to start pulling really struck home. The description she uses when talking about why she pulled out her hair was also scarily accurate to me, as someone who pulled directly from their scalp. I did not pull due to perfectionism issues. In fact, I still do not know why I did what I did other than an imbalance of chemicals in my brain. Thankfully, a strong medication at an unfortunately young age got me through it.
I felt that this book was more for the curious onlookers, however. Even the author admits that the mental health disorder is not completely understood or talked about even today, and so I was hoping for this to be more of a guide that others with Trich could relate to, especially as she is a mental health therapist. I guess I was hoping for more therapy than a personal story. I felt the conversation was very one-sided and personal, which is good for an auto-biography but perhaps not what I had expected.
That being said, I'm glad the book is out there for people to understand more about the disorder. I just hope people don't think that perfectionism issues are necessarily a common theme amongst those with Trich, as it's what the book tends to focus on an awful lot.
I completely empathised with the first half of the book, and reading about how there was no specific reason to start pulling really struck home. The description she uses when talking about why she pulled out her hair was also scarily accurate to me, as someone who pulled directly from their scalp. I did not pull due to perfectionism issues. In fact, I still do not know why I did what I did other than an imbalance of chemicals in my brain. Thankfully, a strong medication at an unfortunately young age got me through it.
I felt that this book was more for the curious onlookers, however. Even the author admits that the mental health disorder is not completely understood or talked about even today, and so I was hoping for this to be more of a guide that others with Trich could relate to, especially as she is a mental health therapist. I guess I was hoping for more therapy than a personal story. I felt the conversation was very one-sided and personal, which is good for an auto-biography but perhaps not what I had expected.
That being said, I'm glad the book is out there for people to understand more about the disorder. I just hope people don't think that perfectionism issues are necessarily a common theme amongst those with Trich, as it's what the book tends to focus on an awful lot.
August 6, 2016
Candid. Important. Lindsey was born a perfectionist and spent her childhood picking at her arms and legs. When she got older, she started going after her hair. And it didn’t stop. This short book had me on the edge of my seat and feeling like I was reading my own journals. I had tears in my eyes as I highlighted pages for myself to throw into my commonplace book.
She’s also a therapist, so she has some insights on practices to stop, or at the very least, not feel ashamed.
Part of A Trichy Pull-List: Best Books on Compulsive Hair-Pulling at Book Riot.
She’s also a therapist, so she has some insights on practices to stop, or at the very least, not feel ashamed.
Part of A Trichy Pull-List: Best Books on Compulsive Hair-Pulling at Book Riot.
August 8, 2015
Very candid and relatable insight into trich. It's not an entertaining memoir but it is very educational and informative. It's a good resource to have.
February 5, 2020
We really need more memoirs about BFRBs. As is, this crap is what we've got. It's also why I'll give it two stars instead of one; simply because we need more books like it, just of much better quality.
For one, this book really reminded me of why I generally avoid self-published books. The most shocking part for me came in the afterword when Muller writes that she was looking for editors. Did she just never find one? Considering she is constantly reminding us that she's a perfectionist, her writing is riddled with errors. Some could have been avoided with another proofread on her part, but mostly I was reminded of how sorely lacking the manuscript was in another pair of eyes before sending it out. The fact that it's double spaced only reinforces that you're reading a draft and not a final product.
Aside from errors, the writing just isn't very good. The worst of it has to be the dialogue which is always clunky and awkward. For some reason, Muller seems to avoid contractions like the plague (was this written for Nanowrimo and then just never edited?), making the dialogue even more unrealistic.
Her narrative is fine, but she doesn't really shed light on what drove her to recovery or any trich management tips, which is what a lot of her readers are probably looking for. Her "food addiction" mostly made me hope that she eventually discovers intuitive eating. As another reviewer mentioned, she comes off as very superficial, especially towards other folks with BFRBs. It kind of seemed like even though she is in recovery for trich, she really needs to examine her own body image issues.
Thankfully it was short or I probably would have (and maybe should have) given it up before finishing it.
For one, this book really reminded me of why I generally avoid self-published books. The most shocking part for me came in the afterword when Muller writes that she was looking for editors. Did she just never find one? Considering she is constantly reminding us that she's a perfectionist, her writing is riddled with errors. Some could have been avoided with another proofread on her part, but mostly I was reminded of how sorely lacking the manuscript was in another pair of eyes before sending it out. The fact that it's double spaced only reinforces that you're reading a draft and not a final product.
Aside from errors, the writing just isn't very good. The worst of it has to be the dialogue which is always clunky and awkward. For some reason, Muller seems to avoid contractions like the plague (was this written for Nanowrimo and then just never edited?), making the dialogue even more unrealistic.
Her narrative is fine, but she doesn't really shed light on what drove her to recovery or any trich management tips, which is what a lot of her readers are probably looking for. Her "food addiction" mostly made me hope that she eventually discovers intuitive eating. As another reviewer mentioned, she comes off as very superficial, especially towards other folks with BFRBs. It kind of seemed like even though she is in recovery for trich, she really needs to examine her own body image issues.
Thankfully it was short or I probably would have (and maybe should have) given it up before finishing it.
December 13, 2016
Life Is Trichy is Muller's account of living with trichotillomania, a condition that caused her to pull her hair out. She's also a psychologist who works with, among other patients, people who have trichotillomania, so she's in a better position than most to write about trichotillomania—she has both personal experience and more research-based background.
Unfortunately this didn't work well for me. Proofreading problems, for one. And then...Muller limits the research end of things largely to what it meant in terms of her own experience, which it a pity—there doesn't seem to be much out there on trich, and she could have taken this so much further and covered so much more ground. There's also something of an obsession, later on in the book, with the idea that until she 'conquered' her trichotillomania she was a...a fake, or a liar, or something...if she worked with it in a clinical setting, and while I understand where she's coming from, I needed a lot more from the discussion, as it didn't sit terribly well with me as it stood.
Potential here, but not fully realised.
Unfortunately this didn't work well for me. Proofreading problems, for one. And then...Muller limits the research end of things largely to what it meant in terms of her own experience, which it a pity—there doesn't seem to be much out there on trich, and she could have taken this so much further and covered so much more ground. There's also something of an obsession, later on in the book, with the idea that until she 'conquered' her trichotillomania she was a...a fake, or a liar, or something...if she worked with it in a clinical setting, and while I understand where she's coming from, I needed a lot more from the discussion, as it didn't sit terribly well with me as it stood.
Potential here, but not fully realised.
July 10, 2016
Dis bitch is obsessed w/ what she looks like and how she's perceived by the popular crowd, still, to this day. Even when she's at a Trich convention, she gravitates toward a beautiful chick in a hairpiece like hers and refers to everyone else as cancer patients. Okay.
Then she magically stops pulling her hair out one day because she's grown tired of it. Okay.
It's interesting to read about the disorder from a someone else's priviliged point of view, but it does get old fast and makes the book hard to read.
Then she magically stops pulling her hair out one day because she's grown tired of it. Okay.
It's interesting to read about the disorder from a someone else's priviliged point of view, but it does get old fast and makes the book hard to read.
January 6, 2022
I have suffered from trichotillomania for almost 15 years, and enjoyed reading this book because it was so relatable to me. Although I never suffered as intensely as the narrator in this book, I was able to understand her intense need to pull especially in times of stress and boredom. I do not know why I do this and a neither does the author. How can pulling out your own hair be so soothing? Anyway, if you are a victim of trichotillomania this is a good book to read (and one of the only I have seen on the subject). It made me feel less alone and therefore less ashamed.
Non-pullers may have a harder time comprehending why people do this, but that is also what can make trichotillomania so intruguing. This book is a good resource for non-pullers with an interest in mental health disorders.
Non-pullers may have a harder time comprehending why people do this, but that is also what can make trichotillomania so intruguing. This book is a good resource for non-pullers with an interest in mental health disorders.
December 26, 2020
I couldn’t finish this. As a therapist myself, she lost me in the first chapter. She’s insinuating that you can be born a perfectionist and deal with this acute level of anxiety purely from a nature perspective (genetic). To me, that is ludicrous. There’s a nurture aspect to almost every single mental health condition, and it’s clear that this woman’s mother must’ve been super type A and controlling herself. No girl is born needing her outfit to be perfect before she goes out in public. She clearly must have picked up on her mother’s Own anxiety and need for things to be just so, and that contributed to her own hair pulling. I’d bet anything.
October 18, 2022
As someone who has struggled with Trichotillomania for about 8 years, and is also going to school to be a therapist, this book was super comforting to me. This book also helps me be more open about it. I really liked her story and it inspires me to spread awareness. I wish their were more memoirs like this!
May 26, 2020
This book was incredible. So easy to read and Lindsey gave me the voice I’ve never had to explain the disorder and how I feel. This book inspires me, helps me feel less alone and has helped my parents understand too. I’m so thankful for her bravery.
December 20, 2019
A look into the mind of a young girl with trichomoniasis, the irresistable urge to pull ones hair out, through the eyes of the patient and the psychologist.
As someone who works in medicine I am always interested to learn about new diseases and disorders. When
I was reccomended this book, an autobiography about Lindsay's struggle with her disorder, something I have only heard about through shows like 'my strange addiction' before I was fascinated.
Lindsay began her hair pulling as a young teenager and continued right through her schooling and university studies to become a psychologist. Through her work and study as a psychologist and her own reflection she is able to evaluate her condition through both a patient and professional creating a unique memoir unlike any medical text I have read before. The book ends up feeling like part memoir, part self help for individuals or families of individuals with trichomoniasis and part education for others.
A very very interesting and easy to read book. When using medical terms Lindsay always explains in everyday language what these terms mean as to not alienate the everyday non medical reader. Her use of her own experiences makes the book feel warm and inviting for others with her condition to read without a sense of judgement of their disorder or unsolicited advice.
My favourite thing about this book is Lindsay's discussion about the cause of mental health problems. Lindsay describes her healthy childhood and family life as a way to prove that not all mental health disorders stem from family problems or trauma.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would reccomend it to anyone who is interested in psychiatric disorders or knows someone with trichomoniasis.
As someone who works in medicine I am always interested to learn about new diseases and disorders. When
I was reccomended this book, an autobiography about Lindsay's struggle with her disorder, something I have only heard about through shows like 'my strange addiction' before I was fascinated.
Lindsay began her hair pulling as a young teenager and continued right through her schooling and university studies to become a psychologist. Through her work and study as a psychologist and her own reflection she is able to evaluate her condition through both a patient and professional creating a unique memoir unlike any medical text I have read before. The book ends up feeling like part memoir, part self help for individuals or families of individuals with trichomoniasis and part education for others.
A very very interesting and easy to read book. When using medical terms Lindsay always explains in everyday language what these terms mean as to not alienate the everyday non medical reader. Her use of her own experiences makes the book feel warm and inviting for others with her condition to read without a sense of judgement of their disorder or unsolicited advice.
My favourite thing about this book is Lindsay's discussion about the cause of mental health problems. Lindsay describes her healthy childhood and family life as a way to prove that not all mental health disorders stem from family problems or trauma.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would reccomend it to anyone who is interested in psychiatric disorders or knows someone with trichomoniasis.
January 1, 2015
There's a lot to be said about this book, the first of which is that I think it is an interesting and candid account of the life of an individual with Trichotillomania, as well as a few other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours. I just wish it hadn't been written so formally (the author is a therapist, and that really comes through in the language she uses, rather than something more conversational) and that more attention had been paid to the errors in the book, which I think falls on everyone who had a hand in the book to take care of. What I mean is, between several editors and the author herself, there are numerous grammatical errors throughout, and while most might overlook them, I personally feel grammar is an important part of storytelling and one misplaced comma can completely change the meaning of a sentence. In addition to that, there were a few other factual errors in the book, mostly centering around the naming of Trichotillomania in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, and I don't understand how these things could have slipped by the author, the editors and anyone else who may have looked at the book.
After speaking to the author herself, she and I haven't quite seen eye-to-eye, but despite that and the book's errors, I think it does have some merit. It's a step in the right direction.
After speaking to the author herself, she and I haven't quite seen eye-to-eye, but despite that and the book's errors, I think it does have some merit. It's a step in the right direction.
November 5, 2016
Such an amazing and brave memoir....if you're a practitioner, patient, family member or just want to know more about BFRB's I highly recommend this book!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews