Last year, I entered the 100 Best Arabic Posters competition with a very expressive and personal poster. I decided, for the first time ever, to share something online that I've carried with me since I was 7 years old.
The Arabic text translates to "If you're not happy, then pull your eyebrows out", a figurative Arabic rhyme that kids say to one another. Harmless in intention but actually speaks to a truth that many people experience.
Trichotillomania is an anxiety disorder branching out from OCD. It is referred to as 'hidden' because it carries a lot of shame and hence, it is not talked about. Growing up with this disorder was traumatic, it ate up my confidence and brought on so many additional obstacles. Nevertheless, I survived and came out stronger than ever.
My goal today is to talk about it. I want people to know that it is more common than we think and that there are ways to cope with it and the anxiety around it.
Always be kind to others, you never know what they might be dealing with.
Poster entry for 100 Best Arabic Posters 2022
