The comedian and actress says she suffers from trichotillomania, the scientific name for forced hair pulling – a disorder she says she has lived with since she was a child and fears it could be passed on to her 2-year-old son. Amy spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about her struggles with the disorder, saying, “I’m proud that my big secret only hurts me, but that ‘s what I’m so ashamed of for so long.” There is a genetic component to trichotillomania and as a result, Amy says she feels like she has a heart attack every time she sees her little son touching his hair. She remembers things getting so bad when she was younger, she needed a wig to cover the bald spots … and she says everyone at school knew she was waving a wig that didn’t even fit. Amy tackles this issue head on in her new Hulu screenplay show, “Life & Beth” – which is partly based on her real life – and hopes to help alleviate the shame not only for her but also for her. for others.
