Amy Schumer Opens Up About Rare Hair-Pulling Condition Featured In New Series ‘Life & Beth’
25.03.2022 - 23:43
/ etcanada.com
There’s a flashback scene in Amy Schumer’s new Hulu comedy “Life & Beth”, in which the child actress playing the younger version of Schumer’s character, Beth, is revealed to have had trichotillomania, a rare genetic disorder that creates an irresistible urge to pull one’s own hair out.
As Schumer revealed in a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she included that in the series because she also suffers from that obsessive-compulsive disorder.
“I think everybody has a big secret and that’s mine,” she explained. “And I’m proud that my big secret only hurts me, but it’s been what I’ve carried so much shame about for so long.”
READ MORE: Amy Schumer Is Afraid Of Being ‘Freshly Cancelled’ After Hosting The Oscars
As Schumer recalled, as a child she pulled out so much hair from her hair that she had to wear a wig to school, a real-life life event that inspired the scene in “Life & Beth”. “And everybody knew,” she said.
While trichotillomania can be managed with therapy and medication, it’s a chronic disorder for which that isn’t a cure.
“It’s not that I used to have this problem and now I don’t,” she admitted. “It’s still something that I struggle with.”
Because of its genetic nature, Schumer fears that her son Gene, 2, might also be afflicted.
“Every time he touches his head I’m having a heart attack,” she said.
READ MORE: Amy Schumer Pitched Ukraine President Zelenskyy To Appear At The Oscars
By opening up that previously hidden part of her life, Schumer is hopeful she can contribute to lessening the stigma for others with trichotillomania.
“I really don’t want to have a big secret anymore,” she said. “And I thought putting it in there would be good for me to alleviate some of my shame and maybe,