Highlights from the IOCDF Conference in Chicago 2025

This was my second time attending the IOCDF Conference and I was so excited to be able to attend again. The first time I went it was in Orlando and that was great but after visiting Chicago for fun in 2023, I could not wait to get back! I love Chicago so much I've already named it my 3rd favorite city behind Washington D.C. and of course my special and forever dear to my heart, West Palm Beach. So yeah, I was overjoyed to learn that the IOCDF Conference was in Chicago this year! YAY! Here are some of the highlights from my time there!

Meeting new people with BFRBs

You may already know this but OCD and BFRBs go hand in hand for many people. BFRBs like trichotillomania (hair pulling), dermatillomania (skin picking), and onychophagia (nail biting) are self-soothing behaviors that many people in the OCD community engage in.

As I was sharing the magic behind the Keen2 from HabitAware, I was able to learn more about people's experiences with both disorders. As someone with only trichotillomania and no other comorbidities, I learned a ton. It was beautiful how many people were open to sharing their experience with a stranger (me!) turned friend.

Meeting people I know from the internet

It is such a cool feeling to have someone walk by and say, "Wait! I recognize you!" and it is someone you know from the internet! I had been following so many people that I was lucky enough to meet in real life at the conference.

One of my favorite moments was refreshing my Instagram page, seeing one of my followers post that they were at the conference, and then I quickly typed, "Wait! I'm at the HabitAware booth! I'd love to meet you in real life!" and then did!

The internet can be a scary place but for me it has been such a wonderful way to meet others in the BFRB community. It has brought me so much joy and connection!

Meeting the entire HabitAware team

This was a little bit before the conference started but I was able to meet everyone from the HabitAware team in real life and learn more about what is in the works! I can't share anything even though it is all so exciting and life changing and I REALLY WANT TO so you'll just have to trust me and stay tuned.

Being a part of the HabitAware team is honestly such a point of pride for me. I can't believe I'm lucky enough to get to say that. Everyone works so hard and has such passion for helping others, especially those in the BFRB community.

Aneela and Ellen were at the conference with me and I loved watching them in their element—spreading not only awareness of BFRBs but spreading hope as well.

Seeing friends

I am so lucky that I have made true friends through the BFRB community. One in particular, Sara Cannon, has become one of my best. Last time I was in Chicago I met her for the first time in real life. The moment I knew I would be in her city again, I reached out and we made it happen!

What brought us together at first (trichotillomania) was something that we realized we never even spoke about until we were walking to the train station! That made us both laugh.

Next year the IOCDF Conference will be in Seattle! Maybe I will see some of you there!