Rebekah Byford
Scientist by day, dancer by night, constant Trichster!
Information
PhD Chemical Biology
Imperial College London, UK
Lover of dance, drama, food and life! Trichotillomania sufferer.
Qualifications
- MRes Chemical Biology, Distinction
- MChem Chemistry with Medicinal and Biological Chemistry with a year in industry, 2:1
Skills
Ballet
Contemporary
Jazz
Locking
Hip-Hop
Salsa
Tap
Trichotillomania
Voguing
Waacking
About Me
Well firstly welcome to my page! This is where I will discuss all things dance with a minor sideline on my trichotillomania/mild OCD.
I am first year PhD student at Imperial studying Chemical Biology. When I am not in the lab I am constantly dancing. I have tried my hands at most styles but Tap is my real love! Yes I have a mental health issue but it does not define me...all I am, is a dancing scientist.
Blogging - Dancing and Trich
Initial Thoughts 29/11/15
My hobby and what I live for day to day, is not to be in the lab finding something Nobel Prize worthy...it is in fact dance! I used to dance when I was much longer and then through a somewhat questionable decision, swayed by my father, I chose to swim over dance. I came back to it 5 years ago when I started uni (yes I have been at uni for 5 years) and I have not looked back since! See my skills for the many styles I do.
I have been lucky enough to perform in several university competitions, open the stage at Liverpool Pride 2014 with House of Suarez, perform at Liverpool Pride 2014 with the Funkymentals, join the Funkymentals crew and take part in Brouhaha carnival 2014. I don't think I will ever stop and my experience shows you can start dancing at any age. Without it I would not have had half the amazing experiences or met the wonderful group of friends I now have!
I also suffer from a condition called trichotillimania, aka "hair pulling". Two years ago I addmited I needed help and couldn't cope, now after a lot of CBT therapy I am so much better and firmly on the recovery path. Mental Illness should NOT be a taboo, had I not spoke out to work colleagues I wouldn't have got better. Who knows what state I would be in now? 1 in 3 adults suffer from a mental health problem in their lifetime. Yes I still struggle with my trich and my mild OCD, but I don't let it control me anymore, they are simply a part of who I am. I know that asking for help isn't wrong and I am sure I will need some in the future, for now I am overjoyed at the progress I have made. A huge thanks to my friends and family who helped me through this difficult time.
In the future blogs I will talk more about my hobby dance and pass on any tips about trich that I can, as well as posting my own trich journey!