Alopecia World
www.alopeciaworld.com
Do you find it gets easier each time?
Just found out last night that I have a new bald spot. This will be the third time I have gone through a 'cycle'(?) of alopecia (first time I lost all my hair, second time not so much...seems to happen about once a year). And, well, I'm feeling ok.
I remember when I found out I was loosing hair again for the second time I was an absolute mess for months. It was so painful to know that I had not beaten this disease. I was absolutely heart-broken. I assumed I would lose all my hair like I did the first time, so was dreading going back to wigs. Luckily though, I managed to get through it without loosing too much hair, and I didn't have to wear a wig, bandana etc which was much better than I expected. But I guess my pessimism that I would lose it all again did allow me to become very prepared for if I ever do lose it all again.
I planned out how I was going to 'come out' on facebook, how I was going to tell all my workmates, my uni friends, I learnt to accept that, no, my boyfriend would not find me ugly, I decided that I was going to be more confident this time around and not wear a wig all the time (especially when I went to the gym!), I went to alopecia events, I wore a wristband.
And after all that, nothing bad even happened! I still kept most of my hair!
So this time, when I found the spot last night, I felt ok. I know I am ready for whatever this disease throws at me. Third times a charm, eh?
So I wanted to ask: Have you had similar experiences? Do you find it gets easier each time? Or has one time been particularly difficult for you?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Schatten on
-
Hey - sorry about the new spot but glad to know you're able to cope better now.
Yes, it does get easier especially because we grow more accustomed to the "image" of the disease. I no longer feel alopecia makes people look like freaks - sorry if i'm offending anyone with this comment, but at first, being scared, that's how i was perceiving the disease, that it would turn me into a monster.
You said you went to alopecia events and such, met people like you, like us, and probably became aware that alopecia does not turn your life upside down. While thinking so, you were staring into an acceptable image of alopecia.
Retaining some power over our image is really the key - "coming out" bald (or patchy, in my case), telling people about the condition, etc, that's the way to go.
I have a couple of patches on my head, left them exposed to the world and I don't care about how people might perceive them. I chose not to hide them because in my case, hiding them comes along with unwanted anxiety (anxiety that it might be uncovered, etc). And in a secret corner of my mind, I also like to think that i'm rocking the patchy look :-)
-
-
Hi Laura
Isn't alopecia a roller coaster ride. My daughter has lost and regown and lost her hair many times over the last 11 years. I believe it has become easier for her and me as we really no longer concentrate on the coming and going of her hair (she can't control that part). She chooses to get on with life and be proactive around making alopecia a small part of who she is, finding the things that help her move on with life.
There was one particularly bad time that I believe changed my daugher's attitude to alopecia and the coming and going of her hair. She was 16 and had regrown about 97% of her hair. She had decided to put her wig aside and grow her own hair out...it was wonderful for her as it was summertime and she had her own hair again......sadly it only lasted until August (winter in NZ). It was heartbreaking to see her hair falling out again and she felt quite defeated at that time. She has since moved past this part of the disease and focusses on presenting herself how she feels comfortable and doing what she loves to do.
Good luck with this bout of alopecia...you seem to have a wonderful attitude about it all.
Rosy
-
Permalink Reply by amym on
-
Absolutely has been easier for me each time. People around me know that I have alopecia, so when it falls out now I don't have to explain it. I do have to explain why it comes and goes, but that is fine. For the past 7 years when mine starts falling out typically it gets bad enough to shave it. So, my hardest thing is deciding when to shave. How bad is too bad for me, etc.
Glad you are finding it easier.
© 2024 Created by Alopecia World.
Powered by
