Alopecia World
www.alopeciaworld.com
Taking the plunge tonight
For those that don't know my story, I first began this journey with alopecia in February...lost about 50% of my hair by April and shaved it off. I have been wearing a wig to work and no one from work knows my secret. At home and out with friends I just wear hats or nothing at all. Over the past few weeks I have experienced almost 100% regrowth, but now spots are coming back again. :(
So anyway...on to my dilema...there is a local bazarr that my family and I will be going to tonight. I will most likely see a mixture of people from work and local friends. If I don't wear my wig, I am worried about running into people that I work with and my secret will be out. If I wear my wig, I will run into people/friends that have never seen me with it on but know about my condition. I feel like a double agent! I am tired of being afraid of work finding out, tired of hiding and tired of living a double life. I just want to be me and if the people from work don't accept me, then shame on them. It is time to face the music and step out in total public without my wig on.
So anyway...on to my dilema...there is a local bazarr that my family and I will be going to tonight. I will most likely see a mixture of people from work and local friends. If I don't wear my wig, I am worried about running into people that I work with and my secret will be out. If I wear my wig, I will run into people/friends that have never seen me with it on but know about my condition. I feel like a double agent! I am tired of being afraid of work finding out, tired of hiding and tired of living a double life. I just want to be me and if the people from work don't accept me, then shame on them. It is time to face the music and step out in total public without my wig on.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Jenna4 on
-
Thanks Susan..I might not even see anyone from work there, but I would feel like an imposter wearing my wig in from of my friends and children - lol I can't win!
Do you still wear a wig to work even though you outed yourself? Just curious how the "aftermath" would be...
P.S. I love the pic!
-
Permalink Reply by Pam Hagler on
-
It's funny how we so often already have the answers we need but for whatever reason don't recognize that fact. That being said... and I quote: "I just want to be me and if the people from work don't accept me, then shame on them."
Your going bald, or wearing a wig, or anything in between is a personal decision between You and God! Don't let anyone... I mean ANY one make that decision for you. Besides, what an awesome opportunity to help raise awareness. You can choose: look at running into a co-worker as a challenge, or look at running into a co-worker as an opportunity.
So You Go Girl! Take That Plunge! And enjoy the bazarrj!
Grace and Peace to you,
Pam~
-
Permalink Reply by Mary on
-
You said it! Good luck tonight. I think you'll find it incredibly liberating once you get used to being bald in public. It may not be easy the very first time(s), but believe me, it DOES get easier. I don't even think about it now. It's just me, and I feel fine. You've probably seen me post about the shirts I had made that say "Yes, I'm bald...get over it!" That's my attitude now.
Let us know how you do. Tomorrow is International Alopecia Day - you're picking a great time to take the plunge!
-
Permalink Reply by Evan on
-
Jenna4 - please read my Discussion about this from earlier this week - Be Bold and Be Bald....
and best of luck in your 'outing'. The freedom you'll experience is incredible. Living the 'double life' is just no damn fun.
-
-
Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I did it - I went to the bazarre with a hat on but no wig. I saw one person from work, but don't know if she recognized me as we don't know each other well....(honestly she probably did we'll see on Monday).
Mary, you're right - today is International Alopecia Day, maybe I'll go without the hat today, we'll see! I have a buzz cut right now since my hair is/was growing back, but new spots are forming again.
Pam - I know what you mean about us having what we need...I'm real good about giving advice to others and knowing what I need to do, but bad about actually following through with it. I need to digest it for a while before I can actually DO what I feel on the inside.
Evan - I did read your discussion and it was so perfectly written, I love it! I am tired of living the double life...it's time to start changing that.
Thanks everyone for the encouragement and support!! Have fun today!
-
-
Wonderful, Jenna! Take a photo of yourself if you want and send it to me.
Happy International Alopecia Day, everyone!
-
Permalink Reply by Galena on
-
Jenna I know exactly how you feel. I had the same anxiety about people at work seeing me bald. This year I began going bald to work. It's been liberating and I'm glad that I did it, but I won't lie to you, it's scary at first. The issue for me was explaining to everyone what happened to me. I just wasn't prepared to go there several times a day. But it's getting better. Like others have said here, it will definitely get better with time. Congrats to taking the plunge!
~Galena
-
Permalink Reply by Cheryl on
-
Yay for YOU!!!!! How was it going to work Monday then??? I am very proud of you. You are an inspiration for us all!!! Thank you for being brave.
-
Permalink Reply by Dotty on
-
Congrats Jenna on your brave "outing!!!" We had a great celebration for International Alopecia Day on Saturday at a state park in Massachusetts. I was very proud of one woman there who has never taken her scarf off in public but did so to go swimming and never put it back on the rest of the day. I know how wonderful that feels and she was smiling from ear to ear all day. I'm sure that is how you felt also. I was wondering how work went today :-) Let us know how it went and keep up the good work.
Love and Hugs,
Dotty
-
-
One of our participants on International Alopecia Day in San Diego took off her wig in public for the first time and left it off all day!
congratulations to all,
Mary
-
Permalink Reply by Tanya Stone on
-
Did you have treatment for the regrowth?
© 2024 Created by Alopecia World.
Powered by
