Comment

Comment by Lori M on January 18, 2009 at 9:37am

Kathy,

Awesome story and incredible journey! Thanks for sharing! I am constantly in awe of people who go through this and come out in the end stronger. I am inspired!

Comment by Lori M on January 18, 2009 at 9:36am

Ohhhhhh Linda you just have to pop on Sheena once in a while for your brother! LOL.... Oh to heck with the wigs. If you are comfortable going au naturel then don't cave and wear a wig just to please your brother. That is his problem not yours girl.....:+)

Comment by Kathy on January 18, 2009 at 1:04am

Hi beautiful ladies! I LOVE being a member of this group. THANKS to Linda for creating it! My story is a bit different from most of yours, and yet I'm realizing we're really not all that much different. I've battled trichotillomania for over 35 years. It's not been until very recently that I discovered my "condition" falls under the Alopecia definition. I've spent most of my years trying to hide this condition from the world, and from myself. I've done the therapy thing for years, and tried several different medications. Embarrassment, low self esteem, shame, even anger --- I've really struggled with this condition for which I simply cannot control. Just as I'd begun seriously considering doing something truly drastic, my very bestest friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. It's rocked my very soul and made me look at everything with such a different focus. Quite simply, who the hell cares if I have hair or not?!! And so, as my pal was starting the ravages of chemo, I knew my time had come to end my hair loss battle, too. If my friend had to be living without hair, then why not join her in this crazy scene. Thankfully her prognosis is good, and with my decision to shave my head, I actually "lost" my hair just 5 days before she did. We've had a lot of laughs and I've never regretted my decision for a single second. So, about 3 and a half months ago I shaved my head. I am free of the stresses and heartache of "trich" and I'm incredibly happy with my new found freedom and liberation. I'm wearing a wig at work -- this cute little blonde wig -- and otherwise I'm doing the bald thing. My family is wonderfully supportive, and as friends learn my story, they have been amazingly cool. Like I said, it may have taken me 35+ years of struggling with this "thing", but I'm happier now than I can explain. Who needs hair? Not me! I hope you don't mind this long tale that I've shared. I honor and love you all for your individual journeys. Smile, hold your head up high and enjoy life!!

Comment by Linda on January 18, 2009 at 12:45am

Lori, you are funny, of course Bald is Sexy, lol. I have one brother that is really going through changes since I shaved my head, he thinks I should let it grow back or at least wear a wig. He doesn't understand that I feel confident with my bald head. He says when we go shopping together he notices how people look at me, some with pity, some with discuss, and some just plain ignored me~~those I like, then the guys who think it is sexy, my brother really had a problem with them, he thinks they're freaks, lol, he's sooooo funny! But his inhibitions are his own and I don't feed them, I walk in who I am and I am proud! I'm thinking about buying a couple of wigs though, just in case...

Comment by Linda on January 17, 2009 at 9:23pm

Wow Galena, thanks for sharing...I've had a long time to go through my self acceptance period, I've had AA since I was about 9. I remember the last time I had my hair pressed and curled for Easter, my aunt couldn't stop telling how beautiful my thick mane was. Then by the next Easter, my hair had thinned and I had bald patches over my ears and in the back of my head, life for me would never be the same. I remember having my "ponytail" snatched off by a 6th grade boy when I was in the 3rd grade, my three older brothers made him apologize and from that day on, I had no trouble. But I still felt a bit weird and could not define my beauty until I was about 21. Now that I've shaved my head, I've realized my ultimate beauty withing and without, and I accept it wholeheartedly. Like you Galena, support was the key to my confidence and I feel free!

Comment by Galena on January 17, 2009 at 6:31pm

Greetings Sisters!
I took the plunge in September '08 and since the hair has not grown back, I've been slowly getting used to my new appearance. Everyone says I look beautiful bald, but I have to admit that I don't see beauty. That doesn't mean that I hate how I look; I'm just feeling insecure.
I hope more of us are willing to shed our insecurities and rid ourselves of hair that's not working. It was an easy decision to shave- but once I did it and stayed bald for weeks, I was left with the finality of accepting that I have alopecia and my lovely locks may never come back.
Thank you for providing a forum for those of us who are contemplating this move. I was encouraged by my bald handsome brother and another empathetic co-worker. It’s good to have awesome support when you are new to the path of self-acceptance.

Love and Peace,
Galena

Comment by Lori M on January 17, 2009 at 3:13pm

What a fab idea bronzer on the head! That would be beautiful! You know I kind of like the look of my smooth head at the back....I can't believe I said that....There is something kind of sexy about it! LOL...

I can totally relate to the putting the hands on your head and pulling what hair you have left really tight so you can imagine what you will look like bald. I even do that with scarfs but somehow I still think it will be a huge shock to the system once I do it though....I really think I will have to have a bottle of wine in me when I go to do it.....The uniform look though I would think is less disturbing than tufts of hair here and there...

This is just so awesome this group. I can't talk to anyone else who would understand this other than someone who has gone through it or is going through it. Non alopecians can't even begin to imagine what it is like.

when I told my mother I was thinking of shaving my head a few months ago I think it bothered her more than me..Ohhhh no just keep your hair long...Yeah well the bald spots win out eventually and no matter how long your hair is you just can't hide it anymore. You then have to go into wigs but with what long hair you have left you are faced with pinning it up with multiple barettes etc. I think I am using 4 or 5 right now to keep the hair up and in place before I put the wig on in the morning. I remember her saying to me how happy she was I was doing the steroid shots in the head....Seems she is mourning my hair more than me.... I saw her today and told her the day is coming real soon where I pull out the razor. I may try for 3 months the shots as I have only started them Jan 6th. I will give them a fair shot but if no regrowth then to heck with it. Off it comes and on to the next thing...for me it is the vacuum wigs right now. I am no where near the point of thinking about ever going without a wig. Who knows that point may come in time as it is a growing experience. If it does regrow I still may shave my head so it all grows in at the same length.....

Comment by Linda on January 17, 2009 at 2:45pm

Yes, the look is uniform, brings out the rest of your true beauty and...it's a bit sexy. I dust mine with a bronzer when I'm going to an affair. The light hits the glitter at different times and it's beautiful. You can't see the glitter unless the light happens to catch it and it's not enough that you look like a...well you know :-)

Comment by Vicsta on January 17, 2009 at 1:09pm

Dara Lynn - hope it all goes/went well for you. You are in my thoughts. I think you will feel some relief from just having a uniform look, it is calming on the mind.

Comment by Vicsta on January 17, 2009 at 1:09pm

Wow I want to go to a barber now... sounds delightful! Hot towels mmm.

Well I don't have hairy feet underneath like on the sole, which I think is where the hobbits had it LOL.

Linda - I think you have to mentally prepare yourself to watch LOTR... it's SO long!!

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 57
• 58
• 59
• 60
• 61
• 62
• Next ›
• Page