I just want to get my feelings out...I see people on this site especially parents asking what to do, and stuff...I don't know if I'd ever give good advice about it because we're all different, different strokes for different folks...

But I just wanted to say my peace...I've been full on bald since I was four years old. I was never normal well...I used to have a full head of curly black hair that I would never let anyone but my dad touch. I don't remember much of my years WITH hair as I didn't really start to retain full on memories at age three and a half. It started shortly after my fourth birthday, my dad ironically got me a perm prior....My hair was permanantly curled, usually having barretes or ribbons in it.

Then it started to fall out slowly...In my food, in the bathtube, on my bed...I hated waking up with hair in my mouth. Yuck. My parents got worried and then one day...I woke up and my hair was surrounding my head like a wig as I sat up.

It was completely gone. My eyelashes and eyebrows were gone too...The next day my parents took me to Childrens Memorial Hospital where I was poked, prodded, examined and didn't feel different just cold since I had to wear a hospital gown. I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata.

I was upset that I lost my hair, that I was different, my mom and dad? They were relieved and turns out my aggressive immune system came in handy. I rarly got sick after. I was more playful. They at first got me dozens of hats but I refused to wear any of them unless it was at the zoo or beach. I got made fun of, I got teased yes....But I was homeschooled and only encountered those types of kids once and never met them again...Of course there was one constant bully my supposed 'best friend' who hurt me psychically and mentally.

Then I became a bit of an anime fan even at a young age. My dad would often bring home stuff that was anything but normal for the age at the time. Pokemon, Dragonball Z, and other things. I was Poke-obsessed.

I met other kids during viewings of Pokemon 2000 the year it came out and we became good friends. He was a good kid...He never asked me about my Alopecia.

I thought honestly I was the only kid in the world with it. I grew up and then we got an invitation for an Alopecia Support group.

I couldn't believe it when I walked in the doors of the conference room the parents all crowded around with the doctor who turns out had diagnosed all of us. I met other kids my age with Alopecia and one girl who came who didn't have it but showed up with her folks as she claimed: "To support the other kids."

We all became good friends within minutes, laughing talking playing. We were all of various ages one boy being the son of the local Police Captian!

Well we kept in contact, play dates, mom asking around and I met more kids with Alopecia and we all had good times. Even around the bullies when they went to tease us they saw we were all together and all had it. They just ran in terror.

And...Then slowly I lost contact with all of them...I never met another kid with Alopecia for the longest time and I was okay with that.

My cousin now works in the same force as my old friend's father. During his graduation he stopped my mother and I recognizing us.

Now I ditched the bully of a friend and have one BFF whom had an immune disorder but a totally different one. We're like sister's and she defends me, makes me smile...And I met so many cool people online...No one cared about how I looked.

Then I went to the local cardshop to play Pokemon...And boy did I learn quickly that I was made into the little sister of the group. The shop manager told us that the guys all admitted to being protective of me. Some of them joked with me using my head as an arm rest whilst looking at my hand trying to give me advice. It didn't bother me though...Despite the bad times I've had too no one there insulted me about my Alopecia and if they tried well...Let's just say there were older guys who told me: "If anyone's ever bullying you find me and I'll protect you."

I never felt more touched. I fell out of TCG playing and was more interested in drawing, writing and sewing.

A couple years later here I am....Stronger then I ever felt. I owe it to my mom and dad as well as my other reletives who made me feel special and most importantly..Abnormal we didn't hide that I was different and everyone told me that being normal was vastly overrated.

I agree. I like sticking out in a crowd, I hate wigs unless it's cosplay, I don't wear hats unless it's to accessorize...I'm different and I'm proud. I'm a writer, an artist...A dreamer too. I'm also proudly a Brony a Risembool ranger, cosplayer...I hope to get my original stories get published one day with me being able to illistrate them on my own. If not that then to work with horses or open a tropical fish store.

I was listening to one positive song from MLP: FIM on repeat whilst writing this and I remembered the happier times with Alopecia rather then the bad...There would have been a more negative result.

And...Yeah. I just wanted to give my thoughts...Tell my story so to speak...

Thanks for reading.