Comment by Wynn on January 27, 2012 at 10:16pm

Hi Kate, I am 21 years old and have always had a complete head of hair my whole life. My alopecia got so bad I shaved it all off 3 weeks ago, and I completely understand what your going through. I have my ups and downs. Sometimes I feel so strong, and proud of myself, not letting this disease get to me. Then there's those days when it hits me again, thinking I'm so young to have this and end up feeling so lost. Its definately an internal battle. But I hope you know your not alone. Its hard when no-one around you really knows how it feels, how could they really. Sending you some cyber-love from Sydney! x

Comment by Dana on January 28, 2012 at 3:04am

Hi Kate I too shaved my hair at least what was left and it was so hard many people helped me on this site and yes I agree it's such a tough mental struggle at times hang in there and know you are not alone people with real hair will never understand this I must admit I thought I could deal until I started to loose my eyelashes and eyebrows it seemed like a new battle currently I have one and half brows and no eyelashes sucks really and I've had less than a year to deal so please hang in there and stay strong I hear your words and thank you for speaking your truth!

Comment by BTB (John) on January 29, 2012 at 3:35am

Life does not stop because you lose your hair but life as you experienced it does, and that is an emotional turmoil that noone wants to go through. My partner went through the agony of losing her hair and I watched her pain and was in many ways powerless to help. Now it has become a part of life as we know it, we would not live life this way if it was a choice but AA is not a choice it is a health condition. My wife felt the grief of losing her hair and that helped her to become who she is today, and I grieved with her and that was healthy for our relationship. I can never understand how you or she are feeling as I dont have AA and I dont pretend to know, that is why she is on here to share with those who know and can understand. Pat and I dont speak to friends about her AA because they just dont know, we share on here and with each other. Hope this helps and feel free to approach either one of us for any questions you have.

Comment by Mary on January 30, 2012 at 7:02pm

You aren't alone. Please hang in there and just take it a day at a time. Today is the 4th anniversary of the day I shaved off the last of my hair, and I go everywhere bald when it's too warm for a scarf. I really don't care anymore...this is me. It's hard to be different, but in some strange way, I've come to be proud of my "difference". Good luck.

Comment by You can do it : ) on January 31, 2012 at 4:50pm

Hey,
I can't totally understand your feelings because I have Alopecia Areta and just have a few spots which I fill in with powder. Though, I still understand the emotional part of it. Everytime I put the powder in my hair I feel a mix of emotions and have to remind myself it is the inside that counts not the outside. Good luck, you can do it

Comment by Connie B on February 2, 2012 at 1:20pm

Kate - it will get better. I was a mess when I shaved my head, then again when I lost the rest of my eyelashes and body hair a month later. I dreaded looking in the mirror, none of my clothes or eyeglasses looked right anymore, and all I wanted to do was hide. I squinted in the mirror every day looking for any sign of my hair growing back - I so desperately wanted my hair back. I think the toughest part was seeing people for the first time with a bald head - OMG, talk about stressful! I had trouble talking to anyone without tears rolling down my cheeks. I still get a bit teary eyed when people touch my head. Although my friends and business colleagues will never fully understand what I'm going through, I still look to them for support and I know they want to help. This will be a very personal journey for you and I encourage you to keep connecting with other people for strength. It's taken a bit of time, but I'm becoming much more comfortable with the new me. And one more thing...all that money I used to spend on my hair - it now goes to buying jewelry!

Comment by Molly on February 4, 2012 at 9:28pm

dear, dear Kate. You've been so strong for a long time. It's no wonder that the strain shows now and again. I find myself crying every so often and being defiant every so often, and trying to ignore it the other times. This site is so comforting. You are not alone. You're a beautiful young woman and you're on a journey that's taking a bit of a different path than most people. Stay strong and reach out when you need some help! You're friends and family really do want to help you!

Comment by Kate on February 6, 2012 at 6:25pm

Thank you all so much for your support. Though it is quite a change from what I am use to life still goes on, it doesn't stop just because you lose all of your hair. I have not gone wigless or hatless quite yet but the day will come when I have to face that but I am lucky that I have a couple of friends that are extremely supportive even though they are not able to understand. I suppose the emotional part comes in waves, many days I am strong about it and I don't let it get to me, but there are still those days that I break down and let the alopecia get to me.

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