I’ve dealt with alopecia for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, the coin shaped bald patches were as normal as a grazed knee, or the occasional nosebleed. Maybe, at 7, I was too young to realise this was in the realm of more specific medical conditions, rather than playground injuries. I was 20 years old when the coin sized patches decided to invade the entirety of my scalp and permanently occupy, resulting in total surrender of all my remaining  hair. My reality - I was 20 years old and completely bald. 

At first I was at a total loss. I’d always known I was different, but now there was no option of hiding it. I wanted to scream at my reflection, I didn’t recognise who was staring back at me. I hid away from the world, not wanting to be my most vulnerable self. I felt alone, caught between my feelings and thoughts. 

I quickly got bored of hiding. There’s only so much Netflix you can binge watch before you get restless. I was going through the five stages of grief, and knew that soon, I would be confronted with acceptance. 

Connecting with other people going through the same thing eased me into this acceptance. I quickly learned I was not alone, there was a whole catalogue of people going through the exact same thing. Sharing stories and hearing each other’s journeys made me feel empowered. Acceptance taught me how to love myself, and appreciate everything that life throws at me. 

There may be cloudy days - but the days when the sun comes out, they really shine.

Alopecia, truly changed my life. And for the better.