This month, 5 years ago, marks the beginning of my journey into alopecia.  It was a brutal month in which hair was falling out by handfuls, far too many tears were shed and a time in which I travelled down into the darkest place I didn't even know existed.  It was brutal.  The finality of the hair loss occurred that June in which I was left with not a hair on my body and hit bottom.

I revisited some of my posts during the beginning, and they are hard to read without tears and yet that person is so far removed from the person I am today.  It was a time of labouring through pain, depression and identity loss.  But what came from this time is a stronger person birthed into a new realization of what life is about.

This journey through loss and acceptance continues to test, but from it I have gained greater self-confidence in myself (so weird in a way), greater endurance through struggles, and a greater empathy towards others.  My eyes and heart have been opened to listening and understanding others and my passion for life grows daily.

I wouldn't change my alopecia journey (can't believe I'm saying this…although I would love my eyelashes and brows back please…of course I'd take my hair too but thought I'd start small) for it has brought me a greater sense of self.

The people on this site are pure inspiration to me and I love being a member of this community.