“Alopecia is a weird disease to wrap your head around. It...

“Alopecia is a weird disease to wrap your head around.  It causes your immune system to turn against your body, and your hair falls out.   I used to have a big blond fro that was a big part of my identity.  It was hard to not get depressed when it disappeared.  I started to think: ‘What value do I have if even my body doesn’t like itself?’  As I lost more and more hair, I kept trying to comb my remaining hair over my bald spots.  Eventually I had to embrace it.  On my 20th birthday, I decided that instead of having a bunch of little bald spots that I don’t like, I’m going to give myself one big one that I do like.”