Alopecia an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the hair follicles resulting in hair loss. I was eight-years-old when I was diagnosed with alopecia. From a young age, I struggled with my appearance, self-consciousness, and depression.

Getting locs was a commitment and losing them was devastating. I realized this loss was going to be permanent and that I had to take back control. I had to cut the remaining locs. Joy After Alopecia details my journey to finding happiness and goodness in all things despite the fact that I have Alopecia.

I didn't know how to supply self-love and care for myself. Instead, I thought, who would find me attractive with alopecia?  Who would make me happier?

Living a mentally luxurious lifestyle is about protecting your time, your energy, and worrying about yourself. But how can this mantra be put into practice? Here is what it means to worry about yourself…

Along with feelings of embarrassment, I struggled with conflicted feelings of anger. I didn’t ask for alopecia. I didn't ask to be jeered at or ridiculed. It infuriated me that people couldn't be empathetic about something I have no control over. I was angry at myself, angry at my hair, and angry that I couldn't control my situation…

In life and alopecia, there are lessons and blessings. Unfortunately, some lessons are harder to swallow. Prom was one of those lessons for me. I'm still learning to let go of the anger and guilt I feel because I wasn't accepting of my appearance. But through the lesson, I…

I was sitting at the family computer writing a history paper on a school night, and in typical stress mode, I ran my hand through my hair. That’s normal, everyone does it. What wasn’t normal was suddenly feeling a spot that was...smooth. Smooth as a baby’s bottom you might say. I immediately ran downstairs freaking out, and collapsed in my mother’s lap in a puddle of tears…