I first started with alopecia when I was very young.
When I was 11 years old I failed the 11+ exam and I remember my Mum making her disappointment with me very evident. For some reason unknown to me I started then inflicting harm on myself by pulling my own hair out as a way to relieve my stress. Of course then I had no idea that this was called by the name of Trichotillomania. I just knew that it made me very ashamed that I did this, and I used to try and hide my hair under my bed and in the bin etc I don’t think my parents knew how to deal with this and was never taken to the GP to help deal with it ( he was a family friend ).
I’m a qualified nurse and have been wearing wigs for many years now.
Anyway, my hair loss story and journey is very different to many of you I guess. We all have our personal story to tell and I really hope this helps some of you if you are in the same situation as me. I’m 61 now so have had this problem for 50 years. How ridiculous that I’ve never felt able to get help to stop this from happening. Simply Wigs is my saviour and I’m able to face the world with much more confidence now. Some people at work know I wear a wig and think I look great but I don’t tell many people to be honest… I don’t see it as anyone else’s business. My grandsons think it’s hysterical when I take my hair off to brush my hair and put it back on so it’s not too bad.
They love me for who I am.
Happy days.
love Judith
x
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Hi Judith, Thank you so much for sharing, your story really resonated with me – I started pulling my hair out at around 12 years old. I was bullied all through my childhood and felt I was the ugliest person in the world so I’m guessing that pulling my hair was to punish myself for not being perfect. I would pull for weeks until I had totally bald patches, then stop and my hair would grow back then the overwhelming urge would come back again – this went on until I was around 50 (61 now). I felt like a freak, no-one else in the world did what I did and it totally coloured my life. I finally went to my GP when i was about 45 (having finally confessing to my ex-husband who wasn’t in the least bit interested) and he told me it was far more common than I had thought. I saw a pysciatrist (don’t know how to spell that!) but that didn’t work. One day I just stopped and didn’t start again but the damage was done – I have about 3 large patches that have never grown back well and have spent years trying to disguise them with some success but I suppose the menopause has made it worse and I finally gave in a bought a wig. Like you I found them hot so a few weeks ago during a mad moment in lockdown I totally shaved my head! It’s been liberating – I wear lovely headscarves around the house (in the evening I go bare!) and whenever I go out I wear one of my wigs and although my head is still hot it’s bearable. Like you I don’t tell many people – close friends know, but I also don’t think it’s anyone else’s business.
Anyway, thanks again for sharing – I’m sure there are many of us in the same boat.
Best wishes, Kim xx