Ashley Trahan (Trichotillomania)

• Why are you BALD?Trichotillomania, that nasty little bugger. For those who are not familiar with this mouthful of a disorder....we can call it trich for short and it's basically an anxiety disorder. We've all heard the saying "I'm so stressed I could pull my hair out!" Well...that's what trich is, pulling out your hair. "OW! Why?" Is a common response when explaining that you pull out your hair, and I honestly wish I could tell you.
  
• How has being BALD impacted your life?Having trich for close to 20 years had impacted my life pretty negatively for a long time. I was on the receiving end of many cruel words growing up, long stares and many awkward haircuts. After dealing with trich for so long, I was tired of 

being "partially bald" (I only pulled from the crown of my head) so I invested in a wig, thinking it would solve my problems, and it did for a while. I had a new sense of confidence, until people started asking if it was a wig. I started getting anxiety all over again, which of course made the pulling worse. No one really knew that I wore a wig and why except those closest to me. Finally I got tired of being asked, so I wrote a blog explaining that I wore one and why. The support and encouragement I received was truly overwhelming. It helped me feel better about myself and feel confident that I could continue my journey to self-acceptance and have a solid team of people to lean on if I needed. After many months of debating with myself, last week I finally decided to just shave my entire head and start fresh. I've got to tell you, it was the most liberated I have ever felt. I feel that being Bald will only impact my life for the better from here on out as I continue this journey! 

• What's the worst thing that has happened or has been said to you as a BALD woman?Being told that I'd never get a boyfriend or husband because of the way I looked....by my own mother. This was years ago and we have since made amends but it still haunts me today. Hearinthat made it very difficult to discuss my disorder with men that I've dated (or just people in general, honestly) out of fear of judgment or ridicule. I am happy to say that each person I told about my disorder all had the same reaction and they weren't bothered by it at all! 
  
  
• What words of encouragement would you share with someone going BALD?Don't be scared! Embrace it and own it! It truly is incredibly liberating. There are going to be people who stare and people who ask rude questions, don't get upset with them, inform them, it's the only way to spread awareness! You will always be beautiful, hair or no hair. Never let other peoples definitions of beauty become your definition of beauty. Why? Because there isn't one! Don't worry about what others think because in the grand scheme of it all, the only opinion that matters is the one you have of yourself! LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!
  

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