CHALLENGE: I write about my health because… Reflect on why you write about your health for 15-20 minutes without stopping.

I remember growing up feeling like I was all alone. I didn’t know anyone else with psoriasis. It was very awkward growing up trying to find a place where I would fit in.  I’m tall, always have been. Often times people asked me if I modeled or played sports… I would come up with some crazy excuse saying it wasn’t my thing or I just wasn’t athletic enough knowing that I didn’t because of my skin…. In my heart I wanted to do all those things, but didn’t, because of the ridicule I felt I would face due to my psoriasis.

I had a cousin who had psoriasis, never met him, just heard different stories about his condition. Family members would tell me how he had psoriasis all the way up until he was 18, then it miraculous went into remission.  That story was my glimpse of hope. I looked forward to reaching 18 years old, because I knew that just like my cousin, I too would be free of the disease. Well, 6 years after 18 I’m still covered.

I never seen anybody like “Alisha.” I never came across someone with psoriasis that was defeating it! Maybe that was because as I hid, so did others. Psoriasis affected my self-esteem severely, almost anybody with psoriasis can relate in some way. As I look back at my life, I stopped myself from so much because of this disease due to fear of what others would say.

I write about my condition because I want the next “Alisha” who is feeling alone, afraid, and lacks self-esteem to see ME enjoying life even with psoriasis. I believe as a teen if I would have seen somebody carrying themselves with confidence, not caring about what the world had to say, that I would have come out this “closet” a lot sooner.

I do this as therapy for myself, but most of all I do this as therapy for others. I hope when a person see’s me or reads my blogs that they say to themselves ”If she can do it, so can I.” I’m a walking billboard for psoriasis, because I’m no longer ashamed!

** Day 4 of activist challenge. 30 post in 30 days, using prompts provided by WEGO Health. **