Hi Kelly,

Honey, God made you beautiful, just the way you are. I know it’s really hard to be a teeanager and not be "just like everyone else"...but you know what? Those girls that are "just like everyone else" really aren’t. They have their problems too, they just may not be as visible. 

Now, as for swimming, I’m figuring it’s because of the swim suit?  Please look around for one you can feel comfortable in...you know what I use? (I’m just plain fat, and that’s all there is to that!:) I wear a pair of those shorts made out of the nylon fabric and a one piece suit that fits big....just a plain colour suit that you can match with any pair of shorts.  Then dive in! My daughter swims competitively (she has CAH) and she wears one piece suits. I personally don’t believe in those skimpy string things girls wear now adays...they are just inappropriate (but I know that a lot of "perfect" girls wear them and it’s hard for a girl to swallow the fact that she can’t)..... You can also find the swim dresses that another poster spoke of by searching "modest clothing" on google. They are great.  The other moms had great suggestions for clothes. My daughter has the same issue, though she is younger than you...she is stuck between girls clothes and adult small sizes and she is only 9. These sizes need to be redone. You are not the only 14 yr. old who doesn’t "fit the mold". And who wants to? It would be a boring life if we all fit the mold.

Kelly, please try to talk to your mom or an adult in your life who will listen about your depression. It is no fun. I have struggled with it my whole life and the depression itself makes it so hard to look on the bright side of things. If you can get some help with the depression, everything else will get easier. Don’t live your life depressed. God wants us to be happy and to be able to sing our prayers to Him, literally!

Please post again, we want to know how you are doing.  We really care about you Kelly and want you to feel better about yourself! Hair is just hair....it’s not who you are.  There are ways to get rid of it such as electrolysis and bleaching. Be sure your meds are correct first as has already been said. You may find that it just falls out if your meds are adjusted...and even if it doesn’t, there are other ways to deal with it.

I am positive that you are a beautiful young lady with a bright, bright future. Find something you love and go for it. What’s your favorite thing to do?

Since I can’t hug you in person, I’m sending you a big one here. If I could hug you I’d whisper in your ear that you are a beautiful, caring young lady who will grow up to touch everyone in your life with your love.