Back toUpdated on October 23, 2024
Ashley P. is a geologist and mother living her best life with atopic dermatitis.
Transcript
ASHLEY P: There became a point in my recovery where I realized that I was no longer a wife.
I was no longer a mother to my children. I was pretty much a shell of a human.
[MUSIC PLAYING] I'm Ashley, and this is my confessional.
I am a geologist. I am a mother. I am married. I am also a stay-at-home mom now,
and I live in the northern suburbs of Philadelphia. I was first diagnosed with eczema when I was eight years old.
Over the course of so many years, I realized that this was no longer living. This was surviving.
I unfortunately look like a burn victim. I was in so much pain.
I just fell into such a terrible depression. My skin held me back in so many ways.
And I reached the point where I realized that enough was enough
and that I am strong enough [LAUGHS] to take on this healing journey.
I sought out a specific type of doctor. I started actively looking for healing treatments.
I was able to really take a new perspective on healing and show my body and show myself that healing can happen,
that our bodies are so powerful if we just give them the right tools to heal.
What brings joy to my life? I look at my children and how much fun they have and the play that they have and that now I
can actually participate with them and my husband. My blanket knitting came back to me at a time
where I needed something that would keep my hands off of my skin from itching it, and then I
was creating something out of a situation that was so ugly. And I found a product, found a result,
that was machine washable and durable for eczema. [LAUGHS] So that was an added bonus.
It is so freeing to not be held back anymore and not let my skin define me.
