Alopecia World
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20/20 - Make it stop!
So I was watching 20/20 and they were doing stories of people with rare disorders. OH to my surprise, they did a piece on Alopecia. I realize losing hair is nothing compared to eating rocks for a living but I figured, they would do some justice to the topic to educate people of this very serious condition. So they highlight this one woman who used to be a hair model. She had alopecia and lost a good portion of her hair. I have to be honest ladies and gentlemen, she got on my last nerves! Perhaps if they had interviewed more than one person, it would have sat better in my spirit but they didn't. This woman was mental! Getting your head hammered and all these other crazy things I never heard of just to get your healing just floored me! Then they gave her a cute, short wig and she still had a fit! I didn't buy it world! They didn't even go into details on the different types of alopecia! If they did then I missed it. I just couldn't get over the fact that they chose this nutcase woman to represent the population of people that still suffer from alopecia. Now before you start getting mad at me for my opinion, let me also add this: I believe people go through extreme emotions when dealing with alopecia and I realize that everybody deals with it in their own way. Let me stress, I DO NOT BUY HER STORY! Let me find the person who hammered, not acupuncture but HAMMERED her head so I can show them what I can do with a nail! And I bet you it cost thousands of dollars for her to have her head hammered too! Poor girl got hustled! Let me hammer your head for a few thousand dollars to make your hair grow. That woman doing the hammering knew good and well that wasn't going to work! If I still lived in California, I would sue for malpractice. I see it as her taking advantage of a person's weakness. (For those who want to get technical, alopecia is a weakness for her because she is still not happy with herself because of this condition) Where did she find this person?? All it did was leave her head red, sore, and still bald.
I write this to point out the following:
1)This chick is playing games. That was extra drama for TV because real people who have alopecia, even when suicidal, don't act that way.
2)Never get your head hammered as a form of hair therapy for alopecia. I'm no medical expert but I can tell you straight up, that's a scam
3)The media still only tells half the story because I've read better and more compelling stories on Alopecia World than that whole segment on 20/20.
I just had to express myself about this topic because I felt this segment did us all an injustice. I went through some crazy stuff when I had alopecia but I didn't act like that! She could have been my hero. Alas, I've been let down again. But I digress...
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Comment by Tracey on May 19, 2012 at 12:44pm
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Lame, 20/20, lame. Way to sensationalize rather than report. And Surraugeny, you are hilarious! Thank you for cracking me up this morning!!! I needed that!
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Comment by Surraugeny Sanders on May 19, 2012 at 3:50pm
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I'm glad you liked it! I hope you saw it because it was a downright shame the way she acted. I'll keep them coming and keep you laughing when I can.
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Comment by AZMom on May 19, 2012 at 8:07pm
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Georgia is an award-winning film producer of the alopecia film "Baby Let Your Hair Hang Down. She is also a very prominent member of the National Alopecia Foundation, lecturer and works with children at the alopecia camps. She has been a friend of mine on Facebook and has helped me so much. She was merely trying to show all the drastic methods people go through to try and get their hair back.
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Comment by LilyBell*Murphy'sLawLuvsMe on May 19, 2012 at 8:42pm
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I did not find it upsetting. I thought how she reacted was a good representation of exactly that - how she reacted to her alopecia. The only part I did not really like was when she said she loved her alopecia and I do wish the producers had taken the time to say more about the disease - however, personally I was fine with Georgia and how she expressed herself. It is an individual journey to be sure - and to me she was just sharing hers.
As for head hammering - I think a lot of people would do far more drastic things if there was even the slightest chance to regrow their hair! And while it was painful to watch and I do think that she was probably taken advantage of - many things people try to regrow their hair are potentially harmful to their health - like steroids and drugs to treat cancer!
BTW I have done accupuncture for pain relief and it did work and I know that they even use it to help people get off or drugs and to quit smoking - so I am not so quick to dismiss alternative medicine. I have also used hypnotherapy for my stress and panic disorder and have been quite successful with it. I have to take many many meds for various health conditions and if I can avoid adding yet another one by using an alternative medicine technique I welcome it.
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Comment by Alliegator on May 21, 2012 at 11:40am
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I agree with AZMom. Everyone may have their own opinion about the program, but I think she is brave. Some people want to try different methods to regrow hair, and that is their decision even if you think it is drastic. For example, I don't understand why women get implants, but that is something they want so more power to them. 20/20 could have told other stories, but they had a limited amount of time for the segment. She was chosen because of her work on the documentary. Not many people would be willing to show what they go through on film.
Rose Marie... I believe you might be able to find clips of it online.
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Comment by Jana on May 22, 2012 at 2:38pm
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I was pleased to see this second showing of the documentary was titled Medical Mysteries, and not My Extreme Affliction. I was pleased to see Georgia alongside other medical conditions, and not a hoarder and an "owner of many cats." And I was pleased to see they cut her last comment from the original interview, in which she stated that she loved her alopecia. Some of us who have this condition can translate that she meant she has learned to love herself for who she is, but the general world might not understand this statement . . . The symptom of hair loss is managed by each of us uniquely. That is an important message, as it the reality that this is a disease in which our bodies expend energy every day, as our immune systems attack our hair follicles.
We each have something to say, and each of us is different. Georogia's view may resonate with you or it may not. Best to be honest, and likely she would agree.
I do believe the "hammering" is a legitimate aspect of accupuncture. In some ways, I would rather watch this form of treatment then the topical application of a drug to the eyelids of young children.
Cheers.
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Comment by Sara Vaughn-Coleman on May 22, 2012 at 11:20pm
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I wasn't offended either but I wish they would have went into more detail about the causes of alopecia. Also, the hammering in the head is mild compared to what some people I know have gone though. When hair is part of who you are you will go through some very extreme measures to try and get it back. We all deal with it different and should embrace everyone.
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I respect all of your opinions. I am glad you shared them. I do however stand by mine. Knowing she is now an advocate for alopecia, I do encourage her to continue with awareness. I just thought the way they highlighted this issue and they way she came across was done very poorly. @Rosie Marie, thanks.
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I am wondering if contacting 20/20 directly might be helpful to you. Perhaps you can ask them the questions you have and both you and they can begin to understand each other. ..just a thought.
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Comment by Cindy on May 25, 2012 at 12:15am
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Georgia is wonderful and I had the pleasure to see a preview of her film this summer at camp. while the 20/20 piece does not do,it justice when her film gets on tv I think you will have a rather different opinion. her film just one an award and she is beginning to get recognized for her film and advocacy. she is my Facebook friend and has been inspiration to many. Take the time to know her before such a hard judgement. my daughter is one of,the CAP kids in it and we are proud of her work.
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