Well it certainly has been a long time since I've been on this site... I guess I'll just do a quick update. I was contacted recently on facebook by the girlfriend off one of my cousins. She just got diagnosed recently- maybe a year ago?- with alopecia. My cousin, having grown up all his life with me having alopecia, referred her to me because shes been having some difficulty adjusting, and doesn't have anyone to talk to about it.
I feel so bad for her. I know how hard it is to deal with this disease, especially at first. I'm glad that I have the opportunity to be there for her to talk to If she needs it-.thats something I never had for the first many years after being diagnosed, and even when I found friends who accepted it, it just wasn't quite the same because they didn't understand how it had affected me. They just saw it as something cool and unique. And while that did really help me grow into myself and come to accept and even occasionally enjoy my alopecia, it isn't the same as having people to talk to that have been where you've been. People that understand ridicule and loneliness the same way.
I'm glad I get the chance to help her cope with alopecia. But I also know that it's only just the beginning for her. Shes on some medications right now, and, just like with everyone else, they only work for her when shes on them. Luckily for her, her hair is still growing back, and I told her that was a good sign.. But I worry she'll get her hopes up too high. I've had alopecia for exactly two thirds off my life, sixteen whole years now, and it took the better part of all that time to finally accept that my hair is never coming back.
I think I'll refer her to this site. I think it would help a lot- it's definitely helped me.