Young Teen Discovers Inner Strength
Thursday, August 20, 2009
By: Debra Lustig

A Young Teen Discovers Inner Strength and Embraces Her Challenges

My name is Deb, and I have alopecia areata. It’s been really hard for me, but I’m staying positive. I’ve known for only a couple months that I have this disease, but the bald patches started showing up about a year ago.

I’d like to give all of my support to those who have this disease. I can’t go anywhere without a scarf or a hat on my head, but I’m not complaining. I love to wear scarves; they always add to the attractiveness of the outfit. These days, the style is much like when my grandparents were young, so scarves are in fashion right now.

I’d like to encourage everyone, especially teens in middle school, not to give up but to be positive. I know that at times it can be hard since the world today often looks at image, but remember that it’s what’s inside that matters; your personality makes you who you are, not your looks. My friends are very supportive of me; they treat me like a human, not a fragile person who will break. They keep me on my feet and keep me strong despite the fact that at times I pity myself. They’re there to remind me of who I am regardless of what the world might think.

I’d really like to tell other teens to trust their friends and teachers. A lot of my teachers email me and ask me how things are going. They tell me all the time that they are there for me if I need to vent my feelings or if I feel as if I need someone to talk to. I’m really happy that even in the difficult times I’ve managed to strengthen my friendships and be thankful for what I have while also being proud of who I am rather than discouraged about what I look like (even though I think I look fine).

I’d also like to thank NAAF for being there for others. Before I found out that I had this disease, I was unaware that anything like this existed and I was afraid when the bald spots appeared. The NAAF Web site informed me that I would be fine and told me what I could do to help myself. Because of NAAF I felt confident and less self-conscious about my condition. I’m positive that others, like me, have also felt the same about the work that you do. So, on behalf of my friends, my teachers, and myself, thank you and God bless you for everything that you have been doing!