Coping with Hair Loss in Every Day Life

[chrisis]

I look best with my hair grown out a bit or I'd definitely have it shorter.

I just realised that straightening my hair makes it much more susceptible to wind, so may stop doing that.... at least until after my ht.

[NotBelievingIt]

Also tired of the wind recently. I didn't notice until recently how windy my city is. You can get an umbrella for rain, but with wind you can do nothing!!!

Best defense against wind and rain is to just keep it short such that any minor "swish" can be easily hand fixed.

[chrisis]

I'm finding myself having second thoughts if friends ask me out somewhere. If I don't fix this I fear I will become a hairless hermit!

Also tired of the wind recently. I didn't notice until recently how windy my city is. You can get an umbrella for rain, but with wind you can do nothing!!!

[lucrio]

About what clandestine said regarding losing out on potential. This is exactly how I feel. If my head was not always filled with worries about my hair and if hairloss was not inhibiting me from doing things I would be doing otherwise, it seems I could be accomplishing so much more. Before I began losing my hair I was able to be good at anything I put my mind to, now it seems that a portion of my brain function is constantly spent worrying and that losisng my hair makes me feel like an overall failure.

[NotBelievingIt]

Writing thoughts and feelings down is cathartic - so is talking to someone and just letting it spill. It allows you to release emotions on your terms.

[clandestine]

Just wrote a reply. A long one, rather decent. About 5 paragraphs about how I'm currently feeling. Pushed the wrong button on my keyboard somehow, lost it.

Somehow I feel it doesn't matter anyway. It was more just my thoughts, realizing how truly inhibited I am by this affliction. Then some what ifs, what if I were truly uninhibited? Imagining a scenario where I could maybe care less about hair loss.

Feels like I'm falling short of my potential. Losing sight of who I am as a person sometimes. Held back. This all sounds very dismal. Fact is, it is. I apologize.

I encourage you all to vent. However you're feeling currently. Good; bad; optimistic; ****ing pissed; apathetic; abysmal; high; low. Doesn't matter. Writing helps.

[NotBelievingIt]

Got a haircut yesterday.

Felt good for a little while, but the hair loss is still noticeable. Really hits my confidence. This, mostly when I'm going out with friends or being around other people. Turning into a sort of social anxiety in some instances.

Try not looking at yourself in the mirror. Out of sight out of mind.

Of course as a guy that can be tough when you have to shave

[clandestine]

Got a haircut yesterday.

Felt good for a little while, but the hair loss is still noticeable. Really hits my confidence. This, mostly when I'm going out with friends or being around other people. Turning into a sort of social anxiety in some instances.

[clandestine]

Thanks for the replies everyone, as well as the support.

@Maradona; I think suggesting it on the bald truth talk to Spencer is a great idea. Try to stay strong my man.


@NotBelievingIt; Entirely true. Those that truly matter in life, won't mind. And those that do, don't matter. I think it's great you've taken up an interest in climbing. I've been a couple times myself, very fun.

"Later I realize that I interacted with this person as myself and that was who was reacted to. Not my hair."
This is a great statement man, very true indeed.

And yes, I probably need to get out of my dorm room more often. Unfortunately I've had an ear injury that prevents me from really going out at night/ listening to music (i.e. going downtown). Sorta been rough.

I realize the steps I need to take towards acceptance, non-resistance. Nonetheless, I often feel along in this struggle among my age group.

Gotta be strong though, all we can do is try to be our best!


@Tracy C; Great tip Tracy. Reality is your focus, perception. We must remain grateful for that which we have in life. Wanted to apologize as well for my previous post in this thread towards you, I was frustrated at the time.

Also, I'd like to share this with you all.

http://8tracks.com/whatsyourname/i-will-fu-ing-pull-greatness-out-of-you

First couple songs are a great listen, rather inspirational. Brought my mood up.

[Tracy C]

Can't seem to shake negative thought patterns, though I can identify them.

How are you guys making out?

It certainly is not easy. One of the tricks I've learned is to sit down and make a list of all the things that make me happy. More often than not doing this has a snowball effect because each thing I write down reminds me of something else that makes me happy.

[NotBelievingIt]

Feeling rather introverted lately. Continually self conscious in some respects. Worried about appearance in many social situations, anxiety kicks in pretty frequently.

Hm, been feeling more introverted since I've gone off to uni. Can't seem to shake negative thought patterns, though I can identify them.

How are you guys making out?

If I'm alone, I think about my hair and strangely, I think about what others think even though there are no others - except the cats LOL. And that constant thinking about it leads to the negative thoughts.

I've found myself feeling better when I'm around people and simply stop thinking about my hair and think about the situation and the other people. Later I realize that I interacted with this person as myself and that was who was reacted to. Not my hair.

My advice to you would be to get the hell out of the dorm room. Spend time around people and interact with them. Especially at a university there has to be a social group you can join with like minded people about some hobby that you can talk about and enjoy an activity together.

Whats helped me since my "realization" back in October is going to a local indoor climbing gym and meeting some folks in classes. The people there simply do not care and if they do or even notice, they do not express it in any way which is basically exactly the same. I suppose it helps there is a good handful of regulars that have completed shaved it off, or have super short hair, so scalp isn't uncommon.

Its also been helpful that a couple of the friends I've met are good looking girls who climb with me, talk with me and laugh with me. That kind of interaction is a positive and uplifting.

Repeat to yourself when you're feeling down:
Those That Matter Do Not Mind and Those That Mind Do Not Matter

[Maradona]

Feeling rather introverted lately. Continually self conscious in some respects. Worried about appearance in many social situations, anxiety kicks in pretty frequently.

Hm, been feeling more introverted since I've gone off to uni. Can't seem to shake negative thought patterns, though I can identify them.

How are you guys making out?

man im same as you only difference that I'm still in College and ITS HELL to go to college for me but its my last semester !!! so everyone will probably remember me as the hairy guy if I can keep up with the hats and hiding as much as possible...good thing it's winter.

Another thing: i take the train at late night so it's less crowded thats how self concious I am.

I think we should sugest this idea of a sub forum in the bald truth show on sunday, its a great idea. However I think it would have like 1000 posts a day, idk if that could be bad.

[clandestine]

Feeling rather introverted lately. Continually self conscious in some respects. Worried about appearance in many social situations, anxiety kicks in pretty frequently.

Hm, been feeling more introverted since I've gone off to uni. Can't seem to shake negative thought patterns, though I can identify them.

How are you guys making out?

[Winston]

I think a sub forum that sticks solely to the emotional issues related to hair loss is an excellent idea! I’m sure if enough of us ask for it the administrators of this site will eventually add one. Let’s please stay on topic so this thread can be recognized by the admins of the forum.

[25 going on 65]

A sub-forum of that kind might be a good idea. Even after successfully treating my hair loss for more than a year, I still find myself mentally struggling with it. There are still days when I feel like I can't even leave my home.

I think depression from hair loss is very understandable and natural, especially for those in their teens, 20's and 30's. There isn't really any other "benign" condition that so radically, rapidly changes the image of a young adult. It's a bit like losing most of your teeth in 5 years, or seeing your nose or ears double (or halve) in size. It's just this sudden and very visible transformation that isn't even lifestyle-related.. just bad luck in the genetic lottery.

And just to do my part in hijacking the thread further (sorry OP): I understand Tracy's frustration with fear mongering on this forum. Someone WILL visit this forum who could, with treatment, be a solid NW2 in 8-10 years from now - but instead will be a NW5 or 6 because they think they'll be permanently impotent otherwise (or some other nonsense like that).
Knowing first-hand how this condition affects our thoughts and emotions, I truly feel sorry for whoever that is. Tracy does too. That's why she hammers on these points; if she manages to save even one person's future, it's worth it.