Severely depressed

[geminidb8]

Have Faith in what you believe in

I understand your feelings. In 1987 I burnt the bible and cursed everyone including God. It got worse. Have faith in whatever or whomever you believe in but for me God gives and takes. Science can only go so far. I feel in a way that medical science ruined me in the 1980's by botched surgeries more than plain baldness. I think that there is truth in Samson & Delilah. I lost my strength to baldness and now am recovering slowly. In my case I prayed to God and my mom who died in 2002 ( She knew all about my depression and botched surgeries when she was alive) For me I found Dr Woods and it is getting better. Remember though the scars of baldness and bad surgeries are for a lifetime. But do whatever works for you. I am just happy that something positive is finally for me working. Best of luck to all.

[ODB]

FCK,

I am 22 and thin on top as well. My dad's entire side of the family is bald and I go between acceptance and denial that my hair is thinning out. I've spent countless hours looking on the internet for a solution which has only served to prolong the anxieties which I hoped to alleviate by finding ‘the cure’.

We're now a society which worships youth, good looks and material acquisition over wisdom, temperance and understanding of the human condition. Going bald is a huge anxiety for all human life walking the planet. I still see the sting in my dad and uncles eyes when they’re picked on for having no hair on their head. Of course they don’t base their entire worth on this planet based on the number of hairs on their head. A true man will not lose faith in life because of superficial problems. As I see it, going bald can either beat you down or it could serve as a character building experience in your life.

As for your sister FCK, that really unfortunate she can’t feel sympathy and bases your worth in such a superficial way. It’s necessary to have a trustworthy base of friends and family to help you out in hard times. That is what bald truth is about, correct? I think spencer kobren is a good man for creating this community and facilitating an honest discussion amidst all the snake oil and lies which pervade the treatment of hair loss. Buck up FCK, your not alone.. Im 22 and clearly balding. As long as you keep a good head on your shoulders, follow the golden rule you will learn to accept your fate.

[follicallychallengedkid]

I would like to thank all of you who replied to this thread.

I really was having a very low moment. I did end up going to the reunion, and had a great time. I did take the advice of some forum members who suggested methods of covering bald spots (e.g. Toppik). While such methods will not lower my already receded hairline, it did wonders for my crown area, and I think the most important thing is that I felt a lot more confident.

In any case, I am still learning to cope with balding, but I decided to not shut myself out from life. It really is a life long learning process.

[d0072]

i just turned 21. I feel your pain. Every last drop of it....
Honestly i have views on Hairloss treatments that infuruate me. I mean think of it this way, why would we want to find a cure for hairloss? All the gimmicks and helping gadgets,procedures, pills and shit make this damn industry a multi billion industry. IF there is/was a Permanent fix for this thing then all the companies that own and market treatments would go down the drain. The doctors that specialize in doing transplants would be out of a job. It would be the worst day for anyone that profits from "Anti" hairloss products and procedures..... Just my view on how F*cked we, the victim of the disease, really are. We are all in the same boat man. Ive been losing my hair since i was 18, and idk wtf to do anymore.

Edit:
Just really quick, you know whats worse than being bald in your 20's???
.... Being in your 20's and being impotent lol.
I sure as hell aint taking any chances with propecia.

[Layercake]

that may be true to an extent, but there is still a FAT pot of gold waiting for the company that does cure baldness.

[wishfulthinking]

Hey folicallychallenged,

I read your post and I can completely relate. I'm a 21 year old college student experiencing the same thing as you. Honestly, I'd like someone that I can talk to about my problem and you seem like the right person. Any chance I could get your email? If you're worried about posting your real email on here, just create a new account with yahoo or gmail and I'll email that new account. Hope you hear back from you soon, thanks.

[[mcr]]

I feel your pain, and if I may share my opinion, I'll recommend that you shave your head.

Why, you ask? Won't that make you completely bold?

What shaving your head will do is shift your perspective, and that of everyone around you. Going bald is not a choice. You look and feel helpless. Shaving your head, on the other hand, is a choice. In doing so you will feel like you have control over the stuff that grows on your head. It won't be there because YOU DECIDED so.

Also, a shaved head is normally associated with tough, masculine types (think military men, or Vin Diesel type dudes).

That's my suggestion. If you do it, stand strong and don't let people bring you down. If someone comments on your head, casually say that you shave your head because you like it better that way.

[Buckerine11]

I agree. If you don't look awful with a buzzcut, you should go for it.

[follicallychallengedkid]

Wishfulthinking, feel free to email me (darknight852@gmail.com).

I've recently gone through a huge shedding and now the hair on top of my head is miniaturized noticeably. The hair that falls on my desk and pillow are tiny, vellus hair. After taking the shower today, I took a close look at what's going on (which I've resisted since I knew I was in for a shock), and I almost had a heart attack seeing bare scalp on the entire top my head. Looks like balding is on its full course now.

I'm still taking Propecia everyday and applying Minox twice a day. But I am a clear example of someone who hasn't responded wonderfully to these drugs. Often times, many balding guys put too much hopes into these drugs. Sure, they are the only FDA approved drugs, and yes, they are probably your best bet in slowing down balding, but they are no magic potions - I hope my posts can instill some sense of reality into desperate guys (like myself) and to start their regimen with a realistic expectations in mind.

To answer those of you who have suggested shaving - I've been cursed with both very odd (and uneven) shaped head + balding gene. Besides, my job requires a lot of face time with big clients, and the environment is extremely conservative. I don't think a shaved look will be loved much in the office.

What a difference a year makes...
3-4 months into my Propecia/Minox regimen, I was ecstatic with the result. My crown was filling, and even my hairline started to show vellus hairs that weren't there before. I think my results peaked in at the 6-7th month, and then it started to go downhill very fast. Browsing through the web, it looks like I am not the only one with this kind of result, and I'd really like to know why a certain group responds well to these drugs, while others don't respond at all (and then there are people like me who respond very well briefly, then end up being worse).

From tomorrow, I am going to start doing some intense cardio. I used to do this briefly during the first 2 months of starting Propecia/Minox regimen, and maybe that played a part in the initial success I saw. If anything, it will be good for my healthy anyway. If this doesn't help slow down my balding, then I may look into getting a hair piece. Perhaps its the desperation, perhaps its my heightened sense of helplessness, but my attitude towards wearing a hair piece has changed drastically these days.

And of course, thank you to the BaldTruth community members for your continued support.

-FCK

[Zao]

Hang in there FCK! It’'s common for people to go through a shed after several months of being in these drugs. I went through a shed myself at around 7 month on Propecia and after about a year into it it all grew back. It’s not over until it’s over so hang in there and stay on the meds!

[follicallychallengedkid]

Hang in there FCK! It’'s common for people to go through a shed after several months of being in these drugs. I went through a shed myself at around 7 month on Propecia and after about a year into it it all grew back. It’s not over until it’s over so hang in there and stay on the meds!

Thanks, Zao. I will be staying on the drugs.

Do you mean that its common for people to experience ANOTHER shedding after the initial shed?

I experienced a MASSIVE shed in just 3 weeks after starting my Propecia/Minox regimen. I didn't freak out then because I had researched on this and was looking forward to having them grow back thicker. They did, for about 8 months. Now, I am almost 14 months into the treatements and losing ground again. This time, I'm not having a massive shed like before, but my hair on top are going through miniaturization overall, and the hair that do fall off are tiny vellus hair (was not the case before). Could I be having another (temporary) shed? Or does this mean the drugs are no longer working for me?

Perhaps the fact that I responded so quick to the drug also means the wearing off comes quicker? I am obviously not a doctor, but I just can't understand how the drugs were so effective for a while, and then lose their effectiveness all of a sudden.

-FCK

[California13]

I encourage you to map your scalp for miniaturization. I go through the same thing, one day thinking that things are good, the next thinking that they are the worst. I felt I needed a more scientific way of deciding what was working then my own subjective view of things, which often had more to do with my mood on a particular day than anything else. I also vowed to not let my hair dictate whether I was happy, and went to see a psychiatrist. Its been helpful, provided you find the right one.

[Buckerine11]

I encourage you to map your scalp for miniaturization. I go through the same thing, one day thinking that things are good, the next thinking that they are the worst. I felt I needed a more scientific way of deciding what was working then my own subjective view of things, which often had more to do with my mood on a particular day than anything else. I also vowed to not let my hair dictate whether I was happy, and went to see a psychiatrist. Its been helpful, provided you find the right one.

Hey California, how exactly has the psychiatrist helped you? My parents were pushing me to go to psych counseling last winter when I hit rock bottom, but I honestly couldn't see how they can help me. I felt like everything they can tell me, I try to tell myself, but just can't actualize. Are you on anti-depressants also?

[California13]

I am, and I am also doing work for OCD, which is essentially what all of this is. I recommend a book called "when panic attacks" by dr david burns.

[Jon]

Baldness and attractiveness

I feel you young guys' pain-- when I was 20, not even old enough to hit the bars, the hair around my temples receded and got thinner. It happened in just a few months--the curse of heredity was like a time bomb. A hair restoration specialist said I'd lost about 30% of my hair. I got on Propecia right away, and it stabilized and I even regrew some.

I was really devastated and equated hair loss to attractiveness loss. My self-esteem took a nose dive and I became obsessed with my hair line. Then a funny thing happened. I realized my girlfriend still wanted me. In fact, she became even more into me over time.

I didn't understand it then but now at 30, looking back at the beautiful women I've dated (and I've dated more than many of my hairy friends), I've realized two things. Hair line is only a very small part of your attactiveness to many girls. And the big one-- some girls REALLY dig bald guys. I'm completely serious. 9 times out of 10, if their father is bald, and you are an attractive balding man with good things going for you, you are getting pursued, my friend. Over half of the women I've dated had bald fathers. Other features like personality, fitness, and confidence have more to do with your attractiveness than hairline. You just may turn off certain girls, but those girls you can live without, when you're getting action from the ones who dont know why they're so attracted to you.