Severely depressed

[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]

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.