Depression and hair loss- any advice welcome

[davepeters3345]

Hi all,

I have been posting here and there about my experience with hair loss, but I never spoke about why it is so important to me, hoping some of you can relate.

I started balding at 17. At first, it didn't bother me, up until about age 18, where I went through a major depression. I did not leave my house for weeks, my parents were frantic, and it was just a deep dark ****hole I couldn't climb out of. All this was related to my hair loss. When I went out, I felt like every pair of eyes was glaring, focused on my receding temples and bald spot. I don't know how I got out of that depression, but I did, I believe it has something to do with starting to go the gym regularly (note, my balding was not noticeable here, I was just being a drama queen). Life was good from then until 19, where my hair loss become noticeable.

Fast forward 2 years, to where I am now. My temples are a prominent NW2, and my crown/vertex is completely thinned out. My dad was NW6 at age 23, and at this rate I will be the same. The depression is real, and it is destroying me. I am a medical student, and have always had high grades. This ordeal has brought them down significantly. Also, I have always been a goodlooking guy, aggressive and "masculine" if you will. Girls have never been a problem. I am now the laughing stock of my friends group. I don't go out, I don't talk, and I am losing hope. This wouldn't bother me that much if I was losing my hair at 30, 40, but at 20 years old, I feel like my youth was robbed from me. I do not know what to do anymore.


NOTE:
started finasteride, nizoral and minoxidil 3 weeks ago, no sides to report besides slight gyno that subsided. Also, major major shed. My crown vertex is thinner than ever and my temples have receded at least a cm in 3 weeks... It's horrible.
Also, I didn't start finasteride earlier because of idiot doctors who all laughed at me and told me there was no treatment for hair loss (I saw about 4 doctors from age 17-19).

Looking for someone who can relate, a personal story, advice, I don't care, anything will help me at this point.
Cheers and goodluck to you all

 

[voss224]

Pretty sure we can all relate. Depression, real dark depression is probably the worst thing someone can go through. My only advice would be to look past your looks and be thankful for what you do have. Health, family, a very promising career ahead of you. Heck once you're in the medical profession, I'm sure girls will be all over you. Good luck buddy

 

[davepeters3345]

I could have written this. Don't feel ashamed for what you went through.

Everyone would have reacted the same at that age, everyone! I surely have.

Just know that there is life after hair loss. All you need is a plan, a safety net.

For you it may be successful early medication, for me it was the realisation I could have a FUE hair transplant done.

Start a plan now, in case medication can't help you, look at solutions like FUE, SMP, even concealers to buy more time.

Anything that could make you feel better really. You will only have one youth and it's important that you don't waste it.

Good luck!

Thank you. If finasteride can maintain what I have, I will be ecstatic. Beggars can't be choosers. Damage is done in terms of "wasting my youth". I think balding has been too much of an ordeal for me to ever recover from. It has completely destroyed me and scarred me too hard. I'll give finasteride 5 months and jump onto dutasteride as a last resort.

Thanks for your post!

- - - Updated - - -

Pretty sure we can all relate. Depression, real dark depression is probably the worst thing someone can go through. My only advice would be to look past your looks and be thankful for what you do have. Health, family, a very promising career ahead of you. Heck once you're in the medical profession, I'm sure girls will be all over you. Good luck buddy

I wish it was that simple. I just can't handle it right now, as a 20 year old (just turned 20 last week actually, so basically 19). I don't leave my house and have lost alot of weight. Everywhere I go I get comments and laughs. Sucks to suck

 

[davepeters3345]

I spent 6 months in psychiatry because of my hair loss between age 20 and 23. I still feel my youth wasn't wasted.

You're 20 for god's sake, it's still very young! I was in a dark place, darker than all you can imagine:

I had to deal with man boobs on top of a full-blown NW5 at 22.

I suffered from panic attacks that made me want to throw myself out the window, major depression, and even psychosis/loss of touch with reality.

Like you I barely left my home for 1 year. But still I don't think this time was wasted. I used it educate myself, to enjoy good entertainment, and to focus on university.

If you really want it deep down, you can beat this crap!

You are tougher than me. What can I say. Nothing usually bothers me, but this has destroyed me. I don't know why it is affecting me so much, but it is. But you sound similar to me. I am currently doing exactly that. I take refuge in my studies and the gym. There is nothing else

 

[voss224]

Nothing in life is easy, you have to work for the things you want. Start small, get some sun and start exercising again and work your way back from there. The sooner you start, the sooner the depression goes away.

- - - Updated - - -

PRP stopped my hairloss

 

[davepeters3345]

Thanks. I'm basically putting all my hope into finasteride. If it stops my hair loss, I can slowly boost my confidence up. If it continues, I don't think I can go on much longer.

Been on for 3 weeks, I'll post 4 month update. Wish me luck

 

[viet nom nom]

You'll wanna give it more than a couple months before you throw in the towel. I think Fred makes a great point about a plan. You did the first step, and it might be worth considering solutions over the long term. Yeah, you migt need to wait a few years before making enough money for a transplant (if that's what you eventually need), but lots of people get through this.

The important thing to remember is you have LOTS of youth left. Even if it takes a couple years to get past this, there is a lot of living ahead. I'm 39. My best period was 25-now. Late teens-early twenties are the *** end of life.

 

[shookwun]

Have a plan of attack.

It sucks being young, broke and experiencing crutches such as hair loss, but it can be overcome with the right approach. establish a net worth, maintain with medication, get a hair transplant and live your life. The present moment might not feel the greatest but it isn't the finish line, there is a lot to look forward to.

life is what you make of it. nobodies going to give you anything, gotta get up and do it yourself. A lion doesn't concern itself with the opinion of a sheep...


This might sound like positive reinforcement but, if you truly want success, and are passionate about your skill, trade or degree then success will follow. It did for me.

 

[davepeters3345]

Thank you all. Money is not going to be a problem for me (hopefully..). I am lucky that I am studying what I love and it is a good distraction. Given what doctors make here, I will be able to afford a hair transplant.

Its just very hard going from being extremely social and having girls all the time (yes, girls are very important to me) to basically never seeing the sun and not being able to look a girl in the eyes. That and being laughed at constantly for being "that balding kid".

Still, thank you all for the responses. It is very appreciated and always welcome. Gluck to you all

 

[illuminatiwater]

haha bro, start on a plan now, and live every day to the fullest. you haven't wasted squat.

im 23, and just started to notice some hair thinning at the top of my forehead. ive been in denial and told myself it was from drastic weight loss, but im gonna take action to do the best i can for it.

also i wasted a lot of time not enjoying life when i was younger. now i think positive thoughts everyday, and continue on with life.


you are young as hell man, get into the best shape of your life, start strength training. do something unique, learn a foreign language, improve yourself etc.

you haven't wasted squat. im 23 and i feel like i have so much time ahead of me as opposed to just last year when i was depressed like you were and thought i wasted my youth.


seriously man, 20s are the most exciting decade of your life cause you find out about yourself and we can take chances in different things---DO NOT take that for granted.

this decade we can take risks.

you want to play pro basketball? train and tryout for college and look for offers over seas or even NBA if you are that good (haha for real)

you want to become r&b artist? go for it

you want to become entrepreneur? go for it



point is, you have your life ahead of you.

i don't want you to feel like you are because you have no reason to, and crazy thing is i understand where you are coming from, because i was down in the dumps for years and years from high school and carried over to college. i never got close to my family, and now i am bonding with my parents and little brother more than ever. many time i just hang out with them rather than go do stuff with friends and stuff.

life is what you make of it, and my life is a complete 180. sure i have stress of everyday life but i am handling it a lot better and i enjoy it.



and LOL you might laugh about this. most ironic part is i just made a thread today about my hair loss and i was freaking out.

but ive learned to calm down. panicking and feeling bad doesn't work. you have to be calm and steady enough to realize what's going on and accept it. and then from there have a clear head to make a judgement.

if i kept freaking out i would have never accepted that i am really losing hair. just now i decided im going on a plan.

 

[maxou]

Hi all,

I have been posting here and there about my experience with hair loss, but I never spoke about why it is so important to me, hoping some of you can relate.

I started balding at 17. At first, it didn't bother me, up until about age 18, where I went through a major depression. I did not leave my house for weeks, my parents were frantic, and it was just a deep dark ****hole I couldn't climb out of. All this was related to my hair loss. When I went out, I felt like every pair of eyes was glaring, focused on my receding temples and bald spot. I don't know how I got out of that depression, but I did, I believe it has something to do with starting to go the gym regularly (note, my balding was not noticeable here, I was just being a drama queen). Life was good from then until 19, where my hair loss become noticeable.

Fast forward 2 years, to where I am now. My temples are a prominent NW2, and my crown/vertex is completely thinned out. My dad was NW6 at age 23, and at this rate I will be the same. The depression is real, and it is destroying me. I am a medical student, and have always had high grades. This ordeal has brought them down significantly. Also, I have always been a goodlooking guy, aggressive and "masculine" if you will. Girls have never been a problem. I am now the laughing stock of my friends group. I don't go out, I don't talk, and I am losing hope. This wouldn't bother me that much if I was losing my hair at 30, 40, but at 20 years old, I feel like my youth was robbed from me. I do not know what to do anymore.


NOTE:
started finasteride, nizoral and minoxidil 3 weeks ago, no sides to report besides slight gyno that subsided. Also, major major shed. My crown vertex is thinner than ever and my temples have receded at least a cm in 3 weeks... It's horrible.
Also, I didn't start finasteride earlier because of idiot doctors who all laughed at me and told me there was no treatment for hair loss (I saw about 4 doctors from age 17-19).

Looking for someone who can relate, a personal story, advice, I don't care, anything will help me at this point.
Cheers and goodluck to you all

I relate in every possible way.

I also been through the toughest times...Depression, not leaving my room, almost getting fired from work.

I'm finally seeing positive results with my treatment 15 months after starting finasteride. Stay strong that's all i can say. 5 months on finasteride is way too short, you might as well start dutasteride right away. If your hairloss is very aggressive and you dont want to waste time go straight for dutasteride!

Good luck dude

 

[bilboswaggins]

I know exactly what you are going through. In fact it was exactly a year ago that I first noticed my hair loss at age 18. As expected I went through a denial period of about 3 months during which I had the best time of my life starting uni. I woke up everyday excited to go to school since I was making a tonne of friends and meeting girls as well. Fast forward those 3-4 months I could no longer lie to myself and I had quite a meltdown shortly before my exams that semester. Not surprisingly, my results in the finals were not too good. From then on I became increasingly distanced from people and really preferred to just stay at home instead of going out 2-3 times a week like I had earlier. When uni started up again I was oversleeping a lot- I would sleep 8 hours and still struggle to get up and go to school. So yeah I understand the feeling of being robbed of my youth. These days I stay home mostly and play video games to pass the time. I talk to a few friends occasionally but pretty much lost contact with all the ones I made at uni last year. My parents think I'm just lazy for staying at home sitting in my room all day but really the movies, games I'm playing are just a distraction. I would like nothing more than to be able to go out and enjoy what are meant to be the best years of one's life. yeah, hair loss sucks

 

[scorpiolove]

Hairloss does suck, but you have to realize what you have in life OP, your a medical student and your smart and if you play your cards right you can have a great life, don't trap yourself or isolate yourself, get medical treatment if necessary. You can get women so that's great! Your friends are morons and don't have your best interests at heart, any moron can insult someone when there at there lowest, in five to ten years, you will have all moved on for better or worse.Get the last laugh, be successful graduate and get a good income. I wish you all the best Dave.

 

[davepeters3345]

Thank you all for the responses. I really appreciate it and its nice to know some of you can relate. I know I need to suck it up and get over it, but it is really tough. Summer is coming and that always gets me into a better mood. Heres hoping this one is a good one.

Cheers and thank you once again comrades