For me, my anxiety and depression about my hairloss seems to be somewhat cyclical. When I first started receeding, I didn't immiedattely get scared because it took me a while to actually realise what was happening. The first two years were painful. Then I started to accept what was happening to me, that yes, I was going bald, and I was sort of cool with that. Why fight it? I first started receeding age 17 1/2 and I am now 23 1/2. I am grateful that I am still Norwood 2-3 territory. The recession has been slow.
However some days it does hit me. You sort of obejectively know you arent quite as attractive as you used to be. Or at least your perception begins to change. You don't feel like that uber sexy guy anymore. Sure, I still have what it takes to go up to a girl and talk to her. Sure, I still have a level of confidence and self respect, but I never feel like I will be able to get to that peak confidence level again. I go into an encounter now not quite as confident as I used to be. Sub-conciously if as if I speak to people like 'ok, I need to be careful what I say here, I mean I have a receeding hairline so I can't be too cocky, they won't let me get away with it.' So your sub concious mind definitely changes.
In some respects I sometimes think: why not just shave of now and get to the 'worst' possible stage. That way that slow pain is no longer going to agonise you. Shave now and get used to it type thing. I think once I start noticably thinning on top I will definitely take the plunge by that point. I think having a receeding hairline can be worse for your confidence because you also worry about how you will look in 6 months, 1 year, 2 years..You wonder how long you can 'pull off' your hairstyle as it is. And this eats away at me a bit. What happens if I meet a girl now? What does she think about my hair? Will she still like me if I start to lose more? I think once you shave it all off/buzz down then its like, ok, this is me now. It can't get any worse.
It is a ****er that just that hair on our head makes all the difference in attraction though. Thats what hurts a lot. Wondering how you would be now if it wasn't for your hair. Would my mood be better generally? Would I feel happier. Its likely. Hairloss doesn't depress me completely. But lets say you were a 9/10 happy before your hair. Its going to knock a few notches of your general mood/happiness/self esteem.
