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Permalink Reply by Tuesday on April 7, 2015 at 9:08am

Welcome to the group. You're not alone especially in the anxiety you're feeling right now.  It's scary and the "unknown" is sometimes the hardest challenge.   I think my advice is statistically speaking, chances of you developing AU are quite limited.   (I have AU)   My own story is my eyelashes, brows, body hair fell out as my spots appeared. Then everything fell out in a few short weeks.   Nothing returned.  The worst was not the "nothing" , the baldness; the worst was before I lost my hair - just experiencing the shedding.    My advice is to take it one day at a time, find a supportive stylist who will help you cut your real hair in a flattering camouflaging way. Don't be afraid of wigs or scarves.  Honestly, I wear wigs and I thought I'd never be able to go to a pool and switch things back and forth and I can and do. I swim at a pool where there are two people with prosthetic legs and they take their legs off and leave them on side of pool when they swim.  Gives me a bit of perspective.   Back to alopecia, my friend developed spots too - same pattern as me - lost her body hair, part of her brows about 80 percent of her hair. And now, a year later, it's all grown back.   So two different stories yet similar symptoms.   I eat very healthfully and exercise regularly and always taken care of myself. I think you can look after yourself and try to make peace with yourself and take it one day at a time. You can't control the shedding necessarily but you can control how you react.   You're going to be okay! It just feels a bit scary right now.  I know, I've been there ... panic attacks etc.    Take care. Hugs to you!

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Permalink Reply by Drangel61 on April 9, 2015 at 9:56pm

Thank you! Everyone's words have made me feel better. It sefinelty makes me feel better when people can relate and understand. Dermatologist said he saw a little bit of re growth already in my first patch I found!

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Permalink Reply by Shannon M on April 9, 2015 at 2:08am

Hey, been where you are. I lost all my hair at 11, and I'm 18 now. I started off the same way, with a few spots that took about a year to become noticeable, and then suddenly a massive fallout. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that every case is different. My best friend gets a few spots when she gets majorly stressed, and they come back no problem. Another thing to keep in mind is that a lot of people that lose all of their hair get it back. I've been bald for seven years, and two of them by choice. I started wearing vacuum wigs so that I could play sports, and I have to shave off my hair to keep it on my head, but the biggest thing is that my hair is growing back. I've watched it start to fill back in over the last couple years, and it's finally gotten to the point where this summer I'm going to try to grow it out. Even if you lose your hair, there's a strong possibility that it will grow back, and if not, wigs are not as horrible as they seem. Sure there are the awkward moments, but life goes on, and you find out who your true friends are. Stress only makes it worse though. Lots of people with alopecia will grow all their hair back and then have a major stress-out and lose it again. Just keep calm, as cliche as it sounds.

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Permalink Reply by Niece on April 9, 2015 at 9:22pm

Its totally normal to be feeling the way you do right now. Its out of your control...so try and do the best you can dealing with it Its not easy, but its not the end of the world. Life goes on and although there may be stressful times,  you can still lead a healthy, happy life. There are SO many things that could be worse...be thankful!

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