My hairdresser was the first person to notice my hair loss. The distress and anxiety was terrible, I was absolutely devastated. Both the dermatologist and trichologist confirmed my absolute worst fears, that this was alopecia and there was absolutely nothing anybody could do to help me. I had to wait and see what was going to happen.

This all happened in about February two years ago, over the following six months I became totally obsessed by my hair loss. I did all of the most sole destroying things that you can do – which I am sure most sufferers have also done – counting hairs in the brush, checking the plug hole/bed linen for hairs. It was a dreadful time, I felt constantly down and anxious, I desperately tried to put on a brave face and some days I really did feel better but most of the time I felt utterly devastated, and that I could burst into tears at a moments notice! For me the worst thing was the constant not knowing. Nobody could tell me anything, except that there was no cure, no treatment and absolutely nothing anybody could do to help. It would have been better for someone to tell me that it was all going to fall out and never grow back – at least I would have known and could have dealt with it. Waiting, not knowing, having something controlling you all of the time was by far the worst part and probably one of the most difficult periods of my life.