I lost all my hair as well as eyebrows and eyelashes and all body hair 3 years ago. I now have what I could call "peach fuzz" on my face and a few places. I wear a wig and have had both my eyebrows and eye lashes done as "permanent makeup". After a lot of experimenting I prefer a human hair wig, I like the eybrows but would never go through the discomfort of having my eyes tatooed again. I am always aware of my situation and am glad there is this support group of people who understand. I live in a small rural community so I never tell anyone of this condition. I have no interest in being the subject of gossip. Only my family and a couple of trusted friends know about my AU. This makes me pretty lonely at times. I do not know of anyone else who has alopecia and no one I have told has ever heard of it.
However I do not allow this condition stop me from doing what I want and leading an active life. I have seen stories here from people who have a lot of trouble coping and are afraid to face the world all the way to those who go bald in public. I work hard to keep fit and swim lengths in a public pool 3 times a week. I change in private taking off my wig and wearing a bathing cap. No one has ever asked me if I have no hair although they may wonder. I also work out at the gym but the wig has never been a problem. One thing I do like is if I get hot I wet a washcloth, go into a toilet cubicle, take off my wig and rest the cool cloth on my head. Not many people can cool their head so fast! I have also taken up kayaking and do that as much as I can in warm weather. To secure my wig I wear a sunhat with a good snug chin strap. I have been on long camping trips, dumped in Lake Superior but no one has ever commented on my "hair".
The point of my "getting too long note " is please don't give up what you enjoy and let this condition imprison you. Many others have said there are far worse autoimmune conditions and other diseases that people are bald because of. Do what you are able to do and remember that most people are far too busy caring about their own lives than to care about whether you wear a wig or not.