Author Edit: After reading this review, Manual have given all my readers an exclusive 50% discount off their first order for all hair loss products. Use code “LIFESTYLE” at checkout or get the discount automatically by clicking here. Enjoy!

Since October is mental health awareness month in the UK, I feel compelled to share my own experiences with poor mental health, as well as what has helped me overcome these feelings and become the best possible version of myself both mentally and physically. Perhaps my story isn’t very dramatic, and my struggles trivial in comparison to others, but if I encourage just one person who reads this to make positive changes to their health and wellbeing routine, I will be happy to have made a difference to someone in need. 

Premature hair loss runs in my family. My father and grandfather have been completely bald for as long as I can remember (like, Bruce Willis level- but half as attractive). For them, and many others, this is not a big deal. For me however, as someone who has always placed a lot of my self-worth on my physical appearance and how others perceive me, balding was my worst nightmare. When my hairline started receding in my early twenties I was devastated. I couldn’t bear the sight of myself in my mirror and would never leave the house without a hat on. I scoured the internet for any solutions that would stop my hair loss, and in my desperation, tried pretty much any supplement, cream or diet I could find but nothing seemed to work. 

I began to withdraw, I felt like I was ugly, worthless and people would be embarrassed to be around me. This began to affect my overall wellbeing and immune system, my sleep suffered and I had very little energy to do things. My decline in mental health ultimately led to me breaking up with my girlfriend of five years, as with such low self-esteem, I simply couldn’t fathom why she would want to be with me, and pushed her away. I didn’t know who to turn to, as a man I felt like I had to be seen to be strong, and frankly, I was embarrassed. I felt like I would never feel happy with myself, nor have a meaningful relationship again. Luckily for me, I found a solution that was genuinely life changing. 

Author Edit: After reading this review, Manual have given all my readers an exclusive 50% discount off their first order for all hair loss products. Use code “LIFESTYLE” at checkout or get the discount automatically by clicking here. Enjoy!

I came across Manual via an advert I saw on Facebook (Thanks, cookies!), and from that moment my life and health did a 180. Specifically designed for men, Manual is a service designed to educate men on their health and support them with tailored treatments and advice. Within minutes of browsing their site I’d already learnt so much about the potential causes of my hair loss, and that Male Pattern Baldness is incredibly common – better yet, there might be a remedy that actually works. Admittedly, I would have tried anything at this point, but I was extremely encouraged by the five star trustpilot reviews for Manual, and felt inspired by the success stories from hundreds of men who Manual had helped. Not only did Manual seem to cater to my hair loss concerns but it was a one-stop shop to help with my overall wellbeing. In one place I found a personalised treatment plan to improve my overall health, with support, treatments and access to articles with really helpful information. 

The sign-up process was incredibly simple. All you have to do is fill out a brief health-related questionnaire detailing your health goals and medical history. You also have the option to complete an at-home blood test for more personalized treatment. I decided to go all-in and do this blood test for a complete overview of my health and the results identified areas of my health I wasn’t looking after. The best thing about this is I can monitor my improvements via ongoing blood test reports and see the positive changes as well as feel them physically! Following this, you are given a treatment plan tailored to you by qualified medical professionals, as well as advice, tips and articles about men’s health. The great part is, payment is not taken until a clinician reviews your consultation and authorises a prescription. 

For my hair, I was prescribed Finasteride, an oral treatment which blocks the production of DHT hormone – the main cause of male pattern baldness. I was also prescribed sustained-release ‘Good Nights’ tablets as I reported sleeping troubles in my consultation. These combine natural ingredients to promote restful sleep including chamomile, lemon balm and vitamin B6. My prescriptions arrived at my door within 48 hours, posted for free, in discreet packaging. Prescriptions from Manual are also so much cheaper than some of the branded products I’ve seen advertised and contain such high quality ingredients (that actually work!). 

Author Edit: After reading this review, Manual have given all my readers an exclusive 50% discount off their first order for all hair loss products. Use code “LIFESTYLE” at checkout or get the discount automatically by clicking here. Enjoy!

The most immediate change I noticed after starting my treatment was my energy levels! I began to sleep so much better (no longer waking up multiple times throughout the night) and I noticed that this really boosted my energy and overall immune system. I just felt physically healthier and in turn this improved my mental health. As a result,  I also felt as though I was performing better at work and I started to fit exercise into my weekly routine. 

I have now been following my treatment plan for eight months and all I can say is… WOW. My hair loss has stopped in its tracks and my hair has become so much thicker, even regrowing in places I thought it was gone forever! I once again have a hairline I can be proud of – I’ve even said goodbye to my beloved beanie hats (much to my mother’s pleasure). I couldn’t recommend trying Manual more, and if i haven’t convinced you to try it yet, how about some stats? I guess I can now count myself among the 9/10 men whose hair loss has been stopped by Finasteride, and the 6/10 for which it promoted regrowth. These truly are clinically proven treatments, not like all the fads and gimmicks I had tried before. After almost a decade of struggling, I finally have my confidence back, I am sleeping well and feel energised and rejuvenated. I’ve even managed to bag myself a fiance in the process! 

Author Edit: After reading this review, Manual have given all my readers an exclusive 50% discount off their first order for all hair loss products. Use code “LIFESTYLE” at checkout or get the discount automatically by clicking here. Enjoy!

Manual is a safe space for men to learn about their health, and seek advice without judgement or embarrassment. While I’m on the subject, I thought I’d mention what else you could get help with (if anybody is still reading!). While I have been lucky enough to avoid these issues so far, I feel grateful to have learned so much about what may affect me in the future, such as erectile dysfunction or low libido- problems most men are too embarrassed to talk about. I now know if I do face these problems in my life, there is help out there. Manual offers oral treatments to regulate testosterone levels and Sildenafil (Viagra, but much, much cheaper) to help men tackle issues with sexual intimacy and performance. Not to mention the treatments they offer for energy, immunity, skin, heart, gut health and more. 

For a lot of men, decline in mental and physical health go hand-in-hand. But it is time to start the conversation, educate ourselves and get help. We must break the stigma around men’s health, and I believe Manual Wellbeing is an excellent driving force in this movement. So, why not listen to a rambling random guy on the internet, and give Manual a go – it may help you as much as it has helped me.

This article contains a sponsored offer from Manual.