difference btwn shedding and losing hair

[templemonk]

my hair was doing good till the 1yr mark. i could see hair growing on my temples and i was pretty happy wit it. but since october, my hair started fallin out like crazy. and i thought it could be shedding. but i noticed my hair only falls out from male pattern baldness affected areas (temples) only. i try to pull my hair out on the uneffected areas (my crown top.. and sides) but i don't see a single hair getting pulled out. whereas the temples... even when i try to style my hair.. i see like 30 hairs falling out and i get freaked out!
damn... so is that what everyone calls 'shedding'? or am i just losing hair?