How can you tell if hair is breaking or if it is normal hair loss?

I get alot of hair at the bottom,full strands falling out. My friend said that because its long strands that is normal and not breakage,how would I know if hair is breaking? I had my thyriod checked and it came back normal.How can you tell if hair is breaking or if it is normal hair loss?
you should be able to tell by looking at the hairs that fall out. If theey are falling out and not breaking there should be some skin on the end of the hair that was on the head