What is going on in my donor area

The question I ask is: Is this shock loss or donor site depletion?

How many grafts have you had?  This is likely donor site depletion.  At 8 months any shock loss will have reversed.  If this does not reverse, the only treatment for this that is effective is Scalp Micropigmentation (https://scalpmicropigmentation.com/) which, although it is not hair, will make the donor area look normal. This is something we do all of the time.