Is Mental Health Associated With Hair Loss?
What’s the first thing you’ll notice in a person when you’re about to meet? The hair, right? Well, that’s the case for some, but still, it happens. Even when a person is far away from you, the hair will most likely stand out more, and you can still see how it looks. That’s why a lot of people are very conscious about it. Some don’t like others touching our messing their hair, while some don’t care — probably because they have beautiful, soft hair. Unfortunately, things can go wrong, especially when you’re getting older and your favourite part of your head starts to shed so much. This occurrence is called hair loss which is normal to happen during the ageing process.
Hair loss, or as some may call it male/female pattern baldness, can happen due to other reasons, not just ageing. Such include medical treatments, medications, health conditions, genetics, and even your mental health. Stress affects our mental health and IS one of the culprits for hair loss. But, not only does stress cause hair loss, but it can also worsen your mental health. Thinning of hair can make a person lose their self-esteem, which can lead to anxiety and depression. Some people who experience hair loss would rather stay at home or constantly wear a hat because they’re not too confident about their hair. But, do keep in mind that whatever your hair looks, it doesn’t make you less beautiful than others with perfect hair.
Tired of trying to hide your hair for years and you want your hair to look the way it was before? Well, you can try treatments at home or visit a doctor who specialises with hair loss treatments such as a hair replacement. A hair replacement service is one of the most effective treatments out there that guarantees amazing results. One should also know how to prevent hair loss as it can help them a lot with halting the excessive hair shedding.
Now, let’s learn more about how our mental health associates with hair loss and how to cope with it.
How much can hair loss affect a person’s mental health?
There have been studies that confirm hair loss can be psychologically damaging. What happens is that a person can experience social and personal problems which can also affect their work life and relationship with the people around them. But, that is the case for some people who have severe hair loss. Milder hair loss is a bit easier to handle and to treat. When you start to notice some bald spots on your head, it’s best to consult your doctor right away to prevent it from worsening.
Women tend to feel more affected with hair loss than men, and here’s the reason why; they associate it with beauty, sexuality, and sensuality. When a woman starts to shed a lot of her strands to the point it created a bald spot, they tend to feel less attractive. Usually, when you talk to someone about hair, you instantly picture a woman with beautiful locks that looks and feels so soft.
Even if women are more conscious about how they look, this doesn’t mean that men don’t experience emotional struggles because of hair loss too. Experts said that men associate their hair as their masculinity. With hair loss, they can also feel less attractive.
How to improve mental health and prevent worsening of hair loss?
Whatever the reason for your hair loss, the key to prevent it worsening is by having the right attitude. Like what I’ve mentioned earlier, you are still beautiful whatever your hair looks. Try to always keep in mind that your hair does not define you. With that said, here are some of the best ways to deal with the emotional side of hair loss:
- Try taking therapy sessions. Hair loss can sometimes go overboard and can be hard to deal with. For some, their mental health can’t cope with it anymore. Consider booking an appointment with a psychiatrist, so you have someone to let out all your troubles with your hair. They’re experts in making people cope with whatever they’re going through. They’ll also prescribe you antidepressants which helps lessen the stress and hair loss you’re experiencing.
- You need to realize that with proper treatment, your hair will start to grow back to the way it was, maybe even better! If you’re going through chemo or other medical treatments that cause hair loss, your hair will still grow back. Experts say that most medical conditions only cause temporary hair loss.
- Visit your local parlor or contact your hairdresser, they’ll help you fix your hair. They might not help grow your hair back, but a new hairdo that they know will suit you is their forte. If your hair is thinning, they’ll most likely suggest having your hair short.
- The last tip is always to keep a positive attitude. Stop looking at the beauty standards of society and start appreciating your own beauty. Always remember that you don’t have to please anyone but yourself. It’s your life anyway, so why even bother listening to anyone’s opinion about how you look. Everyone will go through this phase, and it is not a bad thing. Keep your head up and start flaunting that beautiful hair!