Hair Loss Due to Stress, Anxiety & Depression

It's common knowledge that stress and mental health issues like anxiety and symptoms of depression can cause hair loss. While sadness, worry, and stress can affect hair growth, hair loss can also have a negative effect on your mental health. Hair loss can cause low self-esteem, perceptions of attractiveness or success, and even post-traumatic stress disorder, as losing one's hair can be a devastating experience for many people.

Taking care of hair loss caused by sadness

There are a number of things you can do to assist manage hair loss and its psychological impacts, fortunately. Here are a few examples:

Consult a doctor to determine the cause.
Mental health disorders, such as stress, have been known to induce hair loss, but it's also crucial to rule out any physical health conditions that could be contributing to excessive shedding. Hair loss can be caused by thyroid conditions, dietary deficiencies, sexually transmitted diseases, and scalp psoriasis, among other things.

Make an appointment with a reputable stylist

A lot of hair stylists have received specialised training in order to find solutions for clients seeking to conceal symptoms of hair loss. A stylist can cut or style your hair to hide receding hairlines or thinning spots on the scalp, as well as suggest treatments that can help you look like you have more hair. You may regulate your hair using tinted powders, volume-boosting shampoos and gels, or even a natural hairpiece or wig.

Speak with someone

If hair loss is harming your self-esteem or self-worth or causing problems in your major relationships, you should consult a therapist. The competent therapist will listen without passing judgement and guide you through the emotions that hair loss may elicit. If hair loss looks to be caused by stress or worry, a therapist can assist you with that as well. While there aren't many therapists that specialise in hair loss, there are plenty who have dealt with body image difficulties, anxiety, and self-esteem issues.

Is stress linked to hair loss? Yes, stress causes hair loss, but the good news is that it is typically just temporary.

The scientific term for stress-induced hair loss is telogen effluvium. The following are some of the sources of stress that might lead to this condition:

Fever Surgery Childbirth Illness

Significant weight loss Emotional stress "Fortunately, if the hair loss is solely due to stress, total recovery usually occurs within several months to a year."

How to overcome depression/clinical depression?

There are several key steps you may take if you've experienced hair loss as a result of stress.

1. Eat a Balanced Diet

It's crucial for your general health as well as your hair! Some of the causes of telogen effluvium include crash dieting and malnutrition. It's crucial to focus on complete foods and a balanced diet and also healthy breakfast when it comes to the best foods for reducing hair loss caused by stress. Eat foods that contain:

a wide variety of fruits and veggies
Grain (whole)
Protein that is low in fat

2. Consider taking a supplement

Certain nutritional deficits can promote stress-induced hair loss, including:

Vitamin D
Zinc
Vitamin B12
Ferritin

3. Take Control of Your Stress

Hair loss can be influenced by how you deal with stress. You can use the following stress management techniques at home:

Meditation and Yoga
Breathing deeply
Journaling
Spending time in nature
Therapy or counselling
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4. Techniques for Relaxation

Stress can be reduced and managed through relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises.

5. Workout

Regular exercise causes the body to release feel-good hormones that aid with stress management. Hair loss caused by stress can be reversed with a healthy body and a peaceful mind.

6. Thinking Positively

Having a positive view of life might assist in properly dealing with stress. At all times, surround yourself with positive people and optimistic thoughts.

7. Seek the advice of a therapist

Other helpful techniques to lessen and prevent stress should be discussed with your therapist.

8. Diet

When you're anxious, you're more likely to skip meals that are balanced, depriving your hair of critical nutrients. Hair loss can be caused by nutritional deficits. Returning to a healthy diet rich in vitamins A, E, B, K, zinc, iron, and protein will help you regrow hair that has been lost due to stress.

9. Establish a Hair Care Routine

Hair growth can be aided by following a good hair care programme. To add a protective layer to the hair cuticle, wash it completely with a gentle shampoo and condition it. Use a heat protectant spray with moisturising elements like shea butter or green tea if you use heat styling products.

Take Away

While most stress-related hair loss is transient, the sooner you address the signs and symptoms of hair loss, the more likely you are to avoid permanent damage. To begin your journey to a fuller head of hair, speak with a medical specialist now.

Stress-related hair loss is commonly classified as telogen effluvium, trichotillomania, or alopecia. Hair loss caused by stress can be restored with topical drugs, a healthy diet, stress management, weight management, mental health awareness and a proper hair care routine.