Link Between Hair Loss and Anxiety
Hair loss is caused by various different factors. While some factors, such as hereditary baldness and side effects of chemotherapy drugs, are very well known, there are also factors which are not well known to all. One of these less known causes of hair loss is anxiety. Recent studies have shown that hair loss and anxiety are strongly interlinked and it is very important to know how, if you wish to slow down or stop hair loss.
The cause of increased anxiety nowadays is the subject of much speculation.
Many psychotherapists believe that the rapid development of technology and the fact that we live in a 24/7 culture makes it harder to “switch off”. This can cause physiological or psychological changes to the body and mind.
Anxiety is well known to create a hormonal imbalance in the body, which leads to hair loss.
When an individual suffers from stress and anxiety, the hormones in his/her body tend to cause various adverse reactions in the body.
One of these adverse reactions is hair loss, which is treatable. The best way to treat hair loss from anxiety is to get rid of anxiety. This will bring your hormones back to a normal level.
What Are Common Symptoms of Anxiety?
Symptoms of anxiety include:
- tension in muscles,
- severe headaches,
- increased heart rate,
- palpitations,
- dizziness,
- lack of appetite,
- difficulty breathing,
- dry mouth,
- hot flushes,
- feeling sick,
- hyperventilation.
When stress or anxiety is present, blood flow moves to support the heart and muscles. As a result, other areas of the body are deprived of vital nutrients carried by the blood.
These are some additional sighs of anxiety to pay attention when they appear:
- Broken sleep patterns,
- irritability,
- poor concentration,
- motor restlessness
- hypervigilance..
How to Tackle Anxiety?
The scalp is often a ‘casualty’ of stress.
This means that the hair follicle – which relies on a steady supply of blood for healthy growth – weakens and growth does not occur or hair falls out. Stress-related hair loss is increasingly common in the UK and individuals experiencing hair loss can find themselves trapped in a vicious circle: hair loss occurs; anxiety deepens; hair loss worsens and so on.
The ways in which you can get rid of hair loss and anxiety are many. Firstly, you can start by figuring out what causes anxiety. Make a list. Does this anxiety stem from a relationship in your life, a job, or a financial problem?
Once you analyse the cause of anxiety, make a plan how to resolve that problem. Just keep in mind that even though you cannot change that situation, you can always change your attitude towards it. Look at the positive aspects of things. This might seem hard initially, but once you condition your mind to think in a particular direction, it becomes easier for you to do so.
1. Learning deep breathing exercises can relax the body and ensure the hair follicles are serviced by an oxygenated blood supply.
2. Regular exercise, even something as simple as brisk walking for 30 minutes, a number of times a week, can make a huge difference with stress and hair loss. As the circulatory system improves, the blood supply to the scalp also improves and the hair follicles get what they need.
3. Attention to proper diet is also very important in making sure the blood gets the nutrients it needs so it can supply the proteins to the hair follicles needed for new cell creation which in turn develops into a new hair
IMPORTANT: Pay attention to exercise, diet, and deep breathing, and your stress level is likely to come down with a subsequent positive effect on your hair growth. As you see your hair responding and improving, this in turn will lessen the stress and anxiety level even further.
