An increasing number of people are experiencing hair loss for many reasons, all of which have their own unique set of contributing elements. Hair loss causes can be tough to pinpoint at times, but today we’ll be looking at mental health and seeing whether there is a correlation between the state of your mental health and your hair loss.
Hair loss is a challenging topic since there are many different types, each with its own set of contributing elements and causes. Because there are so many distinct types of hair loss, it can be challenging to establish the exact reason for your hair loss, and you may need the assistance of a professional at times to do that.
But in this post, we will want to look at how our mental state can contribute to our hair loss. We believe you came here because you suspect your mental state may cause your hair loss condition. We have dealt with the issues extensively. We are sure you’ll find the answers you need.
How our mental health can cause hair loss
Even though many possible reasons cause hair loss, your mental health can have a significant impact also. It’s not just what you eat or where you live that might contribute to hair loss, but also how much sleep you get and how much stress you experience.
Your mental well-being may be having an effect on your hair loss as well as genetics. A doctor or a hair loss specialist can help you determine the root cause of your baldness so that you can choose the best course of treatment.
We will look at several aspects of mental health to see if they have anything to do with hair loss because it can be difficult to establish why you have hair loss.
Anxiety
Anxiety-induced hair loss is highly unusual, and in most cases, happens exclusively in persons with severe anxiety conditions, often known as an anxiety disorder. Anxiety and stress are two independent mental disorders, yet they interact. Stress is a significant factor in the relationship between anxiety and hair loss. Anxiety, in many ways, is a long-term and persistent stressor that can impair hair development.
All of us are capable of experiencing anxiety at some point. Anxiety can readily be triggered by long-term stress or even severe experiences. It can, however, lead to trichotillomania, which is a disorder characterized by the unconscious and often uncontrollable pulling out of one’s own hair. Trichotillomania, or Trich as it is commonly called, is also a mental disorder that is potentially harmful to the hair follicles and can result in long-term hair loss if not treated properly. Remember, too much strain on the follicle can cause damage to them.
Depression
Depression is the most common mental health problem globally, and many people don’t realize that it might affect your hair development. Depression can be a cause of hair loss. Sufferers of depression may discover that their hair is becoming dry and brittle and is more prone to breaking easily.
Physiological depressive emotions such as sadness, hopelessness, low self-esteem, and exhaustion can reduce hair development and damage hair loss. Another thing to consider is the possibility of hair loss as a side effect of antidepressant medicines like Prozac. Your doctor should be able to help you adjust your dosage if you’ve observed persistence in the symptoms even while taking medication for depression.
Stress
Hair loss caused by stress is not temporary; hence it can be easily treated. If our body is under mental or physical stress, the development phase of the hair cycle might be interrupted for up to three months. Also, swelling on the scalp and tension can cause stress to make our hair fall out. When this happens, we say the follicle is in its resting phase. But as soon as the stress is reduced, your hair cycle will start to return to normal.
Anxiety and depression, and a wide variety of sleep disorders are all made worse by stress.
Other health issues
People with OCD, impulse control disorder, and bipolar illness may also suffer from hair loss. Having trichotillomania causes a strong desire to remove hair from the scalp, eyebrows, and even other body parts. These persons are more likely to destroy their follicles, resulting in permanent hair loss.
Can this hair loss be reversed?
Hair loss due to mental health difficulties can be reversed in most situations. When it comes to most mental health disorders, stress is the root cause of it. Most occurrences of stress-related hair loss are caused by a hair follicle ceasing to grow during a stressful period, resulting in the hair shedding.
The hair will stop growing if the stress persists. However, if the stress subsides, your hair will return to its usual development phase, and new hair will begin to grow within a month or so. You can adopt a good exercise routine or good nutrition to facilitate this recovery process.
When to see a doctor
Talk to your doctor if your symptoms persist. Even though hair loss can be traced to the state of our mental health, there are also other numerous causes that can lead to hair loss, and without the proper treatment, your symptom may only aggravate. Your doctor would be in a better position to help you discover the actual cause of your hair loss and recommend the best treatment option for you.
The takeaway
Stress, anxiety, and depression-induced hair loss do not have to be permanent. And if you can manage them, you might be able to regrow your hair. Also, early identification is vital to combat them effectively. And if home remedies are insufficient to tackle them, your doctor may prescribe medications for you.
Lastly, if you experience sudden or uneven hair loss or observe more hair loss after combing or washing your hair than usual, you should see a doctor right away. It is possible that a more intricate medical problem is to blame for the sudden hair loss. Your doctor may also recommend hair loss treatment alternatives if necessary.