For some people, hair loss is just a part of life. It’s something that happens, and they seem to brush it off and get on with their lives. For others, however, hair loss is a much bigger problem. Even though it’s something that can affect as much as fifty percent of the population at some point in their lives, it can actually negatively affect the mental health of those who suffer from it. Read on to find out how hair loss affects mental health and what can be done about it.
Depression
For some, the mental health issue associated with hair loss is depression. The symptoms of depression include a low mood, loss of sleep, a lack of energy, general fatigue, and a loss of interest in previously much-loved activities, plus much more. Depression means that life begins to hold much less meaning, and it’s impossible to feel happy or even pleasure. It’s crucial that if you are feeling this way, whether it’s due to hair loss or not, you see a doctor for help.
Anxiety
Anxiety is another mental health problem that can come from hair loss. Anxiety means you are excessively worrying, and you might not be able to sleep, eat, or concentrate. You might also feel heart palpitations, and you could sweat much more than usual. The anxiety linked to hair loss could be for many reasons, but some suggest it’s because, often subconsciously, you might think there is an underlying health problem causing the issue. If this is how you feel, speak to an expert who can check you out and see if this is true. If it is, you can get treatment. If not, and the hair loss is simply hereditary or perfectly normal, you might want to find out more about a hair transplant from a reputable hair clinic. This could alleviate your anxiety and many other mental health issues associated with hair loss.
Social Phobias
Certainly, in the west, and probably all over the world, a full, thick head of hair is something to be admired. It denotes virility and fertility. It goes a long way to reducing the appearance of aging. It’s what people, in general, tend to prefer. A lot of this is ingrained in us, and it’s the product of many years (even centuries) of this idea being considered right.
The truth, of course, is that having hair doesn’t mean you’re young and healthy, and experiencing hair loss doesn’t mean you’re old and unfit. Many young people – men and women – experience hair loss but are otherwise entirely well. Many older people have full heads of hair, but they are not what you would call sprightly. In reality, the amount of hair you have doesn’t mean anything.
However, because we have this idea of what is ‘good’ and what isn’t, hair loss can lead to social phobias such as social anxiety. Social anxiety is essential to the fear of people judging you when you’re out in public. If you feel like this, you might avoid public places and even go out to see friends and family. Therapy can be a good way to reduce these feelings, and, as mentioned above, a hair transplant can really boost your confidence.