It is NO SECRET that I have been stressed for several years, but the past six months have been especially stressful. However, THIS MONTH has been even more stressful and my body is showing some signs of too much stress.
Every morning for the past month when I washed my hair, I have a HUGE handful of hair that I must clean out of the drain. I always lose a lot of hair, but knew that it was way more than normal. So when I went to see my hairdresser tonight, he confirmed that my hair was much thinner and it was probably due to stress. I wasn’t surprised at all, but was glad to know that I wasn’t just imagining it.
How To Prevent Stress Related Hair Loss
There are several things that you can do to either prevent or curb the speed of hair loss brought about by too much stress.
- Eliminate the stressors – To completely eradicate the stressors from your life would be the ultimate in cures for stress. Umm…I don’t think this one is possible.
- Reduce exposure to stress – Everyone has stress, but being able to set boundaries to the stress will alleviate the pressure. Avoid contact as much as possible with people who cause you stress. For example, if you work with someone who doesn’t really have contact with you directly anymore, but passes you from time to time in the hallway, don’t let the experience overwhelm you. Ignore the stressful person. Pretend that you do not see them. Sing a song really loud in your head and tell yourself that you are JUST. SO. HAPPY. Yeah, it DOES work. You’ll just have to believe me on this one because as much as I would like to share the whole disgusting story with you, I’m not going to do it. 😉
- Exercise – You don’t have to put on workout gear, join a club and devote twenty hours a week to exercising. Instead, every hour, get out of the chair and walk two and half minutes in one direction, turn around and walk two and half minutes back. That burst of energy required for the short walk is enough exercise to not only reduce stress, but it will also elevate your metabolism and help you lose weight.
- Reduce caffeine – As great as it feels sometimes, caffeine increases agitation and stress. Avoid it. Once you ween yourself off caffeine, you’ll feel so much better.
- Peace – Learn ways to help you feel calm and peaceful.
- Laugh – Laugh as often as possible not only at things, but also laugh at yourself. If you can laugh at yourself, you won’t feel so intense and stressful.
Nutrition For Hair Loss Due To Stress
It is important to keep our body in balance and with extreme stress, everything gets out of whack. There are several things that you can do nutritionally to help curb or eliminate hair loss due to stress.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids – The omega-3 fatty acids are fats that your body needs and can only get from foods or vitamins supplements. Foods such as salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Since it is my favorite kind of fish and it reduces stress, I know what I will be eating for dinner tomorrow night.
- Vitamin B – The B vitamins will calm the nervous system which inevitably reduces stress.
- Multivitamins – Every day take a well-rounded multivitamin that is packed with vitamins, nutrients and minerals. By providing everything your body needs nutritionally, it is better able to cope with stress.
- Biotin, Vitamin H or Coenzyme R – Whether you call it Biotin, Vitamin H or Coenzyme R, they are all the same water-soluble B-vitamin (B7). Taking extra vitamin B7 specifically will help not only reduce stress, but also aids in the growth of hair and nails.
Where can Biotin be found in food? Great question! Vitamin B7 is found in halibut, eggs, wheat products, cabbage, Swiss chard, red beet, beans, spinach, carrots and nuts.
How Will I Look Bald Due To Stress?
If I had to pick out one physical feature about myself that I liked the most it would be my hair. So you probably think I am freaking out since it is falling out, but I’m not. Actually, I’m not really upset about it at all. I’m not sure if my great attitude is a result of therapy or because I know once the stress has passed my hair will grow back. Actually, I’ve had my hair fall out like this several times in my life. I do know that if I get all stressed about it, more hair will fall out. I didn’t intend that to sound funny, but that just really made me laugh right out loud.
Anyway, I’m sure that my teaser title has made you wonder what I will look like if I go completely bald due to my inability to cope with stress in my life. Well, wait no longer. How do I look bald?
(Seriously laughing)
Can I just say that I make a great bald lady?! I actually think I look great! I’m sure being a bald woman has all kinds of stigmas, but seriously, it is JUST HAIR!
Keeping it all in perspective,
The Balding Redhead Riter
LOL LOL LOL
I would seriously ROCK with a bald head!
I am bald.
I shave it, have it on the sides some. I think you would be sexy as hell, bald.
Just like me.
(you’re still a redhead even if you don’t have hair and that is a condition of which red hair is only a symptom of being a redhead. I would still worship you)
😀 Thank you Ric!!! 😀
Yes, I will always be a redhead whether I have hair or not!
WOW, Redhead Riter! I’m not joking! You look gorgeous bald! 😀
Thank you Joan!!! 😀
Maybe you can start a new trend! Think how much time you would save in the morning if you did not have to do your hair! 😀
LOL Well Joan, I hate to admit this, but it only takes me 5 minutes to “fix” my hair in the morning. I let it dry naturally and all the natural curls just do their thing! 😛
Well, 5 minutes is still 5 minutes longer that you can stay in bed, if you get my drift! 😉
LOL Yeah, I could hit the SNOOZE one more time!
Snooze, Redhead Riter? That’s not exactly what I had in mind! 😉
*GASP*
LOL
Now you’re talking! So where is that chocolate man? LOL
Getting back to Your Royal Baldness, that is a look if I ever seen one! (I could have made a comment about the chocolate man, but this is a family blog! 😉
LOL I like that…Your Royal Baldness!
Oh yes! I thought all kinds of things about the chocolate man that I can’t write either. 😉
Great minds think alike! 😀
😀 I don’t know if it is “great minds” or “gutter minds” 😛
😀 LOL 😀
The ol’ chocolate man makes me think about THIS!!!
OMG, I just saw what this is! 🙂
LOL It is rather shocking, isn’t it? ! LOL But oh so lovely!
Should I be having this conversation with a 7 year old? Isn’t it past your bedtime? 😀
It is ALWAYS past my bedtime and I am VERY mature for my age!!! LOL
You can say that again! And you are very precocious for your age too! 😀
😛
You look mahvelous dahlink! You have a beautiful face with outstanding eyes and skin. I’m not sure about making this your every day look, but it’s a darn good backup plan.
Peace out!
Awwwww…thank you! I think I might just shave my head! LOL Umm…just kidding!!! LOL
Great list of suggestions for cutting down stress! btw… I LOVE your bald pic!!! …& yes, you’ll always be a redhead, no matter how much or little head you have on your head 😉 ….but personally, I like that wild mane of red curls better 😀
errr… head on your hair? …hair on your hair? …naaahhhhh – of course I meant “hair on your head!!!” O.o
LOL Thank you Skip!!!!
I’m slightly envious of how your hair has stayed so red. Mine has faded over the years, looking blander and blander. I hope if you do go bald, your hair comes back as beautiful and red as ever.
Thank you, Ginger. My hair has really changed over the years especially when you consider I started out with BRIGHT orange! Eventually everyone’s color fades and then we’ve all got to make the choice…go white or use dye! LOL
You are beautiful with or without hair . Oh, I sympathize with you on this one. Back when I was a very young woman with my first baby, my mother-in-law had a massive heart attack. I was suddenly faced with keeping her 4 grown son’s & their families, her husband and my household geared into taking care of the situation i.e. whose sitting at the hospital, etc. and pulling the extra duties. I then cared for her after she came out of the hospital many months later… for many months. My hair revolted to the stress and like yours…came out and got very thin. I took extra vitamins (per the MD’s advice) and my hair restored itself soon. Now, the nurse enters the room, hormone imbalances and other medical conditions (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hair-loss/DS00278/DSECTION=causes) also can cause alopecia. If once the stress is reduced and the problem does not correct itself, you may wish to ask to screen out any other potential problems. Love the stress busting advice! 🙂
Thank you, Bev. Losing hair during high stress is a common thing for many people and I’m one of them unfortunately. It has happened so many times in my life now that I’m simply going to blow it off this time. LOL Thanks for the link! Everything else in this old body seems to be doing better than it has for years and years since I found out that my allergy was to grains and I stopped eating it. {{{super big hugssss}}}
Gorgeous, even without sparkles… 😉 thank you for the smile. best wishes on keeping the stress in check!
Thank you Shaunda!!! {{{hugsss}}}
Hi Sherry, you are georgeous and look wonderful bald. I’ve had so many different hairstyles right now I just recently cut my hair bald and I’m now growing back just copy and paste my website link to view my bald photo here—–http://dixiewhyte.weebly.com/photos.html have a great weekend Sherry.
You look great bald!!! Thank you for sharing all the pictures. I’ve basically had only two hair styles my whole life – short and long, same style on top. LOL
Aww -you’re welcome sherry I’m happy to share
😀
I’ve had a lot of stress lately myself. Thanks for the sound advice, I’ll try it. BTW I also think you look good bald, but I’m quite sure I wouldn’t. 🙂
I’m so sorry about your stress!!! I hope you take the time to love yourself and that you won’t lose your hair. BTW I bet you would rock bald too! {{{hugsss}}}