Stress is a common issue that many people face in modern life. We tend to be overwhelmed when we are under too much pressure. Technology plays a significant part in why we often feel overwhelmed. Always being connected to the people around the world, seeing other people’s often-extravagant lifestyles, and trying to compare ourselves with those “digital personas” can lead to stress. Inability to prioritise tasks and inefficient time management can also lead to overwhelming feelings that could adversely affect our work-life balance. If you haven’t cultivated effective stress-management mechanisms that would enable you to cope with these feelings, then you are bound to feel stressed.

But how does that tie to hair loss? Well, studies show us that stress is a significant factor that could contribute to hair loss. If you are finding hair strands on your pillow in the mornings or your hair blocks the drain while you are showering, you may have a hair loss problem. If you already have an ongoing anxiety problem, then your hair loss issue may be coupled with that.

Stress and anxiety can trigger conditions that may cause you to lose your hair. Among these conditions are telogen effluvium, trichotillomania, and alopecia areata. Let’s take a more in-depth look at what those conditions are.

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is one of the most common conditions that stressed people experience. It causes hair to fall out; however, it is a temporary condition. So what is telogen effluvium exactly?

Stress can push hair follicles into a resting phase, which is called the telogen phase. Hair follicles do not produce new hair strands during this period. Telogen phase also causes hair strands to weaken, causing hair to fall out more quickly. These two factors lead to hair loss and balding over time. It is important to note that changes in hormonal levels and poor nutrition can also cause telogen effluvium.

Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a mental disorder that evokes an urge to pull out hair as a coping mechanism to overwhelming feelings. It has strong connections to stress and anxiety. 

In some cases, patients consciously pull out their hair as it eases overwhelming emotions and grounds them. It is, nonetheless, still a disorder.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is a stress-related condition that causes the body’s immune system to attack hair follicles. The body mistakes the cells within the hair follicles as alien substances and acts on them, causing the hair to fall out.

How to Cope with Stress

Studies show that exercising is a useful method for balancing hormonal disorders. Exercising also helps to manage stress and its effects. Learning and practising relaxation techniques is another effective way of combating stress. Try to learn deep breathing, meditation, and yoga techniques and regularly practice them.

If you are struggling with controlling your stress levels on your own, you should consider getting professional help. Our doctors can identify the root causes of your stress and recommend ways to minimise them.