Losing your hair can feel like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster. The ups and downs combined with the wide range of feelings are often tough to process. One day you might be discouraged by your changing appearance, only to be filled with motivation the next. The conflicting emotions can be exhausting and significantly affect your mental health.
Unwanted changes to your appearance most commonly stir up feelings of anger, sadness, shame, and frustration. These experiences can lead to self-esteem issues, self-consciousness, and social anxiety. Fortunately, there are approaches to moving through these tough emotions and situations. Here are some strategies for your emotional well-being as you deal with the psychological impact of hair loss.
1. Trust the Process
Sometimes the best thing you can do in a challenging situation is to trust yourself to handle it. Cultivating resilience is crucial for overcoming hardships, including the psychological toll of hair loss. Some of the best ways to build strength are proactively addressing your problems and taking wisdom from past experiences. This process could look like breaking down your issues with a therapist or journaling about what you’ve learned during previous struggles.
Trusting the process is especially beneficial to your mental well-being when you’re trying to treat your condition. You may decide to explore hair loss treatment as a way to regain self-confidence and take back control over your appearance. But those are solutions that take time. The ultimate goal is to find self-acceptance, regardless of the results of your efforts. Trust that you are still worthy, no matter the reflection in the mirror.
2. Feel Your Feelings
There’s no denying that losing your hair comes with a slew of negative feelings. While sadness and anger might be challenging to sit with, you have to allow yourself to feel them. Pushing down your feelings doesn’t make them disappear and can lead to more unnecessary suffering. The first step is to identify the emotions you’re experiencing. Give yourself validation for what you’re going through, sit with those emotions, and express your feelings in a safe way.
Feeling your feelings also means you don’t participate in numbing behaviors. These unhealthy coping strategies could include misusing substances, mindlessly scrolling social media, or anything that takes you out of the present moment. A therapist is a tremendous resource if you struggle to identify and process your emotions. Mental health professionals can also help you develop coping strategies for handling your emotional responses effectively.
3. Utilize Your Support Network
Building a support network is crucial for healthy connections and handling the emotional toll of hair loss. You might find the best community among those who understand your struggles. Consider joining an in-person support group or an online forum for people with hair loss. These are great spaces to share your story and cultivate a sense of connection. Friends, family, and partners are also tremendous sources of support, especially in your everyday life.
You may also find helpful information through the American Academy of Dermatology Association’s hair loss resource center. In addition, a mental health professional specializing in body image issues can provide the support you need to work through the process. Hair loss can significantly affect your self-esteem, and specialized providers are the best equipped to help you find self-acceptance.
Therapists can also suggest relaxation techniques to deal with social anxiety and identify triggers. Meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises can all help you unwind and move through your feelings.
4. Re-focus Your Energies
Constantly focusing on the psychological effects of balding can be a huge energy drainer. Depression, anger, and frustration can all feel like they’re sucking every ounce of your power. You may also drain your energy by going through the mental gymnastics of avoiding your emotions. While it is crucial to embrace your feelings, you need to avoid falling into rumination cycles that leave you stuck. To combat this loss, redirect your thoughts with positive habits.
You could start a new hobby or rediscover an old favorite in your free time. Putting more effort toward your relationships and building a community is another better use of your mental energy. Loved ones can be especially helpful in creating spaces allowing you to turn your mind to other things besides your hair loss. Your career is another beneficial way to redirect some of your energies. Your connections and passions show that your worth does not tie to your physical appearance.
Taking Care of You
Dealing with the psychological impacts of losing your hair is no easy feat. Experiencing the vast spectrum of emotions and tests on your self-esteem requires a high degree of self-care and love. Go easy on yourself as you navigate your hair loss journey, and keep in mind that the path is different for everyone. Discovering what works best for you may take some time and practice.
The strategies you build during your hair loss journey can also apply to other parts of life. Filling up your mental health toolbox can help you move through anything emotionally taxing. You can stock your hair-loss toolbox with healthy coping strategies, support networks, affirming messages, and anything that brings you closer to self-acceptance. Through it all, remember that you are so much more than the amount of hair on your head.