Hair loss and mental health

[Felk]

Some people here with anxiety and depression associated with their hair loss might be interested in this:

http://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome

It's a cognitive-behavioural therapy site run by a leading Australian university. It's interactive, easy to use, with simple and interesting exercises, recording responses, etc.

I was introduced to it when I was completing a psychiatry project. It's all evidence based and very well made, and i've seen a few studies demonstrating that completing exercises on that website does indeed reduce depression, anxiety, etc. In short, it works. If i remember correctly it performed almost as well as face to face therapy in one study.

Seeking help in assessing or improving your mental health in no way equates to weakness. Nor does it mean you should not continue to fight to keep your hair. Responding to stressful life events in a more effective way is a skill that helps us through life in general, not just hair loss.

I frequently see posts such as "if you were in my situation you'd feel the same way" etc. However the evidence suggests this simply is not true: different personalities respond to the same stressor (such as baldness) differently. When faced with the same stressful life event, only a certain number of people develop depression and anxiety. The rest remain unaffected in the long run by responding in a more effective way to the stressor. And it is entirely possible to learn these more effective, adaptive coping skills.

I hope some people here find it useful, especially those who are isolated or don't have access to proper help if they want it.

 

[HatPrisoner91]

I agree with the "different personalities respond to the same stressor differently" statement. I have always preached this. People tend to group people together saying, "hey he is bald and he looks good so you can too" as if all people look the same. Or he "got over it so you should too" like everyone reacts and feels the same.

I think everyone's situation is pretty much different. People had different childhoods, adulthoods, feelings, emotions, though processes etc..

I studied Psych and believe in it deeply for some people. Especially ones who had trauma they blocked out or issues such as anger for no explained reasons. I also think for some it doesn't work either. We are all different.

 

[Felk]

I agree, it doesn't work for some. But it works for many people. Cognitive behavioural therapy is the most effective treatment for many different mental problems, from mild to severe. And it teaches you something and doesn't involve medications