June 10th, 2020
“Women love a self-confident bald man.” - Larry David
From a young age, even at the time of birth we all have hair. It becomes a part of our look, our personality, our identity -- part of who we are as a person. But hair is not necessarily here to stay. As people age, they can begin to lose their hair and go bald. Some may accept this as part of life. But for others, it can be quite traumatic as they feel they are losing a part of who they are. For young adults who begin to lose their hair in their twenties it can be even more difficult.
Hair loss at a young age is becoming more common in today’s generation due to the demands of our culture. Where we used to think that the possibility of hair loss and the age of hair loss was only due to genes, it is now even more so due to how we live. With that said, the short term and long term stress that humans experience on a daily basis can have a much bigger impact on balding than we used to think.
According to two experts, Swedish hair stylist Dr. Fred Zuli and Italian scientist Dr. Falvio Ferrari, there are…
Among these four reasons for hair loss, stress is the highest appointed reason why people are losing their hair, especially at a young age. Dr. Apoorva Shah, a trichologist who studies and works with people dealing with hair loss, points out that “as a reaction to an incident of extreme mental or physical stress, the body typically sheds hair after a gap of three months”.
Although it is not the only reason, we still typically associate hair loss with aging. This is why when a person loses their hair at a young age it can have a large impact on their personality, confidence, and lifestyle. As a result of balding at a young age, people may experience consequent emotions related to the premature loss of hair. Many of these feelings can be related to a generalized sense of loss. These can include, but are not limited to…
Loss of identity
Loss of self-esteem
Isolation
With the sense of loss, can come more serious and long effects on mental health. Specifically with hair loss, people may find themselves as a whole shifting and changing with the new physical changes to their hairline.
Depression: The combination of changes and loss of your image can be upsetting. Shame, frustration, and anger are all emotions a person may be experiencing when balding occurs. These feelings can develop into depression. Trying to accept the new you takes time, and for those who are impatient, hair loss can spiral into creating a negative image of oneself. Particularly, for young adults in their twenties and thirties who experience balding, they feel as though they are getting old and feel defeated.
Anxiety: Feelings of uneasiness and worry can ensue when a person is insecure. Young adults may feel worried about what others think of their image in a variety of settings.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Individuals who are extremely insecure about their image and care deeply about how others view them. These individuals become obsessed and preoccupied by their physical flaws. What is reality compared to what they see is typically exaggerated in the mirror. For example, someone who suffers from Body Dysmorphic Disorder may believe they are bald or balding in the mirror, when in reality their hair may be losing volume and is beginning to thin.
Overall, balding can create a lack of self-confidence which can develop into some deeper mood and personality issues. It is important to try to regain and maintain your confidence in order to move forward with a strong-minded and healthy life. Here are some ways of what you can do to help cope with the effects of hair loss:
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