Depression and Hair Loss: 3 Tips to Boost Your Self Esteem

Standing in front of the mirror in the morning, you push your hair back with your hand and look in despair as you notice that your hairline has moved another quarter of an inch back. You hold your comb and find one too many hairs stuck in its teeth. Your best friend says something like: "Hey man, better put on your Yankees hat today or the sun is gonna blister the back of your head." Sound familiar? For those who suffer hair loss such are the realities of life. Many men fear hair loss but some brave souls buck up and accept it as just another part of life and don't let it bother them. If you've experienced thinning hair, you already know your own response and how you handle it emotionally. But are we left to the cruelties of fate or do we have any say in the matter?

Tip one: If you experience hair loss don't panic and don't be discouraged - which can have a negative impact on your emotional health. According to mental health care professionals some men report that baldness can have a devastating effect, leading to depression and withdrawal from life. If you haven't experienced thinning hair, you may wonder what all the fuss is about. But many men consider their hair as an essential part of their appearance and very necessary for making good first impressions. For someone who is a public figure, it can also affect his work as well as self esteem.

Tip two: If you are concerned about hair loss, first talk about your feelings with a friend, family member or even a professional. I noticed some thinning when I was in graduate school and at first could have cared less but a few years later when I entered the professional world, it bothered me. I guess it was the unknown factor, not knowing how much hair I would lose and when or if it would stop. Luckily, I lost hair mostly in the crown or back and retained the rest. But at first it took some adjustment, a lot of pep talks and even using cognitive therapy.

Tip three: Cognitive therapy works! It is also called (thought replacement) and is simply replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. The trick is when you feel a depressing or negative emotion, immediately replace it with a more realistic and encouraging thought. It takes work to recondition your mind but it can be done. Several good books can be found on this as well as positive self talk - I attest to the fact that both work if applied consistently. An example of cognitive therapy could be changing your perspective. In the last few years short, close-cropped hair has become the style, even for actors. So its common to see guys, even younger guys in their 20s and 30s with the close-cropped look and if their hair is thinning it does not seem to be a big deal. So if movie stars accept hair loss, so can you.

Though a cure for baldness has still never been found there are things you can do and products that do help. Of course for every product that helps there are a myriad of ones that don't help and simply waste your time and money. I've tried a few of these products with mixed results as has a few of my friends. If you want to know more about hair loss, take a look at my blog and don't forget to sign up for new articles posts and updates.

Tim is an international journalist, having worked and written for news organizations in the U.S. and Asia (Shanghai, Manila, Singapore). He is also the author of four books. He enjoys exercising (jogging, hiking, body building) as well as studying and writing about wellness, health-issues and healthy living. Visit his blog and don't forget to sign up for new articles and posts.
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