thinning hair

Hair Loss – Coping With Alopecia



Coping With Hair Loss from Alopecia

About Alopecia

Alopecia UKAlopecia areata is a general term used for hair loss; this can be a small bald patch on the head or the loss of all hair over the entire body. The general term alopecia can be used to refer to alopecia areata, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis.

Alopecia is not life threatening but it can be distressing at times. While there are no proven effective cures for alopecia, hair can grow back spontaneously. However, the more hair that is lost, the less likely it is to grow back.

When you first get alopecia you may feel that your world has turned upside down. It may affect your relationships, work, social life and you may find it difficult to go anywhere in public. These responses are normal and understandable.

Learning To Cope

People with alopecia use many ways to cope with their hair loss. This article covers some of these methods and we hope it proves useful.

Expressing Your Feelings

Sometimes you might want to cry or shout because you feel it is unfair that you have alopecia. Do It! It’s perfectly normal to feel this way.

Holding these feelings inside is one option, and it can be beneficial at times, but you may find it makes you feel tired and irritable. Finding ways to relieve tension.

Exercise can help us relieve our feelings in a positive way. Some kinds of exercise are good for ecpressing anger, such as running, others are more calming, such as Yoga and Tai Chi. All exercise helps reduce stress, get the endorphins flowing and makes us feel better about ourselves.

Writing our thoughts down can help us explore our feelings. Keeping a diary or blog may work for you.

You may find it helpful to have counselling or therapy. If you do, talk to your GP who will have information about the services available. See the website for further sources of help.

Dealing With Reactions

Getting used to our new appearance is a challenge and may take a long time. Our partners, friends, family and colleagues will also need time to adapt.

Going out and meeting people may feel very uncomfortable, but while a small minority might make comments or stare, most people will be sympathetic and supportive. It can help to invite close friends or family to join you if you feeling uncomfortable.

Spirituality

Many people find their faith helps them through difficult time. Prayer, and the community of your place of worship, can give much needed strength. Meditation can help quiet an unsettled mind.

Support, Relationships, Socialising

Most of us rely on our friends and family to help us when we have problems. Alopecia should be no exception, though it can be a little complicated.

If you lose your hair then your partner may also be upset, so it is important that you talk through the issues that are bothering you both.

Some people really value meeting and talking with other men and women with alopecia. You may choose to join a local support group or an online discussion forum where you can share experiences, tips and understanding with other people in the same situation.

An active social life is key to feeling good about ourselves, but it may be hard for you to go out and take part in your usual social activities when you have alopecia. Sometimes, staying home will be the right option, but if it becomes a habit, it may lead to boredom and isolation.

If the social activities you usually do feel difficult, think about other things you could do that wouldn’t feel so awkward.

Avoiding The Issue

There are some less positive coping strategies that may not always be effective, but do work for some people some of the time.

Avoidance and denial may be a necessary part of the process adapting to your hair loss, as they are for many other life changing events, like the death of a love one.

Many people do not want to think about their alopecia and hope it will go away. Coping in this way can help avoid the upset and hurt, but may result in you shutting yourself away from other people and avoiding work.

While it is perfectly normal to use alcohol as an escape on occasion, this will not work on a regular basis and may endanger your health.

Acceptance and Growth

After a time , you may feel that you are coming to terms with your change of appearance and have accepted that you look different and that you may always look different! You begin to the look to the future rather than dwell in the past.

Difficult situations, such as having alopecia, can bring unexpected benefits. They can help you learn new ways of dealing with problems and new ways of looking at the world, helping you become a complete person.

For loads of information, advice, support and forums – contact:

Alopecia UK
5 Titchwell Road
London
SW18 3LW

info @ alopecia.org .uk
www. alopecia.org .uk

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