Emotional Effects of Hair Loss

Hair loss is known as a medical problem, but it can easilybecome emotionally troublesome, as hair loss has been known tocause extreme emotional distress. This is because our hair has adeep effect on how we feel about inner and outer selves. Hair loss is especially difficult for women, as many women judgetheir sexual appeal and self worth by their outward look. Thesudden loss of hair has been reported to make women feelworthless, ugly, and unwanted. While the women often wear wigsin public at home they know their husbands or boyfriends willsee the balding and even if the man completely understands thisis likely to make the woman feel insecure.For children who lose their hair due to medication or illnessthe fate can seem like a death sentence in itself. Otherchildren simply don't understand the effects of chemotherapy,and if they do, they tend to be afraid of the sick child becausethey've never been exposed to severe illness or death. For manychildren losing their hair may also mean losing their friends.Even though it is more acceptable for men tobald, they too have issues about the loss of their hair.Perhaps this is because hair loss is seen as a sign of aging. Itdoesn't help much that the balding usually begins about the timea man is entering the middle of his life and is beginning torethink what he has and has not accomplished. For men, thebalding seems to reaffirm the fact that they are old and thattheir life is coming closer to an end.Coping with these feelings is different for everyone. Coveringthe balding will give one more confidence but it may notalleviate all the feelings that the balding originally caused.For this reason further coping mechanisms are often needed.Women may need therapy. This will help them find self worth inthings other than their physical appearance. While many womenmay not want to see a therapist, it is important that they dowhat it takes to feel important and appreciated with or withouthair.Children have found peace in the past through friends or familymembers who have shaved their heads too while the child wasbald. Mothers and family friends who shave their heads candonate their hair to be made into wigs for bald children. Thisproactive decision will make the child feel happy, proactive,less strange, and more accepted.