10 Common Stressors That Can Lead to Hair Loss

We all experience stress. And a certain level of stress is perfectly normal. But when stress gets overwhelming it can cause serious physical and mental health issues.

Acute or chronic stress can even lead to hair loss. And if you have ever experienced hair loss you know how embarrassing and insecure it can make you feel.

To avoid hair loss from stress, you can reduce stress in your life or adapt coping skills to handle stressful situations.

Read below for 10 common stressors that may lead to hair loss.

1. Workplace Stress

Your job can be a major source of stress no matter what industry you’re in. If you are working long hours with very little personal time or time to sleep the stress can build over time.

Workplace stress can also be acute meaning that there is one event or task that is causing you stress. You may be anticipating a big meeting or presentation and feel extra stressed out about the idea of public speaking.

No matter what your work environment is, there is likely some level of stress involved. And if this stress isn’t mediated, you could be at a higher risk for hair loss.

If you notice sudden hair loss from stress you could be experiencing symptoms of Telogen Effluvium. Talk to your doctor about potential treatment options.

2. Parenting Stress

Any parent will tell you that it’s stressful. Being responsible for another human being can keep you up at night with stress.

This stress most often comes from wondering about whether you are making the best parenting decisions or whether your child is happy and well-adjusted.

Feeling unsure about your ability to be the best parent can cause stress without you even knowing it. Wondering and second-guessing your parenting skills can take up an enormous amount of time and energy too.

3. Relationship Stress

If you and your partner or spouse are having difficulty in your relationship, it can be stressful.

Disagreements in a relationship can also lead to anger, frustration, sadness, and low self-esteem. Those emotions can lead to stress too.

Going through a divorce is another high-stress event for a relationship. The anxiety about the uncertainty of your future without your partner can also be an underlying cause of stress.

If you are experiencing stress from your relationship, consider speaking to a certified councelor. They may be able to help you process your feelings and alleviate some of the stress.

Stress can also come from happier occasions in your relationship like getting married or having a baby. Even though you are happy about the situation the uncertainty and the planning can cause stress.

4. Financial Stress

Did you know that 25% of Americans report worrying about money “all the time“? Which means you are not alone in experiencing financial stress.

Paying the bills, supporting children, and buying necessities require a certain level of financial stability. Not to mention saving for retirement or unforeseen emergencies.

People stress about money because they don’t feel that they have enough. Not being able to plan for a stable financial future is worrisome and manifests as stress.

5. Unpredictable Circumstances

You may experience stress in your daily life when things change unexpectedly. If your car breaks down and you can’t make it to work it could impact every other activity you had planned for the day.

For some people, this quick change in plans produces enormous anxiety. Especially when the cause of the change isn’t easily resolved.

6. Environment

Your environment refers to the physical space around you at home, at work, and anywhere else you spend time. If you have a hectic workplace that may cause without any particular event happening.

The lighting in your house, noises from construction near your office, or gridlock traffic every day are examples of environmental factors that can cause stress.

Sometimes you are in control of your environment and can make changes to reduce the stress, but other times the stressor is out of your control.

7. Caring for a Family Member

Caring for an elderly or sick family member takes a major emotional toll on people. Fear, worry, and anxiety are all part of the stressor too.

You may feel overwhelmed by the responsibility or by managing being a caretaker while fulfilling all of your other responsibilities.

8. Social Stress

Does the idea of social gatherings make you feel stressed? Believe it or not, 15 million people in the US suffer from social anxiety disorder.

Social anxiety or social stress happens during social situations but also when a person is anticipating a situation which they have to interact with other people.

Trying to overcome social stress may take time and therapy.

9. Illness

If you have recently been diagnosed with a chronic health condition it can be stressful. You may worry about your quality of life or whether you will be a burden to others.

Even manageable chronic diseases like diabetes are big stressors. Managing a treatment schedule and trying to change one’s lifestyle is stressful too.

Illness can be a cause of stress but also a result of stress.

10. Uncertainty About the Future

General uncertainty about one’s future is a stressor for many people. You may wonder about what will happen with your career or family in the next year or five years.

You may also feel unsure about where you are in life and where you want to be. These general worries can take a toll on you even if they are not part of your daily worries.

Managing Common Stressors to Prevent Hair Loss

These are 10 of the most common stressors that you might be experiencing. Making time for sleep, physical activity, and a healthy diet can help you mitigate the health risks of stress including hair loss.

If you are still struggling with stress, seek out a mental health professional for advice. You shouldn’t live your life in a constant state of stress, and you don’t have to.

If you are experiencing hair loss from stress, check out Tricovel and protect your hair or grow back the hair you lost.