Feel like I'm never going to beat this. Hair stress again

[cattia]

I've spent the last two months obsessing over hair loss. And when I say obsessing, I'm not kidding! I've been to the doctor twice, had a load of bloods done which were all within normal range (even though I worry that they were not right in the middle of normal). I brush my hair through with my fingers in the morning and I lose over 20 hairs. Loads more if I use a hair brush. When I wash it I count at least 30 and a similar number must go straight down the drain. So of the 100 hairs you're meant to lose in a day, that's at least 90 in the first hour! And that's just the ones I manage to count! I think my hair looks so thin at the sides now although the top is still thick. My Dr has prescribed me citalopram which I requested but since reading that it can cause hair shedding I am too scared to take them. I am seriously considering spending out to see a private dermatologist but I don't have much spare cash. I feel like I am never going to beat because I don't know how to stop when I can see hair all the time! When I'm out now all I do is look at other people's hair, I feel like I'm losing the plot.

[swajj]

You probably aren't losing as much hair as you think. Of course when you wash your hair you are going to lose a lot. A certain number of hairs are always at the stage where they are supposed to come out. But remember they are being replaced by new hairs. I went through this fear when I had HA. It would have been a few years ago now. I was convinced I was losing all my hair. I had blood tests done too. My hair is still as thick as ever but you could t have convinced me of that during the year or so I agonised over my hair "loss".

[Magic]

Have you tried any vitamin tablets for this. The health shops such as Holland and Barratt will advise you. Or go on line and look what they say.
I hope you are using a conditioner. Don't use a brush but a wide tooth comb.
Two lots of my meds say hair loss too.
Years ago I saw a hair loss specialist , Cannot remember what he was called. Had my hair cut very short. I told my GP about the treatment I was having and he told me I had wasted my money. Anyway after the points I have made. I still have hair, although I am getting on in age. Good Luck x

[swajj]

Have a read of this. I reckon it's what I had. The shock to the system being HA.


http://www.aocd.org/?page=TelogenEffluviumHA

[cattia]

Oh dear I hope it isn't this as I have chronic anxiety so I'm worried it will all fall out in the end. It's reassuring to know that others can relate to this, thanks so much for the replies.

[Leah88]

My hair used to fall out in clumps when I'd condition it in the shower. It used to scare me until I asked other women and found it was very common. There's tonnes of reasons this happens. Hormones, contraceptive pills, weight changes, stress. Mine used to happen when I'd lose weight. I can't think of many serious illness which cause it.

[cattia]

Thank you. I'm mostly worried about going bald. I know that wouldn't even be the worst thing in the world by any means but I'm so fixated on it now that I'm totally in fear every time I wash and brush my hair, I just have massive anxiety. I guess it's just another focus for my anxiety. Other women do also tell me that they lose a lot in the shower. I just feel like it's falling out all over the place! I'm taking super expensive hair vitamins too.