Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Obsessively worrying about my hair.. All the time! Picture Included.

36 replies

KateSpade · 06/12/2013 21:17

Hello ladies, i am getting really desperate. so please any words of encouragement. Im starting to despair. I honestly don't know what to do.

I have long, fine hair (from base of neck 20") and in the past week or two I've noticed at the very base of my neck a couple of strands have snapped off, half way ish.

My questions are what can i do to prevent my whole head of hair snapping off? I don't wash it every day, or use heat every day, btw.

secondly, what can i do to prevent me worrying about my hair. Im worrying about it snapping off, about it falling out, about going bald, about it getting so fine you can see my scalp, about having to cut it off, if I'm washing it too much, about why its so frizzy.

It is ruining my life. I honestly don't know what to do. Please help! I have been to the doctors so many times Blush I've been checked for thyroid problems - none, and Iron problems - low iron not quite anaemic but nearly.

(I think it may have something to do with the fact that an ExBf of mine used to tell me i was going balled - No idea why, as it wasn't true. Knob)

Obsessively worrying about my hair.. All the time! Picture Included.
OP posts:
SteamWisher · 06/12/2013 21:20

Your hair looks lush.

Hair breaks - that's just normal. You noticed a couple of strands? Seriously? Your hair must break a bit when you brush/wash it?

Speak to a hair dresser for reassurance.

Original poster
KateSpade · 06/12/2013 21:23

I know, its ridiculous. My hair breaks, but its never funny snapped off before. My mind has ran away with itself.

OP posts:
Original poster
KateSpade · 06/12/2013 21:23

Fully snapped off.

OP posts:
whereisthewitch · 06/12/2013 21:23

I went though a phase of constantly worrying about going bald, I too have fine hair especially at the top and sides plus i bleach and straighten my hair.

Sounds like you have a lot of anxiety and you are projecting this onto your hair. My advice is to get it cut....short. I did this and it grew back thicker and healthier (until I bleach it again).

Maybe see the gp about the anxiety?

neolara · 06/12/2013 21:25

Bloody hell. Your hair looks like the something out of a shampoo advert. It's amazing.

southeastastra · 06/12/2013 21:26

oh blimey i went through a really bad phase of worrying about my hair really obsessively for years and it was an awful time in my life. I wish i had seen my gp as I know they have so many ways to deal with this anxiety but i just had to muddle my way out of it myself! it's like an obsessive disorder, don't let it get worse!

Smartiepants79 · 06/12/2013 21:26

We'll it looks lovely in the pictures. Hair does break. All the time. Do you have it cut regularly? Hair needs trimming tk keep it in good condition. You say you've seen the doctor but have you discussed your anxiety. It sounds a bit irrational. The pictures show nothing to worry about, your hair is beautiful.

Original poster
KateSpade · 06/12/2013 21:46

Thankyou for all the nice comments. I do think maybe going to the doctors about my anxiety is the next step. I can't go till tuesday though. So what could i do until then to help myself feel better?

OP posts:
southeastastra · 06/12/2013 21:49

avoid mirrors, think about anything other that your hair, become obsessed with something else? watch that programme my secret obsession on tlc. someone on there the other night was obsessed with eating vicks vapour rub. we all have our little foibles but we have to learn to keep them at bay!

Rumplestiltskinismyname · 06/12/2013 21:52

Distract yourself with other stuff. Honestly truly, please look at your hair and reassure yourself that you are not going to go bald anytime soon. I too have thin hair, but know that I actually have quite a bit of it- a few hairs breaking/coming out is not going to make you bald. They are likely to regrow at a similar rate to the falling out.

Jackthebodiless · 06/12/2013 21:55

You have beautiful hair. Maybe that's why you're so worried about it. Just relax and enjoy it!

Mintyy · 06/12/2013 21:57

You need to see your GP and press for a course of cognitive behavioural therapy as soon as you can get it.

Original poster
KateSpade · 06/12/2013 22:03

That sounds like a really good program SouthEast i think i may actually google it.

& i think looking it at it will make it worse, both my mum and my best friend have had cancer very recently and are both bald, so i feel really guilty talking about it with either of them. Like when people tell you not too look at your face in a magnifying mirror. I know better than that.

It may sound really stupid, but i used to worry about everything and then one day i just stopped and though 'fuck it, if it happens, it happens' but this is something that i just can't stop.

I've heard that CBT is quite hard to get on the NHS though Minty but i think ill do my research and try.

OP posts:
BroomstickRider · 06/12/2013 22:04

Your hair is gorgeous and in much better condition than mine (waist long) if you've only had a couple of strands break off. Like PP I'm sure anxiety is the problem, not your hair. I have a tendency to fixate on things when I'm anxious, silly ridiculous things I mean! Is there anything else worrying you?
I would see your GP and CBT can be really helpful, but in the meantime you could try having a defined worry time - like a certain time of the day when you allow yourself to think about your hair and the rest of the time try and distract yourself, its something I've found quite useful anyway. For me it sort of stops me going over and over the same thoughts a bit. But yes, I know easier said than done.

ProphetOfDoom · 06/12/2013 22:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ggirl · 06/12/2013 22:07

yup you have definitely got anxiety issues
nowt wrong with our hair
surprised you GP hasn't picked up on that

HaveAGoodDay · 06/12/2013 22:12

Can you tell me what shampoo, conditioner & other products you use? Because your hair looks amazing, I want mine to look like that!

Try to stop worrying so much. In the last 3 months I have applied several home dyes & a colour remover. I've just had a bleach bath to my hair & a semi colour applied. I've still got hair. Yours looks in tip top condition.

burnishedsilver · 06/12/2013 22:12

Hair and nail supplements are very good.

heidihole · 06/12/2013 22:15

I would kill for your hair.

Original poster
KateSpade · 06/12/2013 22:40

I tried Hair, Skin and Nail capsules a few years back but they brought me out in a terrible rash. But i think i may try Biotin. To be honest, i could do more for my low Iron, i try to take a multivitamin which is 100% of my daily iron, but i don't always. In what way do they make you feel poorly Matilda? if you don't mind me asking.

I know what i am going to do, which is make a conscious effort to get plenty of fruit and veg into my diet along with exercise and vitamins. Which I'm sure will help in some way. After i had my DD my hair never recovered, which annoyed me. Pregnancy is not a beautiful experience!

Good day I use Joico K-pak shampoo & conditioner, along with a macadamia oil masque weekly. Whilst its wet i apply a leave in conditioner, by phyto/John frieda/cloud 9, a hair oil either kerastase or matrix biolage then a blow dry lotion. I try to stay away from dying my hair as i just don't think my hair can handle it.

OP posts:
BlueStones · 06/12/2013 23:25

KateSpade, as others have said this sounds very much like anxiety, and you have been through a lot. I once had an anxiety problem and also worried about baldness (used to shine a torch on my head under a mirror to check, several times a day!) I am convinced now that is was, as others have said, a means of externalising my worries.

In a practical sense, I have fine brittle hair and coconut oil really does help the condition.

Original poster
KateSpade · 07/12/2013 09:22

Thank you blue, what do you do with the coconut oil? I've never quite managed to get into it, as my pot is so solid i can't even scrape it out with a spoon. I microwaved it but after a min, it made no difference & I gave up!

OP posts:
specialsubject · 07/12/2013 15:48

I just paid a bomb to get somewhere near that...

if you are using straighteners daily, don't. Keep the heat off your hair.Washing every 2-3 days is also better than every day (I know discover) But if you have an active job that won't work.

if you are over about 35 think twice before you cut it short. Your follicle cycle may have shortened which means it will never be that long again.

hair is dead so nothing you put on it does too much. Don't take vitamins, eat properly.

might also be worth taking your head to the doctor (in the nicest possible way) - but there's nothing wrong with your hair!

Twinklestein · 07/12/2013 16:10

I agree it sounds very much like anxiety linked to your mum and best friend's cancer, and your hair looks lovely - very healthy.

However low iron levels definitely effect your hair, so I would ask your GP for iron tablets on prescription (I'm surprised you haven't been given a prescription already).

BlueStones · 07/12/2013 16:36

I leave the bugger on the radiator till it melts! I have the small Superdrug pot. Bigger pots are probably a pain to use.