Some people thrive on stress, using it as the driving force behind their achievement of sales targets or large commissions.
Others find that they experience adverse effects as a result of being under too much stress or pressure.
These effects can manifest themselves in many ways, either mentally or physically.
One such physical manifestation is hair loss.
In this article we will discuss the connection between hair loss and increased levels of stress.
The level of stress experienced by an individual, whether male or female, is directly related to the amount of adrenalin being produced and pushed around the body.
Adrenaline is the "fight or flight" chemical produced by the body in response to external stimuli.
Hair loss as a result of stress is a physical reaction to the increased levels of Adrenaline in the bloodstream.
When subjected to too much Adrenaline, the hair follicle reacts by closing.
This reaction is not immediate however, it is a process that takes approx 2-3 months and for this reason, the effect of the fight or flight hormone will not be obvious, straight away.
The effect of this closure is to push the hair prematurely, into the Telogen or Resting Phase of its growth cycle.
The hair root will no longer grow and will become separated from the hair shaft as the follicle closes around it.
This will cause the shaft, the piece of hair you can see, to fall away.
Such things as pregnancy, childbirth, termination or any major surgery prompt a similar reaction, as the body sees all of these events as a form of trauma.
In most cases however, this reaction is temporary and things return to normal within a couple of months.
Common stress related issues that can result in hair loss People have very different stress tolerance levels.
Person A, male or female, could react badly to the slightest stressful situation whereas person B, again male or female, could endure a lot of pressure without suffering the effects of stress related illness.
Stresses of varying kinds can come from a wide range of sources and these sources can be either internal or external.
Some common causes of stress and stress related hair loss are; changes in a person's financial situation, the threat of losing one's job, a death in the family or from simply having too busy a lifestyle.
Conversely, having too little to do or being bored at work can have the same effect.
Other stresses potentially resulting in hair loss are low self-esteem, lack of confidence, bad diet, excessive smoking or drinking.
Avoid the build up of stress A common reaction to a stressful situation, particularly one causing mental stress, is to ignore it and sweep it under the carpet.
Pretend that it doesn't exist in the hope that it will go away.
This of course, rarely happens, all that does happen is the issue builds in importance leading to more and more stress.
Deal with the issue head on, sort it out and it will no longer be a cause for concern or stress.
Develop ways to protect yourself against stress Adopt feelings of being in control, of being committed and in-charge of your work and home environments.
Even if you're not the boss of the company you work for, you are your own boss.
You are in-charge of what happens and you decide what you are going to do about it.
All of these positive affirmations will help to alleviate stress and a useful by-product of them, is that you'll end up feeling much better about yourself and your life.
Regular exercise, relaxation, meditation and good sleep all go towards a healthier lifestyle and whilst not, in themselves, being cures for stress related hair loss, they will certainly lead to a more relaxed frame of mind and a greater sense of personal well-being.