Greetings everyone. I have felt scared/anxious most of my life, but it got much worse 10 years ago when I started having panic attacks. The first time I had one, my scalp was tingly and my hair fell out in handfuls and was completely gone in about a week. Everywhere . . .

Things settled down, my therapist got me into doctor, and got me on xanax. My hair grew back slowly. Stress got really bad a few years later, hair falls out again, although not completely as before.

Grew back, fell out ad nauseum. Now growing back slowly, have a few eyelashes and eyebrows.

I have always had thick long blonde hair and long curly eyelashes, so not having hair and wearing wigs increases my anxiety. Plus, when we get windy weather, my wig can blow off my head. Embarassing, and my daughter has chased in across a parking lot more than once. :faint:

I am still trying to get official diagnosis, have appt with psychiatrist. I've been reading this forum and other sites and I am sure I have primarily innatentive ADHD. I am bright, and I have "covered it up" all my life. I'm now 51.

Do ADHD drugs like adderall or others help with the anxiety? I am currently taking xanax .5 1-2 times daily and zoloft.

Thanks for any info . . . .

My best friend has Alopecia Areata and looses his hair when he has severe anxiety!

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata is a hair loss condition characterized by the rapid onset of hair loss in a sharply defined area. Any hair-bearing surface can be affected, but the most noticeable surface is the scalp. The reason alopecia areata occurs is not completely known. In some cases it is associated with other diseases, but most of the time it is not. Research is ongoing to determine the best treatment for this sometimes-striking disease.

Causes of Alopecia Areata

There are several different hypotheses as to what causes alopecia areata. Genetic factors seem to play an important role since there is a higher frequency of a family history of alopecia areata in people who are affected. Alopecia areata appears to also have an autoimmune factor causing the patient to develop antibodies to different hair follicle structures.

Certain chemicals that are a part of the immune system called cytokines may play a role in alopecia areata by inhibiting hair follicle growth. Some studies show that emotional stress may also cause alopecia areata.

Hair loss occurs because the hair follicles in a discreet area all enter the telogen or late catagen stage of hair growth. In the catagen stage the hair follicle stops growing and in the telogen stage it falls out. Normally hairs are going through these stages at random and the growing hairs on the rest of the head outnumber the hairs that fall out. In alopecia areata, something causes all the hairs in a certain area to enter the telogen or catagen stage at the same time. However, there are many factors that can cause hair loss.
Other Hair Loss Conditions

Other diseases that may be mistaken for alopecia areata include:

Telogen effluvium - generalized hair loss caused by pregnancy, certain drugs, high fever, or stress.
Androgenic alopecia - also known as male-pattern baldness.
Trichotillomania - manually pulling the hair out caused by a psychological disorder.
Secondary syphilis - causing a "moth-eaten" baldness pattern over the entire scalp.
Therefore, you should always consult with a physician if you experience hair loss to find out the actual cause.

Hope this helps! :)

Thank you seek for your information. I have read tons about alopecia areata. I know for a fact thay stress and anxiety cause my hair loss. When my life settles down my hair grows back. Although my scalp takes a "rest" first of about 6 months to a year.

Since I am still seeking a formal diagnosis, the proof will be in the pudding. If the diagnosis/meds help my brain function, I will get more done and not have to feel anxious about the things hanging over my head.

I feel that I have learned a lot of coping skills over my lifetime, and I know that if or when my concentration improves, I will need to get my life organized so that I can handle everything for when I do feel depressed or overwhelmed and not get panic attacks. It will be interesting to see if my hair grows back and stays that way. Will keep you posted.

PJ :cool: