Body Dysmorphia/Anxiety about hairline

[Chad199992]

I'm extremely insecure about my hair because of the my right side of my hairline, I had a rash few years ago and left it untreated which has made me lose some of my hair on the right side temple. The left side is compltely normal. I get really anxious when i see it in mirros and can't stop looking at my hair it when i see a mirror. I'd spend hours trying to comb my hair in a way where you can't see my right hair line. The first thing i do when i wake up is look at the right side of my hair line and if it's exposed it which makes me anxious because i know others will see it too. I'd often sit there and anaylse every single hair strand along my hairline to make sure it's perfect. I've often contemplated about getting a hair transplant to fix the right side but i know it'll only make my compulsion worse.

I'd spend hours looking at the mirror trying different hairstyles to see which one looks the best for me. After a while, i start sweating from the anxiety and often would have to shower and restart the whole process again.

There would be days where i wouldn't think about it at all because my hair lays the way i like it and covers the right side of my hairline, on other days i would see my right hair line exposed and it would ruin my day. I'm overly obessed about my hair to the point where it dictates how i'll feel for the whole day.

Can anyone share some tips that will help ? I was reading about exposure therapy, would that help?

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hi there 🙂

I don't want to minimise your experience, as looks are important in our society, and that's just the way it is. But by the same token, we need to find some level of self acceptance in order to maintain our mental health, and I feel like that's what you're trying for. This led me to thinking about the saying "where focus goes, energy flows". Sounds a little bit simplistic, but the more you give something attention, the more of your mental space it takes up - and that's not always a good thing. I wonder if you can try catching yourself out giving your attention to your hair line, and redirect it away to something more valuable - whatever that might be for you. Instead of touching your hair, pat your dog. Instead of thinking about your hair, try thinking about your favourite song, or your really nicely shaped toes. Whatever works for you. It's something I've been practicing - choosing the thought or action that feels better.

My kind thoughts. Katy