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Avatar universal

hair, please help me

somebody please help me.  recently i cut off 18 inches of my hair.  i don't know why.  it was one of those spur of the moment things; i was ready for a change and decided to do it.  i was okay with it for a few days, and than something just hit me, and i began to panic and obsess about not having my hair.  it took me about 3 years to grow it out that long.  this may sound stupid, but i am spiraling into a deep depression.  i already have issues with depression, but i am having one of the worst episodes i've had in about a year.  My decision keeps flashing through my head.  Than I wonder what possesed me to do it and I cannot stop thinking.  i want it back so bad.  everytime i wake up it is like a bad dream, and my hair is all gone.  please somebody help me, because i really feel like i am going out of my mind, and i am only 17 years old.
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Avatar universal
Hi, I have cut my hair down to 7" about every 5 years.  I know what impulses can do.  I'm 60 now and just cut 15" and had a perm put in.  Deeply regretting it.  But it grows fast, at least mine does.  Think that I will keep it short, easier to wash and brush.  I had headaches sometimes because of my long heavy hair.  Hope this helps.
Helpful - 0
630047 tn?1289248521
Cutting off that much hair can be a tough ordeal for anyone to go through.  But you are focusing on the loss which is sending you into a downward spiral.  The more you think of your hair the more you focus on it being gone.  This lowers your mood and then you start feeling worse, then you start feeling bad about feeling down, and the cycle repeats itself.  And the worse part is that you get dragged down farther and farther.

You need to break out of that though process.  Focus on the upsides.  Think of the new hair styles that you can do.  Think of the money you'll save on not have to use as much shampoo.  Think of the time you'll save by not having to dry that much hair!!!  I'll bet you just freed up an hour of your day.  :)

"Always look on the bright side of life" - Gord
Helpful - 0
641819 tn?1240325930
Any repetive thought can be very hard to eliminate sometimes. The best thing I ever did for my mental health was to get cognitive therapy and learn how to do a thought record. This helped me 'shut off' those repetive thoughts cause I dealt with them.

Basically this is a thought record.

Step 1 - list off the troubling event. Who, what, when, where, why sort of things.

Step 2 - list off your emotions and how strongly you feel them. For example: Regret 95% Sadness 80% Anger 40%...whatever you feel and how strongly you feel them

Step 3 - dig through all the thoughts you have on this. This is your thought cascade. For example: Why did I do this? I won't be attractive anymore. I'm stupid. I'm too impulsive. If I can't control this, I'll never get anywhere in life. (These thoughts are important to dig to the bottom of and you'll often find a common theme in many of your problems - for me it was 'I'm not good enough' or things like that.)

Step 4 - find your 'hot thought'. The one that troubles you the most. This has to be one you can pick apart.

Step 5 - list everything that proves your hot thought. If it was 'I'm stupid' for example you could list that you are getting a D is math or whatever.

Step 6 - list everything that disproves your hot thought. This often is the step that takes the longest cause you are having to say good things about yourself. For example: I did really good on a test. I figured out something that was stumping my parents. etc.

Step 7 - list out a modified thought to replace your origional 'hot thought'. If it was 'I'm stupid' you could modify that to 'I may make mistakes I'm not happy with, but overall I'm pretty smart.'

Step 8 - rerate your feelings. For example now it could be: Regret 80% Sadness 40%Anger 20%

Keep in mind me writing this out is highly simplified. If you found this interesting or helpful I'd strongly suggest looking into cognitive therapy. It really helps your mind get off that destructive hampster wheel.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i wish this would go away.  i have never experienced such a deep sense of regret as i have lately.  i can't believe i ever did this.  i just don't know what to do.  i went from waist length hair to above the shoulders in seconds, and it's been almost two months and i'm still depressed.  i went into such an episode that i even had to take medication for it.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The worst that can happen is for 3 years you will still want it as long as it was last week. You will still be young in 3 years when your hair grows back to exactly where you want it, and that is assuming the worst. The best is you will still be young and be satisfied with your hair length before 3 years.
So I think you will do ok, but write back if you think otherwise.
Helpful - 0
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