my hair is falling out.

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I'm not sure what the disability process in Canada is, but you might consider the process, now, before the stress of your workplace possibly brings you further down; it might be harder to accomplish later down the road, if your stress related illnesses get worse. It's possible to function quite well in life with Aspergers, but the co-morbid conditions, that eventually may accompany it, make the equation much harder, and sometimes literally impossible to accommodate.

It's an extremely hard pill to swallow for someone that has struggled to adapt and make a place for themselves in society, but like any other condition that has the potential to be disabling, there is really no other choice, in my opinion, that I can see for you at this point. The stress of unemployment with no income, will make it much harder to recover, than if you do the best you can to ensure you have some means of subsistence in your future.

You have an established medical record; there is clear evidence of the co-morbid psychological conditions you are experiencing along with aspergers. If you recover while on disability, I understand there are programs that can get you back into employment in Canada.

The most important thing at this point is that you find whatever means possible to control the stress you can. The disability process, could mean the difference between substantial recovery or chronic stress until your body can no longer take it.

I was getting close to financial independence when I left work after working from the time I was 16, through college, until I was 47. I was a US government worker for 23 of those years, and rarely ever took a sick day. When I left work I had accumulated a year and a half of sick leave; and I needed every bit of it to get through the disability process for civil service.

The dread I had most of my work career was that of retiring, I had hoped to work until the day I died, but it didn't work out that way. It is estimated that chronic stress is implicated in 60 to 90 percent of disease; I find it disturbing that a call center only offers a 5 second break between calls. Humans aren't machines, the best of them lose their ability to keep the mind focused, with no breaks for stress. It's moving in this direction for too many occupations; the workplace efficiencies today will likely result in many stress related illnesses for people into the future.

I was an Athletic Director on a military base, but because of IT efficiencies, I was also secretary, human resources, payroll specialist, accountant, business manager, and an assistant to people in other fields on the military installation. I was connected to a computer screen and phone 90% of the time, along with trying to directly supervise 31 employees and indirectly supervise 70 more. Before IT efficiencies there were at least five other jobs that were filled. People that think that government workers are lazy in the US have no idea what the workload is today.

The majority of the people in my workplace, some 25 years younger, were on some kind of anti-depressant or anxiety medication; there was no shame in admitting it, although I shuddered at the possibility of takin anything, that might change my state of mind, and would have never made it public, if I did. It was a stigma when I was young, but now it's like taking aspirin. This was the recreation field, it was suppose to be where the fun jobs were in the military.

In the days when people used their hands to make a living, physical injury and physical disability often resulted, but today it is the mind and nervous system that suffers; mental stress is a pervasive disorder in itself, in the world of information technology and efficiencies. People can't multitask, it's a misnomer. Changing to unrelated tasks on a constant basis is torture for a human mind. People do it of their own free will in their spare time too.

Sorry for the long rant, but believe me you are not alone in your experience; the latest info from the CDC in the US shows the dispensing of anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication continue to rapidly increase on a year to year basis. It doesn't look like there is any end in sight. Again the best to you, in resolving your stress, and getting back to that calm that humans and other animals normally seek, every chance they get.

And as a side note, be careful with Ativan, it is highly addictive. Take the lowest dosage possible, if you can. I refused to take any anti-depressant or anxiety medications, but at the peak of my distress, I barely slept for 40 days, and it saved my life; it was the only way I could sleep.

I have reduced dosage from 4 Mg to 3/4 Mg, but doubt I will ever completely wean myself off of it. I never had nightmares in my life, until I started weaning myself off of it. I still remember that first 2 Mg shot, after the last 5 days of no sleep at all, it was the first time I had relaxed in over 2 years, and had slept more than 1 hour in a full 40 days. I was sure I was dying when I got the shot, and wasn't fighting the feeling too hard. I was amazed to wake up and be able to talk again, after not being able to speak or even think for days.

Good to hear that you can still exercise. It is also crucial in burning off the excess stress chemicals in your body. Panic attacks, rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure, are often the result of excess stress chemicals not burned off by exersize.

In addition to endorphins, it also increases serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin (the social hormone).

I credit it for the good health, good state of mind, ability to concentrate and focus, and an easier time with social interaction, that I had for most of my life. I was known as the calm, happy person, with the patience of Job. It wouldn't have been that way for me without an autistic obsession to exercize. I didn't miss a work-out for over 20 years.

It's the best preventative medicine I can think of to prevent co-morbid illness with Autism. It's unfortunate that so many people with Autism get turned off by it, because of the bullying experiences often associated with Physical Education in high school.

I received my fair share of bullying, most of those guys would probably not believe I ended up as an Athletic Director on a Military base; it was the last thing I would have imagined myself doing in the course of my lifetime. I never played a team sport.

If people more people with Autism could get motivated to exercise, I would imagine it to have the same impact.

Another excellent coping mechanism is playing a music instrument; it is the language of emotion, considering over 80 percent of people with Aspergers have a form of Alexithymia, it is an excellent way to better understand one's emotions.

There is research out that suggests this relationship, but I know it personally to be true after an Autistic obsession with piano and keyboard throughout most of my life; I found myself much more social and intune with people during the periods of life that I played. Without it the words were few, but with it I had a spark of interest to talk to people that I didn't have during periods, that I didn't play. Without it I seriously doubt I would have been able to express enough emotion to find someone willing to marry me.

I'm going off topic, but this stuff really helped me, and I try to repeat it as much as I can in hopes someone else might read it and get a similar benefit. This isn't necessarily a forum that one normally gets to hear about exercise or playing a musical instrument, but it is a great way to help prevent the co-morbid conditions that often bring people here or assist in recovering from them.

There's lot of other stuff too: Yoga, meditation, listening to music, quiet time in nature, pets, reading, journaling; basically any activity that releases stress, and/or calms the central nervous system.

exercise puts me in a better mood emotionally and gives me lots of energy. but i also sleep less and become extremely restless in bed. i get so that i am waking frequently and not getting into a deep slumber (during my periods of most strenuous exercise i was getting 4 hours of slep at night). for now, getting only light to moderate amounts of exercise is most advantageous as getting adequate sleep is my priority.


i most likely do have Alexithymia, and... i make music. i started to compose and record songs therapeutically about 2 or 2.5 years ago. i couldn't make music until after my dad died, as my efforts could not have stood up under his scrutiny.


i am looking into some forms of meditation, yes. i really don't relax too much at all, ever. even when i am doing "relaxing" things i am not relaxed. so i need to learn to force my body and mind to truly calm down.

i did some meditating yesterday and checked my blood pressure before and after, and my blood pressure and heart rate actually went UP after doing the meditation. but i know that the benefit of these activities builds up slowly over time - meditation doesn't offer instant gratification!

lemme tell you frankly... i won't go on disability because i want to maintain a certain lifestyle until i die (not a rich lifestyle, just being able to pay for my daughter's education, being able to move to another city eventually, etc.). working gives me the freedom to have more choices than i would have otehrwise.


yep, i need a new job. i am a trained teacher, which is way too much stress also. i'll see what i can do, based on my level of education and experience.


i took antidepressants for 10 years, in a variety of combinations, along with anti-anxiety meds. then i cured my depression through force of will (fundamentally shifted my way of thinking) and kicked the anti-depressant meds. however, NOW i need to fix the anxiety/stress. i do take a beta-blocker that helps with my anxiety to a degree, but it is masking the problem. i know i can solve this, but i jus need to figure out the best path.


i came across that same information about multi-tasking. if 2 tasks are completed in a multitasked way, they will take longer than doing them one after the otehr.


yes, the doctor gave me 2 weeks of 1 mg a day, and i am taking 0.5 mg instead. and i have a bottle of clonazepam from 6 months ago that i only ever took 2 pills out of. i do not like the way it makes me tired all of the time, and slightly cranky, and headachy, and with bad dreams and a sense of dread.

but i DO like the way it helps me sleep... and it calms my feelings of constant little shocks (i mentioned it upthread somewhere). i have a jumpy and twitchy nature, and outside stimuli or even my own thoughts cause me to feel these little jolts all of the time (like hypnic jerks, but smaller). i was not even aware of them.... until they stopped. i am not sure if i can get rid of those sensations through retraining my brain.

thanks again for offering so much of you own background. and i appreciate your advice.

Great news darling
I have tried a bit of Qigong. I think your'll love it now I also meet a Qigong master about two years ago. The two of us talked about Qigong and Reiki, he just did his Reiki 1 training with one of my level 1 Reiki master. The guy pointed out that he fund while teaching Qigong classes that he students who were Reiki attuned picked it up quicker that his other students.

Other thing if it dones happen then you have the joy of changing your 'hair' (wig) colour a few times a day to suit your mood quickly and without making a mess

****UPDATE****

so, i saw a dermatologist a couple of days ago... she diagnosed my hair loss as Telogen Effluvium (stress related hair loss), the same as my regular doctor had originally suspected and which was also mentioned upthread. she said that there is at least a chance i *may* get it all back over the next 6 months or so. it is not obviously noticeable to most people as i had a lot of hair to begin with.

she tested me for everything under the sun including Lupus (there was a chance of that based on my problems with Polymorphous Light Eruption/sun allergy, and intermittent issues with kidney infections). everything came out clear! i am so relieved to know that i do not have an underlying condition causing the hair loss.

she did give me Rogaine (5% monoxidil) which will hopefully bring improvements over the next while.

in order to reduce my stress, i have been attending therapy regularly again, i have been meditating twice a day, and i will be starting a dance class for exercise in the autumn. i haven't been able to find an active healing Qi Gong class in my city so far.

i have recently "separated" from my husband (still in the same house for a year), and my stress was reduced a lot when i set up a tiny office/bedroom of my own to retreat to.

i'm going to start getting massages too... the therapist thought it could help me for my tension but also so that i can have some more human contact. those massages will help my tension of course, and also hopefully my migraines. i have almost-daily ophthalmic migraines, and migraines with pain every couple of weeks or more.

i have some friends in real life and online who are helping me a lot. i am learning to ask for support when i need it, and trying to be open and honest about what is on my mind.

my work continues to cause me stress as layoffs are ongoing, so i am looking for a new job. normally staying put would cause me less stress but in this case the uncertainty of my contract may be a tipping point where learning a new job may be a better idea.

my doctor was concerned about my lack of sleep, as he thinks it is exacerbating my stress and hair loss. i had been taking Ativan but the doctor was worried i'd get addicted so he switched me to a sleeping pill.... which i am afraid to take. it's Lunesta eeeeeeeek!

i think i may also start attending a bereavement group as i have massive issues around my mother's suicide that i need to work through. i guess what i'm saying is that.... overall, i am a bit of a mess and i need a whole team to get me back on the horse!! !

I'm sorry to hear that there won't be a simple answer. Reducing stress in life is such a complex thing, but it sounds like you have a good game-plan lined up. And, I'm glad to hear it's not due to a chronic health issue that cannot be treated.

I guess one good factor in all of this is that you do have some degree of control and are in a position to make lifestyle changes before the effects of all this stress on your body escalate to something that is not reversible, like, say, a heart attack. We want to keep you around, hyperlexian!

BTW, for sleep issues, I'd recommend Melatonin before a prescription drug. Also, I have fewer bouts of insomnia when I'm taking a B complex and lots o' magnesium.

I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis and one of my first symptoms was hair loss. You are quite correct that it may not be detected with the usual tests. My TSH was totally normal and it wasn't until I pushed *really* hard to get the full thyroid panel done that it was diagnosed.

I still think this should be investigated further.

~Kate

you sound like you have a solid plan, i hope it all helps! (:

Glad to hear you got tested for all that stuff, and even more glad to hear that the tests were negative! Hope the stress is more manageable in the near future, and that your hair grows back. Mine did (it was from Hashimoto's thyroiditis) but never as thick as it used to be.

~Kate

thank you Meow101! i was very relieved!

emlion, i appreciate your well wishes.

yes, blueroses, that's totally the flip side of the problem being "just stress". there's no easy treatment or pill or cure. the only solution is managing it on several levels. i find it really difficult to wrap my head around. i've never taken very good care of myself so this is new to me. and i have to be careful not to worry too much about my anxiety levels, because the i'm stressing about stressing lol.

oh, and.... no surprise here... i have had high blood pressure since i was in my 20s, and i've taken various medicines for it since i was about 30. so i almost sputtered when i read your comment about having a heart attack!

good advice on the melatonin.

Look,first learn yours genealogy history of hair.Second there are two things that are approved by the FDA or i don't know any other abroad for hair loss.Finasteride(?)and minoxidil.Don't take finasteride you know the side effects,i never took it.Minoxidil it's ok,i haven't tried it but there are no bad side effects.You don't need to buy Rogaine,there are generic versions,cheaper,same thing.
Third,a good shampoo.I bought many until now,i liked them.I tried Revivogen(great,made my hair grow very fast),Propoline for hair loss(great aroma),Avalon Organics Thick and Thickening(i have read many reviews on iherb,very popular)and now i use Korres for hair loss,tonic shampoo.Next in line it's Nioxin because with chemical shampoos you don't smell bad in summer,while with natural you may.

Fourth,a good supplement.Biotin,others with vitamins,saw palmetto,i now use Country Life's Maxi Hair.There are many specified for hair.See reviews and search.There are plenty in drugstores(pharmacies).Also good food and healthy things,like Acai,Fish Oil,Green tea and all that.

This is for prevention.If you lost hair i don't know if you can gain it back with all these but you can have a hair transplant.

1. good idea. no female hair loss in my family that i've been able to uncover, except maybe an aunt that has cut off contact with my family (so i can't be sure). there is male pattern baldness on both sides, which can relate to female hair loss, but mine is not just on my head.

2. the minoxidil/Rogaine wasn't too expensive as i got a generic version. i just used the brand name in discussion as people know it as Rogaine. i will often go with generic versions of medicines.

3. YES. i use Marc Anthony "Instantly Thick" shampoo and conditioner, and it actually works. it someone makes my hair fluffier!! !

4. my doctor was getting on my case about my diet. i have a lot of issues with food so it is my biggest struggle at the moment. i think i may start a thread about just that specific problem.

thanks for the advice - some great ideas in there!! !

Hi Hyperlexian..

I have had hair loss on and off for years. It would have been nice if had been leg hairs or other unwanted hair, but no, it is the head.

I remember in 2006 it was the worst, it was almost like a thin layer of paint against my head. It will fall out then come back then fall out again. Right now it is thin, though could be thinner.

I have been chronically stressed for years so I think likely has a lot to do with that.

Anyway (((((((hugs))))) and just to let you know you are not the only one

thanks for the hugs and for sharing your story, zen. i wish i lost all of my leg hair! but alas it seems to have stalled out at 25-50 percent. just enough that i have sparse islands of hair lol. the Rogaine is causing things to get worse but i read that is a temporary issue before it improves. you know, there is a lady who rides my bus who has lost a lot of hair and i thought about talking to her. but she has elaborately tried to hide it so i don't wanna embarrass her. it's like a public secret.

you're welcom, and I hope you one day manage to find a situation where you are a lot less stressed, I think that will really help. I am working on this myself, not an easy thing to do though...

I read about this machine online that can be bought, it was like a head massager that is said to stimulate hair growth. I dont know whether it works or not though. Called a laser comb or something.