The next time you begin losing large amounts of hair, think about the role of stress and hair loss. To illustrate the point, here is a real life story about stress and hair loss. Elaine was always an attractive girl. While in college, she took on a job to help make ends meet. She studied hard and worked even harder. To make matters worse, she was also involved in a very strenuous relationship with a man that lasted for a year and a half. Elaine was overworked, over stressed and heartbroken. Stress was becoming more and more prevalent in Elaine's life. This combination eventually took a toll on her good looks, leaving her grumpy looking. Her friends began to comment on her haggard appearance. Elaine's skin became constantly dry and dull. She always felt sluggish and slow. Eventually, Elaine began to notice hair on her pillow when she woke up each morning, Stress was causing hair loss for Elaine and taking its toll on her body. It was then that she realized how much stress was affecting her life and looks. Alarmed and anxious, Elaine decided it would be best to consult a hair specialist to help her solve her problem. The specialist advised Elaine to reevaluate her life and try to be more positive. She told Elaine she needed to eliminate anything in her life that was causing her too much stress. She needed to remove herself from anything causing her pain and anguish if she wanted the hair loss to stop. Elaine took the specialist's advice and straightened out her life. She quit her part-time job to focus on school alone. She reconnected herself with friends and began to socialize again. This decision to have a happier, simpler life eventually helped her to become more physically fit, resulting in her to become the attractive girl she once was. The Oxford dictionary defines stress as "a demand upon physical or mental energy.' However, stress, as most people see it, is an above average demand of our energy. This demand is usually very hard to deal with. Stress puts demands on people to perform well above their capacity. This demand is very difficult to maintain without some form of relief. Despite the negative perception, stress is an everyday occurrence that affects most people at some point in their life. Following are other definitions of stress: -- Stress is supposedly a recent phenomenon and is everywhere we turn to. -- Stress does not feel good and cannot be experienced in pleasant situations. -- Stress can be achieved when our problems go out of control. -- Stress and change are related. As demonstrated in Elaine's story, stress can sometimes lead to hair loss. The human body has ways of alerting us of problems such as stress. If handled properly, stress can be managed and not lead to hair loss or other appearance related problems. The condition of a person's hair can tell you a lot about stress levels in their lives. Happiness and serenity in a person's life will be reflected by healthy looking, shiny hair. However, those with dry, lifeless, poor hair are likely encountering a depressing situation and are struggling to adapt.