Comments on: Do You Suffer From Haircut Anxiety? http://paranoidpear.com/do-you-suffer-from-haircut-anxiety/ Down-To-Earth Advice for Managing Anxiety and Tips For Living a Better Life. Enjoy. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:06:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Jason http://paranoidpear.com/do-you-suffer-from-haircut-anxiety/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Jason Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:47:43 +0000 http://paranoidpear.com/?p=118#comment-62 Congrats and thank you. I look forward to writing more posts soon. Congrats and thank you. I look forward to writing more posts soon.

]]> By: WP http://paranoidpear.com/do-you-suffer-from-haircut-anxiety/comment-page-1/#comment-60 WP Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:25:08 +0000 http://paranoidpear.com/?p=118#comment-60 A follow-up: I did it! I got a haircut!! And one day earlier than planned! Not only did I get a fabulous haircut, I had highlights done, my hair was blow dried, styled, the whole works! Two hours of sitting in THAT chair! I was VERY anxious/panicky before we started and didn't expect to make it through. But, I repeated in my head that I WAS IN CONTROL of this situation and honestly, it helped me a great deal. It's very difficult to explain to someone who has never experienced anxiety/panic associated with getting a hair cut how you REALLY are feeling. So, I shared with my friend that I was extremely nervous of having my hair cut and it's possible I would need her to stop whatever she was doing AND abruptly. Thankfully, I never had to ask her once. My next BIG step will be to have someone who is NOT a friend/relative do my hair for me. Where I will be in an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people. Oy! That will be a while from now, but really, I think I can get through it. I'm just so relieved to know that there are people who totally know where I am coming from and understand. Before I found this Blog, I really, truly felt I was the ONLY ONE who suffered this way. It's very comforting to know that I am not alone. More comforting is the fact that I took the plunge a few days ago and I now know that I was truly afraid.....of nothing. Slowly but surely I will rid myself of my anxiety. It's not going to be an easy task, but with patience and perseverance I know I can do it. Thank you Jason for your Blog. It's so nice to read (from your personal experience) as so many articles I have found on the internet are just general articles regarding anxiety. I can relate to more than one of your posts and will check back often for updates. :) A follow-up:

I did it! I got a haircut!! And one day earlier than planned! Not only did I get a fabulous haircut, I had highlights done, my hair was blow dried, styled, the whole works! Two hours of sitting in THAT chair!
I was VERY anxious/panicky before we started and didn’t expect to make it through. But, I repeated in my head that I WAS IN CONTROL of this situation and honestly, it helped me a great deal. It’s very difficult to explain to someone who has never experienced anxiety/panic associated with getting a hair cut how you REALLY are feeling. So, I shared with my friend that I was extremely nervous of having my hair cut and it’s possible I would need her to stop whatever she was doing AND abruptly.
Thankfully, I never had to ask her once. My next BIG step will be to have someone who is NOT a friend/relative do my hair for me. Where I will be in an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people. Oy! That will be a while from now, but really, I think I can get through it. I’m just so relieved to know that there are people who totally know where I am coming from and understand. Before I found this Blog, I really, truly felt I was the ONLY ONE who suffered this way. It’s very comforting to know that I am not alone. More comforting is the fact that I took the plunge a few days ago and I now know that I was truly afraid…..of nothing. Slowly but surely I will rid myself of my anxiety. It’s not going to be an easy task, but with patience and perseverance I know I can do it. Thank you Jason for your Blog.
It’s so nice to read (from your personal experience) as so many articles I have found on the internet are just general articles regarding anxiety. I can relate to more than one of your posts and will check back often for updates. :)

]]> By: Jason http://paranoidpear.com/do-you-suffer-from-haircut-anxiety/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Jason Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:36:21 +0000 http://paranoidpear.com/?p=118#comment-53 It is great to hear from you regarding your anxiety challenges with getting a haircut. Ever since I started this blog it has helped me see that I'm not alone --- I guess that is really the goal of this blog is to bring people together to share their stories and experiences. I'm sure there are countless people around the world right now... feeling the symptoms ... sitting in a chair... worrying, sweating, feeling like they are going to pass out. They are probably thinking that they are odd or weird for feeling this way, but when I read comments like yours... it helps me to remember that anxiety is not a unique or isolated incident where I feel like I'm not "normal".... it makes me want to further understand why so many people do fear things that when we step back and look at them are really non-threatening. I'm a huge believer of cause and effect. Maybe anxiety disorders are a symptom of a societal structure that is failing?... It is great to hear from you regarding your anxiety challenges with getting a haircut. Ever since I started this blog it has helped me see that I’m not alone — I guess that is really the goal of this blog is to bring people together to share their stories and experiences. I’m sure there are countless people around the world right now… feeling the symptoms … sitting in a chair… worrying, sweating, feeling like they are going to pass out.

They are probably thinking that they are odd or weird for feeling this way, but when I read comments like yours… it helps me to remember that anxiety is not a unique or isolated incident where I feel like I’m not “normal”…. it makes me want to further understand why so many people do fear things that when we step back and look at them are really non-threatening.

I’m a huge believer of cause and effect. Maybe anxiety disorders are a symptom of a societal structure that is failing?…

]]> By: WP http://paranoidpear.com/do-you-suffer-from-haircut-anxiety/comment-page-1/#comment-52 WP Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:46:01 +0000 http://paranoidpear.com/?p=118#comment-52 I can totally relate Jason! I suffer the same way. As a woman, I have gone far too long with the same boring hair style because of my fears/anxiety of sitting "trapped" in that dreaded chair! I have tried to "talk myself into it" on numerous occasions and then always chicken out. I have asked a friend who is also a hair stylist to give me a new "do" this weekend. I am trying to remain calm about it but can already feel the anxiety starting to build and it's two days away! I KNOW I am in control of the situation and can ask her at any second to stop and let me take a break, but still...the anxiety is there and I feel I can't shake it. Geesh!!! wish I could get past this. I can totally relate Jason! I suffer the same way. As a woman, I have gone far too long with the same boring hair style because of my fears/anxiety of sitting “trapped” in that dreaded chair! I have tried to “talk myself into it” on numerous occasions and then always chicken out. I have asked a friend who is also a hair stylist to give me a new “do” this weekend. I am trying to remain calm about it but can already feel the anxiety starting to build and it’s two days away! I KNOW I am in control of the situation and can ask her at any second to stop and let me take a break, but still…the anxiety is there and I feel I can’t shake it. Geesh!!! wish I could get past this.

]]> By: Jason http://paranoidpear.com/do-you-suffer-from-haircut-anxiety/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Jason Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:27:29 +0000 http://paranoidpear.com/?p=118#comment-49 Waiting in queue is uncomfortable, I typically grab a magazine or newspaper and read it while I wait. This tends to relieve the awkwardness of simply sitting there having to watch others get their haircut. But you are right about the cycle. ---- anxiety is really a cycle of fear that feeds upon itself to the point where the physical symptoms appear and only help to validate what we think is happening or going to happen. Waiting in queue is uncomfortable, I typically grab a magazine or newspaper and read it while I wait. This tends to relieve the awkwardness of simply sitting there having to watch others get their haircut. But you are right about the cycle. —- anxiety is really a cycle of fear that feeds upon itself to the point where the physical symptoms appear and only help to validate what we think is happening or going to happen.

]]> By: Anonymous http://paranoidpear.com/do-you-suffer-from-haircut-anxiety/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Anonymous Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:02:11 +0000 http://paranoidpear.com/?p=118#comment-47 YES! I have to work myself up to even go inside. Once I go inside, if I have to wait in queue to have my hair cut it makes my anxiety so much worse. I experience all the things you mentioned. I think I mainly feel trapped in the situation. It feels like an endless cycle. I get ridiculous fears (which I know are ridiculous but happen anyway) and then I'll worry about if I start to worry. And, it is dumb stuff like, what if I pass out? What if my blood pressure gets too high and I have a heart attack? Anyway, although I'm really shy, thanks for the advice and I'll surely give it a try. YES! I have to work myself up to even go inside. Once I go inside, if I have to wait in queue to have my hair cut it makes my anxiety so much worse. I experience all the things you mentioned. I think I mainly feel trapped in the situation. It feels like an endless cycle. I get ridiculous fears (which I know are ridiculous but happen anyway) and then I’ll worry about if I start to worry. And, it is dumb stuff like, what if I pass out? What if my blood pressure gets too high and I have a heart attack? Anyway, although I’m really shy, thanks for the advice and I’ll surely give it a try.

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