Hair naturally thins as we age, and this is usually a gradual progression. However the unexplained and sudden hair loss that occurs through pregnancy and menopause can be dramatic and devastating. 

Firstly, the natural growth cycle of your hair may be interrupted due to a change in hormone levels. 

Then, as we age, our follicles become narrower, which gives the appearance of less hair. 

Finally, a drop in estrogen can deplete or slow oil production making hair drier and more susceptible to breakage. 

Anxiety can create long term and persistent stress.

While stress and anxiety are two separate conditions,  long term stress on its own can lead to many symptoms, which can also appear as anxiety.

Stress can cause many conditions that lead to hair loss. These include:

Alopecia Areata - Sudden loss of large clumps of hair in areas around your scalp or gradual hair loss that builds over time.

Telogen Effluvium - This is a condition where more hairs than normal prepare to fall out.

Trichotillomania - This is a habitual condition caused by stress and anxiety where the person pulls out hairs - sometimes without realizing it.

Certain vitamins and minerals can attribute to hair loss - and this is something that is as simple as seeing your GP about. 

Iron, Vitamin B12, and essential minerals like Silica and Selenium are vital in building healthy hair (and skin and nails). But if your diet is missing out on these vital building blocks, then your body won't be able to create the keratin or cellular regeneration required. 

Certain medications - while vital - can wreak havoc on parts of the body, and cause deficiencies which may result in hair loss. 

Chemotherapy is a prime example of a treatment that has massive side effects, hair loss being the most common one.