Just because you experience haircut anxiety or panic attacks at the barber now, doesn\u2019t mean it will always be that way. By implementing some \u2013 or all \u2013 of these methods, you can conquer your tonsurephobia (fear of haircuts) for good!<\/p>\n
Alright, let\u2019s get right into it and explain each step in greater detail.<\/p>\n
Educate Yourself About Your Haircut Anxiety<\/strong><\/h2>\nBefore we even think about rushing into a barbershop or hair salon, I want to arm you with a few basic facts.<\/p>\n
With any phobia or anxiety, the first step is always going to be to educate yourself about, and understand, your anxiety. Haircut anxiety, also known as tonsurephobia, is no different. The very first step to beating your tonsurephobia is to ask yourself why you are feeling this anxiety in the first place. This will require some introspection on your part, but in most cases, it shouldn\u2019t be that hard to determine the anxiety source.<\/p>\n
Now, I am not a doctor<\/strong><\/a> and I cannot diagnose, treat, or cure any anxiety disorder you may be experiencing. However, I believe it is unlikely that your fear is of the actual physical cutting of your hair. More likely, I think that most people suffering from haircut anxiety are fearing the situation as a whole. Being stuck in one place, not allowed to move, can cause a degree of claustrophobia. Having a stranger so close to your face and inside your \u201cpersonal bubble\u201d can cause feelings of social anxiety. The fear of having a panic attack and embarrassing yourself can compound all of these feelings.<\/strong><\/p>\nDo a bit of digging into your own thoughts and try to understand the processes behind your tonsurephobia. This self-awareness will help you to conquer your fears later on. If you haven\u2019t already, take some time to read our articles on the root cause of anxiety<\/strong><\/a> and on what panic attacks are<\/strong><\/a>. Those articles can bring you up to speed and help you better understand the thought processes behind your anxiety.<\/p>\nRemember This is Temporary and Not Dangerous<\/strong><\/h2>\nMild anxiety is one thing, and it can certainly be a discomfort. But severe anxiety, or panic attacks, are a whole other beast. When dealing with a panic attack, our ability to think logically and rationally often goes completely out the window. Our sympathetic nervous system takes over and fight or flight mode kicks in. Our brain falsely believes that we are in danger, and it primes our body to either fight its way out or make an escape. This is why, when extremely anxious, we often feel as though we need to immediately remove ourselves from our current environment. We start breathing rapidly and our heart rate speeds up. It\u2019s a horrible feeling.<\/p>\n
There are, however, two very <\/em>important facts that you need to continually remind yourself of during a panic attack. Those facts are:<\/p>\n\n- A panic attack is temporary<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Panic Attacks are not dangerous<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Let me elaborate a bit.<\/p>\n
First off, because we are thinking illogically during a panic attack, we almost always forget that a panic attack is temporary. We lose all sense of time and often feel as though we are going to \u201cfeel this way forever\u201d or as though panic attacks are now going to be a daily obstacle in our lives. It\u2019s important to remind yourself that this is never the case. In my own experience, panic attacks are typically over within 3-10 minutes. They are terrifying minutes and may feel much longer, granted. But they are temporary and will resolve themselves eventually even without any effort on your part. Take a glance at your watch, set a timer for 3 minutes, and wait for the worst part to pass.<\/strong><\/p>\nIt\u2019s equally important to remind yourself that panic attacks are not dangerous. If you\u2019ve had panic attacks before, you know this to be true. You may feel, or even truly believe, that you are going to die; but ultimately you always emerge from a panic attack unscathed.<\/p>\n
Try your best to remember these facts in the face of emotional crisis. Just being aware and continually reminding yourself of them can often be enough to keep panic attacks at bay.<\/p>\n
Get Your Breathing Under Control<\/strong><\/h2>\nThis is the last tip I have that is general to all panic attacks and anxiety, I promise. After this one, we\u2019ll focus solely on how to stop haircut anxiety or how to stop a panic attack at the barber or hairstylist. Promise!<\/p>\n
I always have to mention breath work because it is just so crucial to stopping any panic attack. During a panic attack, our brain preps our body for emergency physical response; this makes us feel as though we\u2019re ready to run a marathon. Unfortunately for us, this also makes us feel as though we are not getting enough oxygen. Panicking, we begin to hyperventilate in an attempt to take in more air. However, while hyperventilating we are actually getting too<\/em> much oxygen, causing our carbon dioxide levels to be too low. This makes us feel even worse, and can heighten the intensity of our panic attacks.<\/p>\nMost people who are hyperventilating during a panic attack will benefit from practicing some breath work. This means taking active control over your breathing in an attempt to reset it back to a healthy pace. The correct pace for breath work varies considerably from expert to expert, but I wouldn\u2019t overthink it too much. I like to breathe in 6 seconds through the nose and out 6 seconds through the mouth; or, breathe in for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, and exhale for 5 seconds. You will have your own preference for what feels best, so don\u2019t be afraid to experiment a bit. The main takeaway is that you are getting your breathing under control rather panting uncontrollably.<\/strong><\/p>\nIf breath work doesn\u2019t come naturally to you, you may benefit from practicing yoga<\/strong><\/a> or meditation<\/strong><\/a> on your own time. Both of these exercises incorporate breathing strategies for relaxation and can be powerful coping mechanisms for anxiety.<\/p>\nHow to: Beat Panic Attacks For Good<\/h3>\n
Not next week. Not tomorrow. Today. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>
Getting started is easy with the #1 recommended online panic attack course.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>
Do a bit of digging into your own thoughts and try to understand the processes behind your tonsurephobia. This self-awareness will help you to conquer your fears later on. If you haven\u2019t already, take some time to read our articles on the root cause of anxiety<\/strong><\/a> and on what panic attacks are<\/strong><\/a>. Those articles can bring you up to speed and help you better understand the thought processes behind your anxiety.<\/p>\n Mild anxiety is one thing, and it can certainly be a discomfort. But severe anxiety, or panic attacks, are a whole other beast. When dealing with a panic attack, our ability to think logically and rationally often goes completely out the window. Our sympathetic nervous system takes over and fight or flight mode kicks in. Our brain falsely believes that we are in danger, and it primes our body to either fight its way out or make an escape. This is why, when extremely anxious, we often feel as though we need to immediately remove ourselves from our current environment. We start breathing rapidly and our heart rate speeds up. It\u2019s a horrible feeling.<\/p>\n There are, however, two very <\/em>important facts that you need to continually remind yourself of during a panic attack. Those facts are:<\/p>\n Let me elaborate a bit.<\/p>\n First off, because we are thinking illogically during a panic attack, we almost always forget that a panic attack is temporary. We lose all sense of time and often feel as though we are going to \u201cfeel this way forever\u201d or as though panic attacks are now going to be a daily obstacle in our lives. It\u2019s important to remind yourself that this is never the case. In my own experience, panic attacks are typically over within 3-10 minutes. They are terrifying minutes and may feel much longer, granted. But they are temporary and will resolve themselves eventually even without any effort on your part. Take a glance at your watch, set a timer for 3 minutes, and wait for the worst part to pass.<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s equally important to remind yourself that panic attacks are not dangerous. If you\u2019ve had panic attacks before, you know this to be true. You may feel, or even truly believe, that you are going to die; but ultimately you always emerge from a panic attack unscathed.<\/p>\n Try your best to remember these facts in the face of emotional crisis. Just being aware and continually reminding yourself of them can often be enough to keep panic attacks at bay.<\/p>\n This is the last tip I have that is general to all panic attacks and anxiety, I promise. After this one, we\u2019ll focus solely on how to stop haircut anxiety or how to stop a panic attack at the barber or hairstylist. Promise!<\/p>\n I always have to mention breath work because it is just so crucial to stopping any panic attack. During a panic attack, our brain preps our body for emergency physical response; this makes us feel as though we\u2019re ready to run a marathon. Unfortunately for us, this also makes us feel as though we are not getting enough oxygen. Panicking, we begin to hyperventilate in an attempt to take in more air. However, while hyperventilating we are actually getting too<\/em> much oxygen, causing our carbon dioxide levels to be too low. This makes us feel even worse, and can heighten the intensity of our panic attacks.<\/p>\n Most people who are hyperventilating during a panic attack will benefit from practicing some breath work. This means taking active control over your breathing in an attempt to reset it back to a healthy pace. The correct pace for breath work varies considerably from expert to expert, but I wouldn\u2019t overthink it too much. I like to breathe in 6 seconds through the nose and out 6 seconds through the mouth; or, breathe in for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, and exhale for 5 seconds. You will have your own preference for what feels best, so don\u2019t be afraid to experiment a bit. The main takeaway is that you are getting your breathing under control rather panting uncontrollably.<\/strong><\/p>\n If breath work doesn\u2019t come naturally to you, you may benefit from practicing yoga<\/strong><\/a> or meditation<\/strong><\/a> on your own time. Both of these exercises incorporate breathing strategies for relaxation and can be powerful coping mechanisms for anxiety.<\/p>\n Not next week. Not tomorrow. Today. <\/p>\n \n<\/p> Getting started is easy with the #1 recommended online panic attack course.<\/p>\n \n<\/p>Remember This is Temporary and Not Dangerous<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Get Your Breathing Under Control<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How to: Beat Panic Attacks For Good<\/h3>\n
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