I find when I am really down a hair cut does the trick to perk me up a bit. I don't like people around my head so I have a hard time with the actually going to get one. I have found that if I find someone local who has a shop I can explain to them my issues and normally the schedule me to go in when no one else is there. Also, they go very slowly with the scissors around my head. It helps.

Unless you're doing hardcore drugs, you're probably not aging as much as you're convincing yourself.

Def get that haircut. Something new should distract your mind. Plan out the day too. So at 10am just walk outside the door. At 10:05, be on the road. And like that until you're back home with the new cut. When interacting with others, take your time and breathe. I don't pretend like this will go as smoothly as it sounds, but it will get you out the door and active. Try to remember that in the state that you describe, these little efforts are points to be proud of. Reward yourself too for facing a fear. My usual go-to is a vanilla cone.

Be good to yourself, Krissy, you deserve it. When I collapsed to find out I had kidney disease on top of my PTSD in 2011, I aged a decade in a year, too. I went from a slimmer guy with contact lenses who darkened his hair to a guy who wore glasses and had a white beard and hair. Add to the mix the weight I gained and that picture adds up to a portrait of a guy who looks like Santa Claus.

I comforted myself for suddenly starting to look like Santa Claus by looking at the movie The Santa Clause in which comedian Tim Allen finds himself magically being turned into Santa Claus and it's funny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t067u2Jnks0

For me there are worse looks to have as an old guy. Last Christmas I was shopping in the city and a kindergarten aged kid lost his mind when he saw me get on an elevator with him. "Santa!" he shouted, and he got his mom to talk to me for him.

I tried to remember what I knew about department store Santas and how they play the part, and it worked. His mom thanked me for playing along. Instead of feeling insulted, I rolled with it and figured aging had given me a little bonus blessing.

It's not fun to age from stress, Krissy. But on the flip side the stress of facing our trauma that gave us PTSD can bring about growth. It can turn aging from just being decay into learning and being about wisdom.

Be sure of one thing: be good to yourself and get that haircut. You deserve it.

hugs, i feel like that a lot too. or like that guy in the fairy tale? the one taht fell asleep under the tree and woke up with the verrryyy long beard? ripp van winkle? i decided to let my hair grow out grey as most of my cousins and sister are doing - but they don't have long hair like mine.
mine has turned so grey too this year. it's most likely largely how i have been feeling, but seeing myself in the mirror on the rare moments i look in one is a shock.

i do like the twinkle of the grey : ) maybe i'll add some blonde streaks??? what do you think?

how bout if you get your hairs cut, i will put blonde streaks in mine? wanna? xoxo

Thanks everyone. The support on this site helps me tremendously. The santa clause movie is pretty awesome :) i used to watch it with my grandpa during the christmas season.
Good Memories! :)

I havent been doing hardcore drugs, but my iron deficency has really been making my hair thin and fall out. Which is why i really wanna get tlc to it and possibly some extensions for fullness. Its normally blonde which is defiantly drying it out so im going to go back to brunette for a while maybe some blonde streaks too Lilly :) Hugs to you Lilly. Grey and Blonde streaks, i think that would look stunningly cool on you :)

Have fun @Krissydo59 with the new 'do!

xo :O)