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Stressful divorces linked to increase in hair loss for women

Those who frequently read our Milwaukee divorce law blog may have come to the simple conclusion by now that the divorce process is complex. Not only do individuals suffer emotional pain when faced with the fact that their marriage is over, but recent studies have indicated that divorce can also take a toll on one’s physical health.

Last month, a study reported that men are more likely to gain weight after divorce. Our female readers may be happy to know that at least if their marriage fails they are less likely to gain weight after divorce, but women are not in the clear of dodging health concerns. Another study has indicated that divorce may actually cause hair loss in women.

So why is divorce affecting the health of men and women, and why are women more susceptible to losing their hair compared to men? For many, the answer is simple: divorce is stressful.

Those who are in the midst of a divorce have a lot on their mind. Divorce is a life-changing event. Living arrangements change, finances must be managed differently and families must adjust to following new visitation or custody schedules. All of these changes take place at the same time and can be very overwhelming if individuals do not have an attorney to guide them through the complex legal issues.

Both men and women experience stress during divorce, but the study suggests that women are more troubled by their emotions and all of the issues that must be addressed during divorce.

The study examined the correlation between one’s lifestyle and his or her hair pattern. Researchers analyzed how 84 female identical twins and 66 male identical twins were affected by external factors that are known to be linked to hair loss such as marital status, excessive sleep, tobacco use, sun exposure and alcohol.

The study concluded that women who were divorced or widowed experienced more problems with hair loss compared to women who were happy with their marriages. The majority of men experiencing hair loss was mainly due to genetics.

Although there is no scientific proof on how to prevent hair loss, individuals who work with an attorney during their divorce may experience less stress, and in turn preserve their health, knowing that their rights are properly being protected.

Source: The Huffington Post, “Hair Loss-Divorce Correlation: Study Suggests Splits Cause Hair Loss In Women,” Stephanie Hallett, Sept. 21, 2011

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Mother with cancer loses custody of her children

Child custody battles in Wisconsin are seldom easy. One such battle recently fought in another state, though, has been tougher than most.

In this case, a North Carolina mom was fighting two battles at once: She wanted to retain custody of her children, and she was also battling Stage 4 breast cancer.

Earlier this month, the mother lost her legal battle. The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the woman’s two children, a 6-year-old boy and 11-year-old girl, must move from their home in Durham to live with their father in Chicago before the start of the new school year.

The mother is appealing the decision. However, it’s unclear if the Supreme Court would want to uproot the children again after they move to Chicago.

This child custody battle was a particularly messy one, according to a recent story in Time Magazine. Both the mother and father in this case were painted as parents who were far from perfect. The sides in the case accused each other of infidelities, domestic violence and poor parenting skills.

Nevertheless, the supporters of the mother wonder if she isn’t being discriminated against because she has cancer. An oncologist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham told the court that there is no reason to believe that the mother in this case could not be one of those cancer patients in which the disease does not progress any further.

This painful case is a reminder of how important it is for family law judges who are making child custody rulings to consider the best interests of children involved.

Source: Time, “Mom with Cancer Loses Custody of Kids,” Bonnie Rochman, Aug. 13, 2011

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