Body Dysmorphia

@NocturneSky

Hi, thanks for sharing!

Yes, you're absolutely correct. Body Dysmorphia can happen to a lot of people.

But please know we're here for you!

@NocturneSky

Hi, Sky, and welcome to our forum! Yes, I went through BDD (body dysmorphic disorder) a little less than a year ago. Luckily, I am recovered now (although I still don't love my appearance, I've learned to feel better about it). I completely understand your feelings here. It's so harmful how people push the idea that exercising can make everyrhing perfect. Something that's important to keep in mind: exercise, like all things, should be done in moderation. Of course, I'm not a professional to give health advice, but don't push yourself past your limits -- I got 'addicted' to exercising and it got to be unhealthy, I ended up getting hurt. So don't push your body too hard.

It's a hard balance to strike. Healthy habits are good, but only when they are for postiive reasons. Eating healthy and exercising are great when they make you feel happy or uplifted, but if you find yourself trying to do these things and still feeling down, it's probably a sign that they may not be so healthy.

Accepting our bodies is not easy, especially when society puts so much pressure on us to look like models. It took me a while to learn that I can't always change things. I researched ways to change my body and tried to do them without a doctor's permission, to no avail ... but eventually I learned that if I use my body to its advantage, I didn't dislike it so much. What I mean by that is, I stopped thinking of my body as something that defined me; I started thinking of it as the way I did the things I loved. I didn't like my face, but it's the face that my friends and family know, and when they see it they probably don't think 'ugly', they think of me as a person. I didn't love the way my hands looked, but hey, they let me play piano. This sort of positive thinking helped me a lot. (I'm sorry if it sounds silly, I'm just doing my best to help )

I used to compare myself to every single stranger I saw, I worried too much about looking good and would try to look at people at a certain angle to hide my flaws, I kept track of food I ate, I thought about my flaws constantly. I'm just telling you this to tell you that you are not alone, and you are not invalid. Everything you are going through is both relatable and real.

But the thing is, these are all habits -- and sometimes it just takes small steps to break habits. When you start thinking of your flaws, for instance, try to find something else interesting to do -- maybe read your favorite book or listen to a song. If you notice you're comparing yourself to someone, try to interrupt that and think about something else. Small things like this help a lot. Also, surround yourself with kind people! If certain people make you feel worse, you have every right to distance yourself from them for now, and be with people who make you feel validated. Positive thinking and positive people make a huge difference. And don't feel like you don't 'deserve' to relax and take care of yourself -- I got a lot of confidence back through self-care, like reading books and learning about things I'm interested in.

You don't have to look like the "perfect" people. The moon looks nothing like a rose, but both of them are beautiful. :)

I'm sorry this got to be so long. It's honestly quite liberating to know that I wasn't alone, either. Although I am not a listener, I'm always around to talk in the group support rooms or on the forum, and I am always here to offer support. Take care; you're beautiful!