I’ve looked in the mirror a million times. I used to merely look and acknowledge what I saw, and just walk away – until third grade.
I remember getting ready for school and walking into the bathroom. I glanced at myself in the mirror, and then did a double take.
“I’m fat,” was the first thought that came to mind. A panic attack followed.
I don’t think I’m the only one, by any means, to have experienced this. But here’s the interesting thing. What you see in the mirror is often distorted. Some people who have Body Dysmorphic Disorder, for example, focus on irrelevant, minor details and don’t see the big picture. People with BDD often become obsessed with flaws in their appearance, many of which are usually imagined. On a lesser scale – but similar – a person, for example, might focus so much on a pimple (“Oh, god, look at that zit!”) and miss the attractive features of their face. So what you see and even feel is not necessarily a reflection of reality.
The same thing applies to body image. There can be some days when you see yourself and everything seems fine, but the next time it looks like you gained ten pounds.
If you’re having a bad day you might project your negative feelings onto your body image. I know, for me, it often times feels like I’m walking into a house of mirrors – my emotions being the mirrors. If I’m content, I think I look normal in the mirror; if I’m upset, I might as well be standing in front of a circus mirror that warps images.
Dieting won’t do the trick. Because it doesn’t matter – nothing will satisfy a distorted body image. It’s more in the mind than anything else. If you feel good about yourself, you’ll be happy inside your skin as well as outside, no matter how much you weigh. For me personally, when I struggle with my body image, I’ll change into nice clothing and put on make-up so I feel good. Then I don’t worry about my appearance as much.
Teens who watched soaps and TV shows that emphasize the ideal body type report higher sense of body dissatisfaction.
There’s no magical cure. Yet, by changing your thinking you can change what you see in the mirror. So, love yourself. You only have one body – be glad it’s yours!
