How have you been taught to see your body as thin rather than fat? I look in the mirror and see only fat when everyone tells me I am skin and bones, and I am trying to figure this out without seeing a therapist... how do you overcome an unrealistic body image?
2006-08-10 11:02:14 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Women's Health
First of all, its hard. There are still days I look in the mirror and see a fat blob, even though I *know* that's not the real reflection.
This may sound weird, but the thing that helped me the most was looking at myself naked in the mirror. I'd do it for about half an hour, everyday, before I took a shower. I wouldn't, like, sit there and stare at myself, but I'd brush my hair naked, brush my teeth, etc - all while looking in the mirror. It sounds weird, I know, but it REALLY helped.
That said, the thing that really helped me the most was going to a therapist. I understand this isn't possible for you, but there are free hotlines you can call [just search 'eating disorder hotlines' on google - or even call 1-800-SUICIDE] that might give you more ideas.
Good luck.
2006-08-10 17:56:47 · answer #1 · answered by Mary 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've been going through anorexia on and off since I was 15 (I'm 17). With me, it was the need to be perfect. You get to the point where after you drop some weight, you do not want to ever gain even a pound. There was a point where I wuold weigh myself at least 10 times a day and look in the mirror dozens of times a day and think "I'm so fat" For me, I have never been over 95 pounds. The lowest point of my anorexia battle was 65 pounds. I am now 90 pounds. I still feel fat sometimes. Everyone tells me that I am way skinny (a few people have asked if I was dying!). Right now, I dont feel too fat, nor too skinny. Still, every time I look in the mirror I still say to myself "I'm so fat!". That's the only reason I look in the mirror. I've gone back and forth with anorexia. I hope I have overcome it finally, but I always keep going back. But, what I have learned is to not care as much. As long as I'm not overweight, I'm fine. I'm happy with 90 pounds.
2006-08-10 18:26:57 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stop being so hard on yourself!!!!!! Yes, you look in the mirror and see fat, but I think in a way, you almost like being told that you're skin and bones because it confirms that you're not big, even if you don't believe it. Stop comparing yourself to women in the media. If possible, don't buy gossip magazines etc. They're full of pictures full of fake women...unrealistic bodies. When you look in the mirror, don't say anything bad. What you should do, the first thing in front of a mirror, is point out one nice thing about yourself. Maybe your hair, your eyes, the blouse your wearing anything. Just say one nice thing. Then move on to two, etc. I have been fighting my body image for years. But you have to remind yourself that every person is different. Some people have naturally nice bodies, and other people have to work at it. So maybe you have to work at it, but don't disrespect your body. I don't think you should try to teach yourself to see your body as thin, cuz you're still trying to manipulate your mind into seeing what you want to see. Yes, you want to see thin, look thin, be thin.....but think about what you need, what your body needs. If you feel worthless, ugly, fat, on the inside, that's what you're going to see on the outside. Not only is your body hungry, but your self worth is hungry too. It needs to be fed compliments, not from other people, but from you.
This site is about anorexia: http://www.anad.org/site/anadweb/
If you've got questions, or need some support, I'd be happy to talk, cuz I know its hard to talk about this with people close to you. They can get judgemental and just don't understand.
2006-08-10 20:07:56 · answer #3 · answered by Stone Sour 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There really is no way with out a therapist one of my friends is anorexic. She is so skinny yet sees her self fat if she eats at all. It is in her head just like yours and she has gone to camps clinics and therapist. I am happy to say she is getting better. Talk to someone and get help. Love your self
2006-08-10 18:24:23 · answer #4 · answered by Lindsey D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont look in the mirror take pictures of your self lindsay lohan said in the mirror she felt fat but when she saw herself on tv she was disgudted with her thin figure feel your ribs and back bones that shopuld tell you sumthin get someone to take nude pictures of you of course in a profetional tasteful manor a picture will freak you out because you will see your real figure all the anorexics i know said that just like this chick adicted to plastic surgery in the mirror she felt ugly but from pictures she saw her inner beauty take pictures dont look in the mirror
2006-08-10 18:21:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋