This is my first exercise from Feeling Good about the Way You Look: A Program for Overcoming Body Image Problems. Kindle location 1109 at 24%.
What is My Poor Body Image Costing Me?
Having struggled with poor body image for quite some time I have adjusted life to accommodate my problems. I was no longer aware of the huge toll my problems have taken on my life. Here is my list of disadvantages of being obsessed with my appearance. I will use these to help motivate me to make a change.
- Dissatisfaction
- Shame/embarrassment
- Guilt
- Anxiety
- Concern that my children will become preoccupied with appearance
- Loneliness/isolation
- Jealousy of better-looking people
- Self hate
- Disgust
- Anger
- Fear of rejection or abandonment
- Fear of being ridiculed
- Avoidance of intimate relationships
- Stress on relationships due to avoidance behaviors or comparing
- Making excuses or lying about the problem
- Not being fully present at work because of appearance concerns
- Being late because of rituals
- Avoidance of body-focused activities (swimming, gym, sun)
- Refusing overnight trips
- Avoidance of social activities
- Feeling horrible in certain clothes
- Avoidance of getting your picture taken
- Avoidance of mirrors
- Avoidance of being seen from certain angles
- Avoidance of certain tasks (for example, sitting near a window or under bright lights)
- Time for rituals (mirror checking, comparing, shopping, appearance fixing)
- Accidents due to mirror checking
- Alcohol or drugs to cope with preoccupation
- Cost of beauty products such as skin creams and soaps
Questions to Ask Yourself if You are Losing Motivation
- Do I want to change? Yes
- Do I want to stop being so obsessed with my looks? Yes
- Do I want to stop comparing? Yes
- Am I tired of being scared by mirrors? Yes
