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Sleep, the Secret Elixir to Feeling Better About Your Body

By Stephen

Sleep to Overcome Anxiety

It sounds like a terrible cliché, hell even the image attached to this post is. Honestly, I rarely sleep like this guy, all curled up so nicely on his pillow without a care in the world, but when I do, it’s pure bliss.

One way to avoid being terribly disappointed in yourself is to get some sleep.

Part of the ups and downs of body image disorders is a tendency to stay awake.

Some of this has to do with anxiety and I have noticed when I am feeling the most vulnerable I tend to box up and try to focus on something so that I can forget about my nose or my cheek.

Also, still for some reason outside of the house I meet my enemy, and my love – the open light source that exposes all my imperfections.

So if I can I will retreat into the safety of indoors.

I find the freedom I seek outdoors by being alone, it removes the anxiety and I can get in touch again with nature.

Last night I stayed up till 3 am again after boxing myself up for 24 hours while being extremely productive.

My wife took the kids for a couple of days to spend time with my mother-in-law so I can get away with this, also I was able to sleep in for the first time in a long time.

I woke up feeling refreshed and ready for my coffee.

We all know sleep is restorative, but it is hard to pay it its due diligence when we are depressed and anxious.

Try sleep I say every night.

Tonight I will try to call a good friend and get to bed before 1 am.

The sleep always makes a difference.

Filed Under: Feeling Good About The Way You Look, Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder Tagged With: Sleep

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If you’d like something to read alongside these essays, I’ve collected a few books and resources for the journey →

About Stephen

My name is Stephen and I was officially diagnosed with BDD in October of 2012. I have lived with it my whole life. This blog is my story, my shame, and my path to recovery. It starts on Day 1 of my new life. To live, and love myself, to teach others how to do the same, and learn more about what it means to live with body dysmorphic disorder. Here are some resources that I use...