I have very recently been diagnosed with a condition that not only brings back the tortuous acne of my teenage years, but makes me put on weight too. Even better news is that the treatment for it also causes weight gain! Before asking about the dangers or consequences of this condition I am literally traumatised about gaining weight! I am researching more than I did on my thesis about how I can live through this without getting fat. Only meeting brick walls, I want to crumble into a ball and hide from the world.
A bit dramatic? I know. But I am not exaggerating. I don't want to eat. I don't even want to watch other people eat. I'm looking at recent pictures of myself in disgust. Helpless and hopeless. I have even considered not undergoing the treatment!
Am I crazy? You would think so, but, No. There are so many women who think just like this. There are people who never leave the house without makeup. There are girls who throw up after lunch to save themselves from imperfection.
I consider myself to be relatively intelligent. So for someone like me to be absolutely overwhelmed with anxiety over a matter of appearance, well, it scares me. I think about the more impressionable young women who cause themselves physical harm to protect from ugliness. You might be tempted to call these girls dumb, stupid or silly, but think about where it comes from. There must be some small actions you do that may be signs of your potential obsession with appearance. Think about it. When you wake up in the morning, do you first run to the mirror? Do you constantly suck in your stomach in public? What do you spend most of your time talking about?
Be aware of your level of shallowness. Don't let it overcome you.
