.Poppy.
26-05-15, 00:59
This isn't something I've thought about previously, but recently I'm wondering if it is an issue I have, and maybe have always had, I just never considered it.
I don't suffer from HA as badly as I did a few years ago, but I do think that I fixated on certain 'symptoms' and therefore they persisted and/or became worse. Once I was able to stop fixating on symptoms, I was mostly able to move past my HA.
Now I mainly have a grab bag of other 'types' of anxieties, it honestly depends on the day. I've lately started fixating on my appearance. I'm not the least attractive person out there, but I have battled acne (it's probably genetic - I've done just about everything, including medication and it's only recently become more under control) and I have scarring as a result. I may or may not be able to have some of it taken care of, but will never have perfect skin. I've got other things I stress over in regards to my appearance - weight (I'm actually at a good weight, but I definitely fear becoming overweight), and then the usual: is my nose to big, are my teeth straight enough, etc. etc.
I really, really want to have some great inner confidence, but I just can't seem to find it. I spend most of my day either looking in the mirror or trying to keep from looking in the mirror. I obsessively compare myself to other people. If I'm away from a mirror, I constantly think to myself "how bad does my face look now? Or now?". Basically, I'd say it takes up a good chunk of my day.
When I was dealing with HA, it felt easier to 'ignore' my thoughts because I told myself that they weren't real. But my appearance is real, so it's impossible to escape.
And then ultimately, I just get tired - tired of the thoughts and tired of myself. I feel like I will always be alone, because one look at me and it's over.
So, how do you stop the fixations, when you're fixating on something real? I have this inner drive to go on, to move on, and get excited about things - and then it's like I deflate.
Oh, and I am sorry for posting so frequently recently. I'm just going through a rough patch and you guys are always awesome :blush:
I don't suffer from HA as badly as I did a few years ago, but I do think that I fixated on certain 'symptoms' and therefore they persisted and/or became worse. Once I was able to stop fixating on symptoms, I was mostly able to move past my HA.
Now I mainly have a grab bag of other 'types' of anxieties, it honestly depends on the day. I've lately started fixating on my appearance. I'm not the least attractive person out there, but I have battled acne (it's probably genetic - I've done just about everything, including medication and it's only recently become more under control) and I have scarring as a result. I may or may not be able to have some of it taken care of, but will never have perfect skin. I've got other things I stress over in regards to my appearance - weight (I'm actually at a good weight, but I definitely fear becoming overweight), and then the usual: is my nose to big, are my teeth straight enough, etc. etc.
I really, really want to have some great inner confidence, but I just can't seem to find it. I spend most of my day either looking in the mirror or trying to keep from looking in the mirror. I obsessively compare myself to other people. If I'm away from a mirror, I constantly think to myself "how bad does my face look now? Or now?". Basically, I'd say it takes up a good chunk of my day.
When I was dealing with HA, it felt easier to 'ignore' my thoughts because I told myself that they weren't real. But my appearance is real, so it's impossible to escape.
And then ultimately, I just get tired - tired of the thoughts and tired of myself. I feel like I will always be alone, because one look at me and it's over.
So, how do you stop the fixations, when you're fixating on something real? I have this inner drive to go on, to move on, and get excited about things - and then it's like I deflate.
Oh, and I am sorry for posting so frequently recently. I'm just going through a rough patch and you guys are always awesome :blush: