Depression and body image

[.Mikha'el.]

I know I'm not the only one here who has body image issues that lower self-esteem and mood. This thread is for venting, for discussing, for giving and receiving support in those struggles.

 

[MehGuy]

I always hated my small skeleton frame and lack of muscles.

I'm pretty much looked at as dirt to many people.

What's worse is having to deal with the hypocritical body image campaigns.

 

[miss-a]

I find that we must do our best to stay healthy, have a healthy body, but we've got to keep in mind that the cultural standards are a lie. We don't have to let the culture drag us around by our noses. We can't let them pigeon hole us. We don't have to. God says we are wonderfully made. Let's do the best we can with what He gave us and not let ideas others come up with from their egos and marketing ruin our self image, our day, or our lives.

 

[BookofMatt]

I've dealt with body image issues, as well as having dealt with an eating disorder during my teenage years. Like miss-a says, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and the myth of cultural standards are useless compared to God's design. 1 Sam 16:7's mention of "man looks on the outward appearance but the Lord looks on the heart" was a huge inspiration in learning how to love my body regardless of what anyone else might say or think.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

I share the struggle. Honestly, I have no accurate idea what I look like. Whether I'm looking in a mirror or at myself in a photo or video, all I'm capable of seeing is rolls and rolls of fat. It's been that way since third grade, when early puberty set in. My body image has remained unchanged across the years, although obviously I cannot look the same as I did then. I look at my wedding photo from almost eight years ago, when mathematically I know I was a good forty or fifty pounds heavier than I am now, but I cannot for the life of me see a difference in my body size. There *has* to be one, logically, but I can't see it. I'm sure if I put my wedding dress on now, it would hang on me like a kimono, but I still can't see a change.