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TeenConnect: Q&A
July 5, 2022
How can I stop hating myself?
Q: How can I stop hating myself?
A: Well . . . this is a huge question. Each of us might deal with a different version of this issue. For me, every time I looked in the mirror or caught a glimpse of myself in a store window, an intense, all-encompassing feeling of self-loathing would come over me. I’d think things like, “You’re so ugly, you don’t even deserve to live on this planet!” This self-hatred expressed itself in various self-destructive behaviors, including a full-blown eating disorder and hurting myself, to name just two. So, what to do about it?
It might help to look at how we see ourselves. Do we see ourselves as stupid, ugly, “less than”? The world puts an impossible standard out there for us to live up to. Social media is filled with pretty, smart, talented examples parading themselves across our screens in highlight reels and filtered photos. It’s hard not to compare ourselves with what we see. But it’s still not a good idea. Why? Because there will always be people who seem prettier, smarter, more talented than we are.
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