Feeling ugly

[lightvi]

Especially after looking through a magazine or looking at pictures of people online. I know I should be happy with what I have but gid mixed with low self esteem really makes me feel depressed. Everyone seems so much prettier than me and I feel like I got jipped out of beauty by being born with this stupid body. I know it's what's inside that matters most but I still wish I was pretty

[justmeinoz]

Maybe you should checkout magazine articles on "Celebrities without Makeup" etc, when you start to feel this way.  See who had buck teeth or bad acne ? Just my 2 cents worth.  Remember, Photshop is a wonderful way to cheat the camera.

[Cindy]

There was a great article that I read describing how a front page picture of a very attractive woman was made. She was gorgeous already. She spent a few hours being made over by professional make up artists. She was then photographed by a professional, under proper lighting. Her picture was then altered with photoshop. Her neck was made longer, her chin thinner, her nose pertier, her eye colour was changed, subtle shading was added.

Picture printed. A very gorgeous woman who doesn't exist. We look at her and say, I'm so ugly. Guess what, so is everyone. Never compare yourself to a picture in a magazine' unless as JMinoz says it's a factual picture, no make up, no special effects.

Enjoy being you. I know it can be hard, but it's what we have.


Cindy

[spacial]

The problem with low self-esteem is that you can compare yourself to the monstor from the pit and still find yourself lacking.

I recall, from my time in nursing, reading an article describing some therapy for people with low self-esteem. It described how such people should be encouraged to say to themselves, things like, I am a valid person. I have needs and wants that are important. Stuff like that. Someone got paid for that c**p, so I suppoe there was something positive.

Your self-esteem takes a tumble when all those aspects of your life become worthless. In my case, it was the realisation that I wasn't evil after all, my whole family really did hate me.

The only way to build yourself up again is to start from the bottom. However much it hurts, and it really does, you have to accept your situation and build your own life from there.

I am really sorry that I can't suggest a way you can take matter from your current situation. But to use an annalogy, your current situation is build on air. It has no foundation.

[Eva Marie]

lightvi -

i'm sorry sweetie - as it was recently said to me - sometimes we are our own worst critics.

I really like spacial's analogy - "your current situation is build on air. It has no foundation". Something i also have to keep in mind when i look at my own presentation. I see a man in a dress while others may see something else. When i look at (for example) the ladies here i don't understand how they can say that they still see the guy they were.

It works both ways.

Each of us is a special person, and each of us has something to contribute. I hope that you find a way to work through your feelings and find a happier place.