New here

[Destrinaf]

Hi I'm new to all of this, but not sure what to do...

I have been living with anxiety and depression for 11 years. It comes and goes. Some days I feel great and then I have days like today where I am ashamed of the way my body looks. And lately I have horrible guilt because I eat things that are not the greatest for me and my anxiety is telling me to be extreme and starve my self and exercise for 5 hours a day everyday. I obsess over my bowel movements and cannot seem to get off this merry go round. Of course no one tells me I'm fat or I look horrible. But I feel fat and horrible. I am lost.

[Freefall88]

Hello Destrinaf thank you for sharing.

First I'm sorry to hear about your problem and I'm sure many can relate.

Now you just need to try and not guilt yourself about what you eat as starving yourself plus extreme exercise can force your brain to go into craving/survival mode which usually means you'll eat unhealthy and a lot at that. Which just continues your cycle.

Have a mirror with "Your beautiful" or something similar wrote on it. That way whenever you see yourself your brain also processes those words.

If you've ate something you feel is unhealthy then don't starve yourself. Grab a food item you feel is healthy and eat it so you feel you've had something healthy. Some foods have natural mood stabilizers so can always eat or drink a small/moderate amount of them to help.

Don't over work your body. If you feel you need to be doing a form of exercise to clear your head then if you have a dog take them for a walk (No extreme stuff).

It never is easy dealing with body image as I know personally. However taking small steps can make big changes. Just find what works for you. It might surprise you. Your stronger inside then you think.

[Hidden]

I think your beautiful just the way you are..