Body Image Blues Part 2

As a way to help heal my younger-self who dealt with a lot of body image blues, I decided to write a letter from the perspective of my teenage self. I have named her, and she wrote a letter to me. Read on to hear about it says, plus, my Adult response.   

Brinn, I feel like I am drowning and nobody is there to help me. I hate this feeling and I hate myself.

People tell me I am pretty, but I know it’s not true. How can they say that when there are a million other people in this world skinnier and better looking than I am? Mom says I have “classic beauty” whatever that means. I think it’s her way of saying that may be I am nice too look at, but I’ll never be hot or beautiful.  

All the other girls at school are skinny and smaller than I am. I hate my stomach, my rolls, my thighs, and omg my hair! It never does what I want it to. Everything about me just sucks.

I just want to crawl in bed and never get up.

~Scout

Dear Scout,

Wow, I am so sorry to hear how sad and depressed you are. I am listening. I am here for you. I will show you with my actions that I am serious and I am not going anywhere.

You’re such an incredible human being and I promise to be there for you more. I promise to listen when you’re upset, scared or frustrated.

I promise to help you feel confident when you’re low and help you express yourself when you need to.

I promise to help remind you every day how wonderful and loved you really are.

I know I’ve not been there before in the past and I am committing to being there more and I ask for your forgiveness if I fall short sometimes.  

Love always,

Brinn