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Nobody around me cares about my self image issues
Yurnuthere October 26th

I consider myself a very chubby girl and have been insecure about it since 7th grade, now in high school with all these pretty thin girls it has gotten worse, coming from an African American family, my dad had constantly told me that I'll never be skinny because there are no thin girls in the family and that black girls are naturally on the bigger side and has also said stuff like "why do you wanna be skinny like all those white/Asian girls?"


Even though the school I go to is majority black/hispanic and most of them are thin and pretty. Even my older sister has said that it's not natural for black women to be thin and it made me feel even worse, me and my mom were going out in the city today and when I wore my outfit, I hated how it looked on me, it made my stomach look bigger and my dad got *** off at me telling me to take my self conscious self out to the city and that I was being overdramatic, he won't even let me go to the gym nor do any exercises with me to help me get in shape.


Now I don't feel like eating anything at all, it's like no one around me has a single bit of empathy for me, just blame, shame and "genetics talk"

3
Mya000 October 27th

@Yurnuthere I’m really sorry to hear that you're going through this. It's incredibly difficult to feel unsupported, especially when it comes to something as personal as your self-image.

You deserve to feel confident and happy in your own body, and taking small steps toward self-acceptance can really help. Whether it's engaging in activities you enjoy, or even journaling your thoughts, finding what works for you is key. Also, exploring activities that you enjoy, like dancing or yoga, can help you feel good about your body without focusing solely on weight.

You are beautiful just as you are, and taking care of yourself should come from a place of love, not shame. I'm here for you if you need someone to talk to ❤️
Aayla October 29th
@Yurnuthere I'm so sorry about this. Body image can be a tough issue for anyone, but particularly for young girls, considering how women are subject to strict beauty standards. It's not your fault if you're living in a world that is particularly harsh on women and makes them question how legitimate it is to look the way they do, as if there was only way to be beautiful, as if the degree of "social likeability" of our body determined our worth.
The question is not whether you can / should be thing or not: the question is, why should it matter? Who has a right to say if you're beautiful or not? What does body size even have to do with beauty, when so much beauty can be found in all types of body?
I know it's not easy to switch to this kind of thinking. Your insecurities are valid and you're not weak or shallow for worrying to much about something that, unfortunately, is still a very pressing matter. If it's becoming too much for you to bear on your own or you feel like your relationship to food is changing because of this, don't be afraid to ask for support. A professional counsellor might help you deal with the way you feel and find a way to handle these thoughts and start feeling happy with yourself. A trusted friend can also be a great anchor, or at least help you vent.

Remember, there's nothing wrong with you!
Yazminnz27 October 29th

@Yurnuthere Hi there, as a South Asian teen who was also told my weight is caused by genetics, I understand what your going through. It's fine to not like your body, and beauty isn't the only important thing about it 💖

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