please help all i can think about is my appearance
i am 13 years old and i have just bought this program i am also now on medication and seeing a psychologist i have gotten slightly better but all i can think about is my appearance its a horrible obsession and no one else can see what i mean or understand my thought process i also have bad depression and anxiety and i really hope that this program helps could somebody please tell me how to get rid of these obsessive thoughts about my looks
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Guest
If you just bought it, give it a little time. i just started too. Practice the breathing techniques and listen to the tapes and the relaxation one too. If you drink a lot of caffeine like I did, cut down as soon as possible it really helps. You will be ok just give it time. Taking all these steps will help take your mind off thinking of your appearance all the time. breathing techniques really helped me because you have to concentrate on your breathing and doesn't give your mind the time to think of anything else. You will be ok, just hang in there.
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Guest
Hi Austin and Dll:
I, personally believe that the program can help anyone. It sure can't hurt.
Austin, how very brave of you to want to do soemthing for yourself at your early age. I do have every confidence that you will gain from this experience.
I can understand your struggles and shall be remembering you.
I think that Dll's advice is good , that you should begin using the relaxation tape often.
I think that it will help also if you come here to the forum often and continue to post here.
God bless you!
Keep us updated on your progress!
You will find much support here.
My best to you!
MaryJane
I, personally believe that the program can help anyone. It sure can't hurt.
Austin, how very brave of you to want to do soemthing for yourself at your early age. I do have every confidence that you will gain from this experience.
I can understand your struggles and shall be remembering you.
I think that Dll's advice is good , that you should begin using the relaxation tape often.
I think that it will help also if you come here to the forum often and continue to post here.
God bless you!
Keep us updated on your progress!
You will find much support here.
My best to you!
MaryJane
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Guest
austin what exactly are you thinking about your appearance?
We can all dwell on the way we feel we look but in reality we are never as bad as we think we are. All it takes is one bad picture or catching the way you move on a video and it gets the wheels turning.
I know this is really hard, but try to tell yourself "who cares how I look?" also try the positive replacement statements, I think it is in one of the earlier sessions.
Also try to remember that worrying about your appearance is completely normal at your age. So many kids think about their appearance. But you can get your mind off of it the more you focus on others, try to be interested in what's going on outside yourself and you will soon realize that being obsessive about yourself wastes a lot of those precious moments.
We can all dwell on the way we feel we look but in reality we are never as bad as we think we are. All it takes is one bad picture or catching the way you move on a video and it gets the wheels turning.
I know this is really hard, but try to tell yourself "who cares how I look?" also try the positive replacement statements, I think it is in one of the earlier sessions.
Also try to remember that worrying about your appearance is completely normal at your age. So many kids think about their appearance. But you can get your mind off of it the more you focus on others, try to be interested in what's going on outside yourself and you will soon realize that being obsessive about yourself wastes a lot of those precious moments.
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Guest
Hi Austin,
You are doing the next right step by doing the program, chatting on this website, cutting out sodas with caffeine, ( pepsi,coke,mt dew, dr pepper, sundrop etc.) root beer, sprite, 7up, orange fanta are all okay. Though some people can't eat much sugar, it can contribute to their anxiety. My sister and I both deal with anxiety, she's had it since age 8. I had it around 9. Neither one of us had lucindas program till we were in our 20's. Both of us have had good days, bad days, but we are a whole lot better and so will you.
THe reason you didn't get a direct answer to your question is this, anxiety will show up in alot of different ways, obsessive thoughts, ( like what you are dealing with) scary thoughts, depression, sweating, shaking, nausous, obsessing over something bad happening.to yourself, or others. The list goes on. There are over a 100 different ways each persons anxiety could pop up.
What we're all trying to learn through this program is: it doesn't matter HOW it shows up, It's HOW you shut it down.
Thats what we're all learning.
Austin, having anxiety makes you a smart kid, you're probably more intelligent than the average kid, your quick, you get things around you, your sensitive to your friends and others around you. These are all GOOD things, but we tend to use them Against ourselves, unknowingly. So how to get rid of obsessive thoughts,first time, working through the program an practice, practice, practice.
Your learning a new skill, how to manage your anxiety, it's like learning the piano,or soccer, your gonna get frustrated, but everyday you'll get a little better, and little better.
Heres what helps me.
1) recognize your doing it. sometimes your thinking about it and don't even realize.
2) once you recognize it, talk yourself postive, ie 'I am a good person', 'my looks don't matter to my true friends& family', 'I am great just the way God made me.'
3) distract yourself. this one is tough, but head outside, ride your bike, walk the dog, read a book, make a phone call. Do somthing that will engage you, and cause you to get busy.
4) give yourself permission to fail.
It's okay if the thoughts come back, b/c they will, guaranteed. But don't beat yourself up about it. Practice practice practice. Repeat the above steps.
We are a work in progress, we all fail, but we're not a failure if we keep going. You can do this austin. I am over 30, and I still get obsessive thoughts, but they only last a few hours, not days, or weeks. Be patient with yourself. Your on the right track. Rome wasn't built in a day. Your gonna do great. I wish I was given the tools you now have, at your age. You take care, good luck and we'll check in with you again,can't wait to hear about your progress! Godbless, peace& prayers, Amber
You are doing the next right step by doing the program, chatting on this website, cutting out sodas with caffeine, ( pepsi,coke,mt dew, dr pepper, sundrop etc.) root beer, sprite, 7up, orange fanta are all okay. Though some people can't eat much sugar, it can contribute to their anxiety. My sister and I both deal with anxiety, she's had it since age 8. I had it around 9. Neither one of us had lucindas program till we were in our 20's. Both of us have had good days, bad days, but we are a whole lot better and so will you.
THe reason you didn't get a direct answer to your question is this, anxiety will show up in alot of different ways, obsessive thoughts, ( like what you are dealing with) scary thoughts, depression, sweating, shaking, nausous, obsessing over something bad happening.to yourself, or others. The list goes on. There are over a 100 different ways each persons anxiety could pop up.
What we're all trying to learn through this program is: it doesn't matter HOW it shows up, It's HOW you shut it down.
Thats what we're all learning.
Austin, having anxiety makes you a smart kid, you're probably more intelligent than the average kid, your quick, you get things around you, your sensitive to your friends and others around you. These are all GOOD things, but we tend to use them Against ourselves, unknowingly. So how to get rid of obsessive thoughts,first time, working through the program an practice, practice, practice.
Your learning a new skill, how to manage your anxiety, it's like learning the piano,or soccer, your gonna get frustrated, but everyday you'll get a little better, and little better.
Heres what helps me.
1) recognize your doing it. sometimes your thinking about it and don't even realize.
2) once you recognize it, talk yourself postive, ie 'I am a good person', 'my looks don't matter to my true friends& family', 'I am great just the way God made me.'
3) distract yourself. this one is tough, but head outside, ride your bike, walk the dog, read a book, make a phone call. Do somthing that will engage you, and cause you to get busy.
4) give yourself permission to fail.
It's okay if the thoughts come back, b/c they will, guaranteed. But don't beat yourself up about it. Practice practice practice. Repeat the above steps.
We are a work in progress, we all fail, but we're not a failure if we keep going. You can do this austin. I am over 30, and I still get obsessive thoughts, but they only last a few hours, not days, or weeks. Be patient with yourself. Your on the right track. Rome wasn't built in a day. Your gonna do great. I wish I was given the tools you now have, at your age. You take care, good luck and we'll check in with you again,can't wait to hear about your progress! Godbless, peace& prayers, Amber