Latest news with #selfconsciousness
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Content creator reveals life with consuming skin condition
A 25-year-old woman has revealed why she chose to go topless in order to help other people just like her who suffer with an all-consuming skin condition. Rosie Daniels, who is one half of content creator couple Rosie and Harry, first found signs of psoriasis on her scalp when she was between 10 and 12 years old. From the moment she was diagnosed, an overwhelming feeling of shame and self consciousness clouded her every thought. 'I think my first ever memories of having psoriasis was always being super self conscious if I had to tie my hair up at school,' Rosie told 'I'd always go to school with my hair down just to be able to cover it up. As soon as I had to tie it up for cooking or P.E. I'd be very hesitant and embarrassed. 'I remember saying to my mum that I was so scared that if I found a boyfriend, I don't think I could tell him I had psoriasis on my scalp. I always used to ask her how I was supposed to cover it up for the rest of my life.' As Rosie got older, the psoriasis began to appear in patches on her arms, stomach and legs. But it was so small that it took her a while to even notice. From that point, it just kept spreading. The 25-year-old said her psoriasis is one of the most chronic and severe types, and will always be present in some form on her body. She said the last five years have been dominated by the skin condition. 'It ruined my life completely,' she said. The young woman explained that at one point, she didn't understand how she could ever feel positive in her body. She'd compare herself to other women with clear, tanned skin and felt 'unworthy of love'. 'I thought that Harry shouldn't be with me, and I should be alone until I was able to look a certain way,' she said. 'It was horrible. I felt like the most unattractive person in the entire world, and everybody else was above me. I thought I was disgusting.' Rosie said she couldn't get past the way it looked, revealing she didn't want to leave the house or wear certain types of clothing that didn't cover up the auto-immune condition. She couldn't go to the gym, sleep properly or ever feel comfortable being naked in front of her fiance, Harry. It also had an impact on her mental health, making her feel incredibly low. But, over the last year, Rosie has been able to look at her skin in a new light — something she never thought was possible. She is now proud of how unique she is, saying she now focuses on how she is physically feeling within her body — rather than how her body appears to others. 'It just got to the point where I had looked at it in a certain way for so long that I had reached a point of acceptance,' she said. 'I genuinely think that it's just about time, surrounding yourself with the right people and looking at the right things on social media.' Rosie said even now, she avoids watching shows such as Love Island. She said even though she loves the series, and admires the way the women look, and she compares herself to them. 'That's why Harry and I produce content that is so real and relatable, because it's what I wish I could have consumed five years ago because it would have made my journey a million times easier,' she said. Rosie and Harry met seven years ago, at a pub in London, and she said she doesn't remember having a conversation with Harry about the fact she had psoriasis, adding it was like it was 'accepted and known from day one'. During their relationship, Harry has been a huge support system for Rosie, helping to wash her hair, making sure their house was filled with non-toxic products and helping her maintain a diet that didn't anger her skin. However, the main thing Harry has done is constantly reassure Rosie that she always has his support. The pair have a public platform — boasting 712,000 followers on their joint Instagram account — and Rosie said Harry was the one who helped encourage her to show her skin on social media. 'Back in 2020, I would post photos on Instagram and use Face Tune to edit out psoriasis patches on my stomach. If I was wearing jeans and a top, I would zoom in and actually edit out the patches and recover them with 'normal colour skin',' she said. 'And I remember one day Harry saw me doing it, and he was like 'Why don't you not edit it out one day and post it, and see what happens'.' He said he didn't think anyone would say anything, so Rosie trusted him completely and posted an unedited bikini picture. Positive support from fans instantly flooded in, ultimately encouraging the young social media star to use her platform to speak about psoriasis. This includes a recent Instagram video, posted on @rosieandharry, featuring Rosie having every patch of psoriasis on her back turned into a flower to prove that it was always a 'masterpiece' and never something to be ashamed of. For others out there who may be going through the same thing, Rosie said the way that you look doesn't determine your life path or how people view you — it's the person who you are underneath that does that. She said confidence isn't something that people are born with but a skill that you need to spend time learning. Rosie is sharing her story as part of Psoriasis Awareness Month. 'I genuinely feel from the bottom of my heart that my purpose and calling in life is to help other people learn to love the body and skin their in,' she said. 'Whether they have a skin condition or struggle with something else, I feel like my purpose is to help people love the skin their in so with every video I put out or interview I do, I hope it helps one person feel better and what they have is completely normal.'
Health Line
02-06-2025
- General
- Health Line
Body Dysmorphia After Weight Loss: What to Know
Body dysmorphic disorder (body dysmorphia) results from internal and external experiences. Rapid or significant weight loss may, in some cases, lead to body dysmorphia. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition characterized by someone becoming intensely focused on perceived flaws in their appearance, which are often not visible to others. The difference between BDD and occasional doubts or concerns about your body image is that body dysmorphia is a health condition and presents with intense and persistent symptoms. BD also has a greater impact on daily life. BDD can affect anyone, regardless of gender, size, culture, or shape. For some people, body dysmorphia can develop or intensify after significant weight loss. Is body dysmorphia common after significant weight loss? Research on this topic is limited, but clinical reports suggest body dysmorphia after weight loss is not unusual. Significant weight loss may sometimes create a disconnect between how you feel internally and how you now appear externally. Losing weight may also lead to: excess loose skin muscle loss heightened attention from others (e.g., comments about your physical appearance) social pressure to maintain or increase weight loss Any of these factors could make you feel more self-conscious or promote challenges with your body image, including BDD. A 2023 paper suggested that some people experience 'ghost fat' after rapid weight loss caused by bariatric surgery. 'Ghost fat', or 'phantom fat,' is the feeling that you're larger or heavier than what you are. While ghost fat isn't the same as BDD, it's another experience that can affect body image and mental health. A 2018 study, which surveyed 88 women after bariatric surgery, found that many experienced body image avoidance after surgery. However, avoidance improved over time. Body image avoidance is an attempt to avoid looking at yourself or displaying body features. For example, hiding mirrors, wearing extra-large clothing, and evading photographs. Someone may experience body dysmorphia after significant weight loss, even without having bariatric surgery. Body dysmorphia can affect anyone. What does it feel like to have body dysmorphia? Body dysmorphia can affect both how you feel about yourself and your world, and how you behave. Mental symptoms of body dysmorphia after weight loss The mental symptoms of body dysmorphia may include: constantly thinking about parts of your body you dislike feeling ashamed, disgusted, or embarrassed by your appearance believing you are larger than you are difficulty accepting compliments about your appearance intense fear of gaining weight again Behavioral symptoms of body dysmorphia after weight loss The behavioral symptoms, which can be evident to others, may include: frequently checking mirrors or avoiding them altogether persistent grooming, such as excessive makeup application or clothing changes constantly comparing your body to others, both in person and online avoiding social activities because of body image concerns seeking frequent reassurance about your appearance from friends or family These symptoms often interfere with daily life, affecting work, relationships, and overall mental health. How to manage body dysmorphia after weight loss Body dysmorphia may respond well to treatment. Options often include mental health therapy, medications, and other supportive strategies. Therapy Talking with a mental health professional can help you work through distorted body image thoughts. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can support you in challenging unhelpful thinking patterns and building a new relationship with your body. If you believe you or someone you love has body dysmorphia, consider searching for a therapist who specializes in BDD and other dysmorphia manifestations. »MORE ON THIS: How to find a therapist who's right for you Medication Medication may also help with the severe symptoms of BDD. Some doctors may recommend antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), to manage intrusive thoughts and mood changes. SSRIs are the gold standard in treating BDD. The full therapeutic effects of these medications may take up to 12 weeks, but you may experience improvement shortly after you start treatment. However, if SSRIs don't work for you, there are other options. Consider speaking with a healthcare professional if you don't feel that your current prescription is helping you manage your symptoms. Self-care and lifestyle changes Other supportive steps you might consider include: practicing mindfulness to reconnect with your body in a nonjudgmental way focusing on body functionality (what your body can do) rather than how it looks limiting time spent on social media, if that tends to trigger you surrounding yourself with people who celebrate body diversity engaging in hobbies and activities that make you feel good setting boundaries if friends or family often comment on weight or appearance
New York Times
07-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
Why Did My Friend Keep Poking Her Husband When I Spoke at Dinner?
Some friends of ours get together monthly for dinner parties. We take turns hosting, and we've been doing this for years. During the last dinner, at our home, I saw a friend poke her husband with her elbow while I was speaking. I didn't think anything of it — until I saw her do it two more times when I was talking that night. I became self-conscious and quieter for the rest of the evening. I've been depressed lately about my husband's declining health, so I may have been talking too much. But no one said anything to me about it. Then, at the end of the evening, this same woman was unusually solicitous when we hugged goodbye. Any advice on how — or whether — I should address this? I would have hoped one of my friends would tell me if I'd been inappropriate. FRIEND I can certainly identify with your self-consciousness about a woman jabbing her husband every time you opened your mouth! The maddening thing about other people, though, is that we rarely know what's going on inside their heads. She may have thought you were talking too much. Or she may have been signaling her agreement (or total disagreement) with whatever it was you were saying. But I suspect that her pokes and warm hug may be hitting you harder than usual because of the sadness you feel about your husband and the way your life may be changing. I doubt these factors would make you suddenly oblivious to social cues, as you fear: Your letter suggests a great deal of emotional intelligence. And while it's nice to fantasize about not caring what other people think of us, the fact is that practically all of us do.
