Confidence is a State of Mind

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By Tayfave

I firmly believe that confidence has little to do with our outward appearance; confidence is a state of mind.

Hey! I’m Taylor and I’m in the process of overcoming body dysmorphic disorder, anxiety and depression.

Many people aren’t familiar with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). BDD is a preoccupation with a perceived flaw. Individuals often feel defined by their flaw(s), and this causes significant distress and interferes with one or more areas of life. I wasn’t able to leave my house or look in the mirror without fully dissociating and panicking. Housebound for 4 months, I was absolutely disgusted with myself. I decided that I had to make a change, by confronting my own thoughts.

Body confidence is about more than appearance

One of those changes had to do with how I view my own body. Bodies are instruments of action and sensation; we are more than just our appearance. We’re preoccupied with loathing, hiding and repairing our looks. So we fail to find opportunities for ourselves to enjoy what our bodies do for us

Every day I get this gnawing feeling inside to “fix” myself, to make sure that everything is in the right place and that my flaws are hidden from sight. When I began to recognize that my body is so much more than what’s on the outside it was easier to let go of my “imperfections”.

I am able to enjoy an activity for the sole purpose that it feels good. My body allows me to feel the sand in between my toes or enjoy the warmth of sunlight on my face. It is strong enough to swim in the ocean. While it may not function perfectly – I may be a huge klutz and have a couple food allergies…? – my body still allows me to experience the world, and it provides me with an invigorating sense of freedom unlike anything else