Tag: self esteem

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Treating your body as an object: What it means and 4 tips on how to fix it

My body isn't an object

We all have bodies, and we all have to take care of them – but sometimes it can be easy to forget that our bodies are actually living, breathing things that deserve our attention and care. It can be easy to treat our bodies like they are objects, and when we do this, we can start to forget that they are actually part of us. This can lead to all sorts of problems, both mental and physical.

I was always treating my body like it was an object. I would neglect it and not take care of it the way I should have.

I would use it to get what I wanted from other people and then I would just discard it. I didn’t realize how much I was harming myself in the process.

It wasn’t until I started working on myself and healing my relationship with my body that I realized how much I had been mistreating it.

I started to think about my my body as a sacred vessel that deserved my love and care. I began to treat it with the respect it deserved and I started to see the benefits almost immediately.

Diyane Blissong, UK

If you find yourself treating your body like an object, it’s important to try and change your perception. Your body is not an object – it’s a part of you, and it deserves your care and attention. Here are some ways to start changing your perception of your body:

  1. Talk to your body. This may sound silly, but it can actually be really helpful. When you start to see your body as a living, breathing thing, it can be easier to start taking care of it. Talk to your body like you would talk to a friend. Thank it for all the things it does for you, and tell it that you’re sorry for the times when you haven’t treated it well.
  2. Listen to your body. Your body knows what it needs, so try to listen to it. If you’re feeling tired, maybe you need more sleep. If you’re feeling thirsty, maybe you need to drink more water. Pay attention to the signals your body is sending you, and act on them.
  3. Treat your body with care. This doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy all new clothes or anything like that. But it does mean that you should start treating your body with the respect it deserves. That means taking care of it – both physically and mentally. Exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, and get enough sleep. And, when you do something that you know is bad for your body, like smoking or drinking too much, try to cut back or stop altogether.
  4. Be proud of your body. This one can be tough, especially if you’re not used to it. But it’s important to remember that your body is amazing, and it deserves your pride. Be proud of what your body can do, and of the way it looks. Accept your flaws, and love yourself – body and soul.

Changing your perception of your body can be tough, but it’s worth it. When you start to see your body as a living, breathing thing that deserves your care and attention, you’ll be on your way to a healthier, happier life.

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3 Tips for improving your confidence if you have OCD

confident young woman, by Lucian Freud, rough texture, pastels finish, pale green, pale blue, pale cyan, light yellow color scheme

People with OCD often have issues with confidence because they are constantly doubting themselves and their abilities. This can be extremely frustrating and debilitating, as it can prevent them from enjoying activities or participating in activities that they used to enjoy.

I have ocd and it really affects my confidence. I tend to second guess myself a lot and it really holds me back from taking on new challenges. I’m always worried about making mistakes and it really affects my ability to just go for it. I’m constantly doubting myself and my abilities, and it’s really frustrating. I know that I’m capable of so much more, but my ocd just gets in the way.

Mark Romanoff

Why people with OCD struggle with confidence?

There are 3 main reasons why people with OCD can have issues with self esteem and confidence:

  1. People with OCD often have intrusive and unwanted thoughts that they cannot control. These thoughts can be very distressing and can make it difficult for them to feel confident in themselves.
  2. People with OCD may also have compulsions that they feel they must do in order to reduce their anxiety. This can lead to them feeling like they are not in control of their own lives and can make it difficult to feel confident.
  3. People with OCD may also avoid situations or activities that trigger their OCD symptoms. This can make it difficult for them to participate in activities that they enjoy or that could help them build confidence.

20 examples for common negative thoughts related to confidence

1. I’m not good enough.

2. I’m not smart enough.

3. I’m not pretty enough.

4. I’m not thin enough.

5. I don’t deserve to be happy.

6. I don’t deserve to be successful.

7. I’m not worth anyone’s time.

8. I’m not worth anyone’s love.

9. I’m not lovable.

10. I’m not good enough for anything.

11. I’m not talented enough.

12. I’m not special.

13. I’m not worth anything.

14. I’m not worth anyone’s attention.

15. I’m not worth anyone’s respect.

16. I’m not worth anyone’s love.

17. I’m not a good person.

18. I’m not a worthwhile person.

19. I’m not a lovable person.

20. I’m not a good enough person.

10 Examples for negative thoughts related to confidence that are specific for people with OCD

  1. I will never be able to control my OCD.
  2. I’m so ashamed of my OCD.
  3. I’m disgusting because of my OCD.
  4. I will never be able to lead a normal life because of my OCD.
  5. I will always be alone because of my OCD.
  6. I will never be able to have a successful career because of my OCD.
  7. I will never be able to have a happy and fulfilling life because of my OCD.
  8. I am a burden to everyone because of my OCD.
  9. I am worthless because of my OCD.
  10. I will never be able to be happy because of my OCD.

So what can I do to improve my confidence?

Cognitive behavioral methods are a way of increasing confidence by reducing negative thinking and self criticism. The way it works is by changing the way you think about yourself and your abilities. Instead of thinking negatively, you focus not just on your positive qualities and accomplishments, but more importantly, on supportive interpretations of situations. This change in thinking leads to improved self-esteem and confidence.

The first step is to become aware of your negative thoughts and self-criticism. Once you are aware of these thoughts, you can start to challenge and reframe them. For example, instead of thinking “I’m not good enough,” you can tell yourself “I am good enough.” Once you start to reframe your negative thoughts, you will start to see an increase in your confidence levels.

3 tips for building confidence

  1. When you feel low confidence, write down your negative thoughts, so you get to better understand your challenges.
  2. Challenge and reframe the negative thoughts. Try to find additional ways to approach a specific negative thought or situation.
  3. Studies show that maintaining LOW self-esteem is actually a very laborious and consuming habit. Just by reducing your self-criticism, your confidence will increase.

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5 CBT based techniques to help you with confidence

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. It’s most commonly used to treat anxiety and depression, but can be useful for other mental and physical health problems.

CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are all interconnected, and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap us in a vicious cycle.

CBT can help us to break out of this cycle by identifying and challenging negative thoughts, and learning to react to situations in a more positive way. Here are five CBT techniques that can help you to boost your confidence and self-esteem, and approach challenges and decisions in a more positive way:

1. Identify your negative thoughts

The first step is to become aware of the negative thoughts that are holding you back. These might be thoughts such as “I’m not good enough”, “I’ll never be able to do this” or “I always make the wrong decisions”.

2. Challenge your negative thoughts

Once you’ve identified your negative thoughts, it’s time to start challenging them. Ask yourself whether your thoughts are really true, or whether there is another way of looking at the situation. For example, if you’re thinking “I’ll never be able to do this”, ask yourself “What evidence do I have for this?” or “What if I give it a try and it turns out better than I expect?”.

3. Practice positive self-talk

Start to counter your negative thoughts with positive self-talk. This might be something as simple as telling yourself “I can do this” or “I am good enough”. When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, take a step back and reframe your thoughts in a more positive light.

4. Set yourself realistic goals

Setting yourself small, achievable goals can help you to start feeling more confident. When you achieve a goal, it will help to reinforce the positive message that you can do things and that you are capable. Start with something small, such as taking a different route to work, and then build up to bigger goals.

5. Take action

The final step is to take action and put your new-found confidence into practice. This might mean saying “no” to something you don’t want to do, or speaking up in a meeting. It’s important to remember that you might not get it right every time, but that’s OK – the important thing is that you’re taking action and making progress.