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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be constantly horrified by how ugly I am?

115 replies

uglyuglyugly · 27/09/2019 09:36

This issue consumes me and has taken over my life. I had an abusive childhood, with a violent bully of a stepdad who ran me down every day and my mum backed him up. Then I was called all manner of names at school including ‘birds nest’ about my hair, ‘bugs bunny’ about my teeth and was told I was so ugly I’d never get married.
I also had a boyfriend who continually called me goofy.
So I hate my teeth and my hair which I keep snipping at and changing my hairstyle in a bid to look better. My son called me fat the other day (I’m a size 12, he didn’t mean to offend me I don’t think, he’s young).

I’m overwhelmed with shame about my appearance. When out in public I keep glancing in shop windows and mirrors and recoiling in horror at what I see, and at home I keep checking in the mirror continuously.

It should also be noted that my mother is/ was the most vain person on the planet who spends two hours a day bavkcombing her hair into a massive bouffant (not exaggerating) and slags off people for being over a size 10.

I feel so disgusted by my appearance and no hairstyle makes me feel better. What do I do

OP posts:
zingally · 30/09/2019 08:45

I'm sorry you're feeling like this.

I've never seen you, I'm sure. But I can tell you now - you're not ugly. No one is. You're just a normal-looking woman, with a normal face and body.

Are you kind? Are you loving? Would you help someone in need? Do you love your son?
Sweetheart, if you do all those things - you're beautiful.

Teacakeandalatte · 30/09/2019 08:50

Even if you are ugly so what? You weren't put on this earth to please other people with your looks.

intermittentfasting · 30/09/2019 13:46

@uglyuglyugly have you tried the 'curly girl method' to wash and style your hair?

MoeGreenSpecial · 30/09/2019 13:58

@intermittentfasting I have mega fine greasy hair that needs a daily wash so it doesn’t work for me using sundaresan free etc. I did try but no.

Are you kind? Are you loving? Would you help someone in need? Do you love your son?
Sweetheart, if you do all those things - you're beautiful.

What a lovely thing to say @zingally. Yes I guess I am kind and I love my son more than anything. So that counts for something.

MoeGreenSpecial · 30/09/2019 13:59

Sulfate not sundaresan!

Silky77 · 01/10/2019 16:56

Hi to the OP and everyone else on this thread who is suffering from self-hatred and toxic shame. Flowers

Like you, I suffered from a complete lack of self-esteem throughout my teens and well into adulthood. For the past year, I have been on a journey of self-discovery, which was prompted by the breakdown of my second adult relationship. Both of my partners had been abusive, mentally and physically, and I wanted to know why I was attracting the same type over and over.

After months of heavy self-examination, I realised that my self-image was warped because of the abuse I had suffered during childhood. I began to understand that I felt the way I did due to lack of emotional support during my formative years. I had buried memories of feeling unloved, ugly, worthless and a burden, which were caused by constant criticism.

After a lot of reading, I realised I was suffering from complex post traumatic stress disorder. Though it made for painful reading, the book that helped me most was Pete Walker's Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving: A Guide and map for recovering from childhood trauma Walker argues that children who are subject to emotional abuse, as you were, develop an inner critic that Is essentially an extension/proxy of the abusive caregiver. Self-criticism, he argues, is the internalisation of abuse.

Walker has a website that provides thought substitution responses to the inner-critic's attacks. I've copied and pasted one that I think corresponds with your experience:

Harsh Judgments of Self & Others/Name-Calling

I will not let the bullies and critics of my early life win by joining and agreeing with them. I refuse to attack myself or abuse others. I will not displace the criticism and blame that rightfully belongs to them onto myself or current people in my life. “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself”. - Jane Eyre

pete-walker.com/shrinkingInnerCritic.htm

I hope this helps x

MoeGreenSpecial · 01/10/2019 20:32

Thank you for that @slinky77 I will get that book. I was told by a therapist I had complex ptsd so this is perfect.

Silky77 · 05/10/2019 19:49

You're welcome @MoeGreenSpecial. If you're interested, there's a man on YouTube who offers free advice on healing CPTSD and breaking trauma bonds that develop in abusive relationships. His name is Richard Grannon.

Gwlondon · 05/10/2019 20:34

@MoeGreenSpecial I am
Glad you have changed your user name.

I bet I would think you are beautiful. So few people are actually not beautiful. Everyone has something special. I hope you find some peace and your beauty. I hope you can really build up your self esteem. Start small and work up to realising how wonderful you are, how wonderful your body is and your beauty. Don’t think conventional beauty. Think what real beauty is.

MoeGreenSpecial · 05/10/2019 20:55

Thank you @Silky77 !

What kind words @gwlondon .

I wish I could report that I’ve been feeling better but honestly I haven’t. The shame has been overwhelming the last few days. Total paranoia and thinking I’m too ugly to go out. My hair and face are the worst triggers, my hair being the biggest issue because it’s something I can ‘control’. Doesn’t matter how much I faff with it I feel like I look ridiculous and so bad I want to hide. It’s awful to cope with.

MLMsuperfan · 06/10/2019 02:28

Sorry to read you've had a bad few days.

While your feelings are very real, I hope you know that others don't agree with the cruel way you see yourself and that it is possible for you to change your perceptions too.

Even genuinely ugly people can live full lives in public. Whatever your appearance you deserve that, and you can have that, when you recover from the bad place you are in.

needsahouseboy · 06/10/2019 12:09

I’ve met some traditionally beautiful people in my time big the minute they opened their mouths turned ugly.
I fight believe beauty is not just linked to what you look like.

needsahouseboy · 06/10/2019 12:09

Firmly not fight!! Ffs

Moegreenspecial · 12/11/2019 13:35

Hi all

Just wanted to update after all your kind posts. I’ve been diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder and I’m currently having treatment with a nurse at the Maudsley.

So thank you all again.

Lyingtwat · 12/11/2019 13:42

I know how you feel.
I get told I'm beautiful and in the mirror I look ok but in photos I'm not joking I look like I should live under a bridge.
I'm hairy and have stretch Mark's and a flabby tummy.
People think I'm pretty but then they get closer and I get told I have a lot of peach fuzz on my face for a woman or that my thighs are massive( im a size 8) or that my lips are weird
Whenever someone glances my way, I think they're must be looking at me because I look weird so I know how you feel op.
But j can also guarantee that it's just lost self esteem and I get you're pretty but you just dont know it or accept it.
I hope all of us who feel this way find a way to love and accept ourselves.

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