Advice please - 8 yr old DS convinced he's ugly

[angemorange]

I'm looking for some advice please after a heart breaking talk with my 8 yr old yesterday when he said he thinks he is really ugly. He is actually a good looking child, who is doing well at school and has friends. I was really taken aback and no matter how many time I tried to convince him he wasn't at all ugly he wouldn't accept it - he just said "But you're my mum, you would say that". I checked that no one has told him he's ugly as kids can be mean, but he insists it's not that. After a while he then said that although he may not be ugly to others he felt he was ugly every time he looks in the mirror. I can vaguely remember being a bit insecure and worried at times as a child but this seems to be quite a lot of anxiety from a child so young. Any advice welcome please :)

This is very difficult and may need specialist help (could go via GP). He must have low self esteem to feel this way about himself and just talking or looking in the mirror is not going to change that.
A book I've found very helpful is Think Good-Feel Good by Paul Stallard. It is a cognitive behaviour therapy book easiy avaialble on Amazon and is directed at children not adults. You may find it helpful to talk to his school. You could also chat about what makes people (don't specify him) ugly both in appearance and character. Then what makes people attractive. You could start a scrap book collecting images of ugly and attractive. You should not refer to him but if he refers to himself accept what he says e.g. you feel as though you are ugly. Can you tell me more about how that feels"
Good luck.

Thanks so much for those suggestions - I've been trying to tease out what exactly he thinks is ugly about himself, but I think it's more an abstract feeling he has. I'll definitely check out the book. Thanks so much for taking the time to post :)