Worry About Appearance: Behaviours linked with worry about appearance

If you are worried about your appearance, you may find some of the following behaviour patterns familiar.

Pre-occupation

You may find that you spend a significant portion of every day considering the features of yourself that you dislike - contemplating them in detail; wishing they were different; looking for ways to disguise them. Frequently this time spent does not lead to helpful solutions to the worry, but rather intensifies it.

Comparison

When you are concerned about some aspect of your appearance, you may find yourself continually comparing the features of others. Instead of being able to enjoy conversations with others or television programmes and films for their positive contents, you may focus on the details of others' personal appearance and use perceived differences to draw negative conclusions about yourself.

Self-consciousness

You may find that in many situations you are acutely aware of your own feelings and worries and that you are slightly removed from events, looking on and wondering what others think of you rather than simply being yourself in that setting.

Avoidance and contrived behaviour

You may then choose to avoid social situations; refuse to take normal care in enhancing your attractiveness or to deny yourself the chance of a close and caring relationships. Alternatively you may continue to mix with others, but may take great care to present yourself in a certain way, to wear particular clothes or adopt a certain role so that you avoid others' scrutiny.

Hopelessness and Depression

If you feel that you are not attractive to others, you may then find it hard to feel positive about the future. This may be linked to feelings of depression (tearfulness, disturbed sleep, unpredictable appetite, sense of low self-worth).