Distorted image? - Eating Disorder Recovery Message Board

flowergail · 02-11-2006, 07:23 AM

Someone mentioned this in another thread....how looking at pictures of yourself, you see it different than looking in the mirror.

When I look in the mirror, all I see is a fat stomach and big hips.

But pictures of me, or glimpses of myself reflected in a window at the mall or something, I see skinny legs, and more of a whole body skinny thing.

BUT...its like I have to force myself to even look at pictures of myself. And looking in the mirror, having the thought that I look good makes me feel strange. Like I see it and start to think it, but run from it.

Been thinking lately I might just have my husband take tons of pics of me, in all kinds of situations...and then force myself to look at them.

Anyone experienced this?

SorryMyNameSux · 02-11-2006, 09:36 AM

I HATE, HATE, HATE looking at photos of myself. LOL and you want to know the sick thing? Im an f'in model, HA some one with a job like mine who hates looking at them self, funny right? I have not worked in about a year on "normal" stuff "skinny stuff" but am almost down to a size that would alow me to get back to the "main"-"good" stuff that i used to do. I never ever look at any of my work, to tell you the truth i dont even know why people want to look at me. I think im the most ugly thing ever! But what ever $ is $. They always ask me if i would like to see how my photos came out, and i always say no. I cant stand to look at myself, im fat, my nose is to big, my boobs are to small, but butt is to big, my eyes are brown (sorry to people with brown eyes), my lips are to big, my feet are to big, my skin is to yellow, and i could go on and on and on. So yes there are other people like you, and maybe taking alot of pics of yourself might help, i dont know. How could it hurt? might as well try.

Good luck!

eminemworshipper · 02-12-2006, 11:00 AM

Hey there!!!
Yep! I've experienced this before... I always put it down to the fact that the picture was 'taken from a distance'

By the way, I did reply to another post of yours ...but not sure it has posted properly- I have been having computer problems!!! ARGHhhh sorry if it hasnt.

lil ladee · 02-12-2006, 11:41 AM

hi

i completely understand the idea of looking at yourself in the mirror, although it may have the opposite effect for me..basically, i cannot see myself as skinny when i look in a mirror, all i see are the areas of my body i don't like, that are not as skinny as the rest of me..but when i look at photos it all sort of dawns on me, and if i find any photos of myself, i analyse everything, which may seem vain to everyone else who doesn't understand, but it's as if i can't believe that i'm thin until i'm shown an image that someone else has taken, rather than what i see myself when i look in a mirror

it's the problem of what we percieve and what is actually there that i spose is at the center of any eating disorder

xx lil xx