Caitlin McQuarrie

Creating my self esteem

I've suffered from body dysmorphia for a very long time. As a teenager I squeezed my thighs into the requisite skinny, lower rider jeans. I avoided knee high boots because none would fit over my calves. I apologised, hid and desperately tried to look like everyone else. I still hear the comments; "yellow makes you look ill", "maybe those shorts are too short", "that top is too baggy", "wear sleeves", "don't be so conservative". What I no longer remember is who said them, was it my mother? Maybe the kids at school?