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body image

Life

This Is Your Sign to Finally Get Rid of Your “One Day When I’m Thinner” Clothes

“Goal” outfits actually keep you from your healthiest, happiest self.
Mental Health

How to Deal When You’re Having a Bad Skin Day

Breakouts, flare-ups, and other “imperfections” can really mess with your mood.
Life

How to Prevent a Body Image Spiral When You Put on Summer Clothes

When the swimsuits, shorts, and tank tops come out, so do the insecurities.
Pregnancy

How to Cope If Pregnancy Is Messing With Your Body Image

All the physical changes—and newfound attention—can bring up a lot of complicated feelings.
Life

3 Things to Do If You’re Feeling Pressured to ‘Get in Shape’ for Summer

Don’t let “swimsuit season” BS ruin your confidence—or your fun.
Mental Health

Author Emmeline Clein on the ‘Machine’ That Fuels Eating Disorders and Grinds Up Young Women

“You’re less alone than you think—and less lost.”
Life

Sheryl Lee Ralph Says That Racist Comments Did a Number on Her Confidence for Years

“For such a long time I was so unhappy with the way I looked.”
Mental health

Megan Fox on What It’s Like to Be Called a ‘Sex Symbol’ While Having Body Dysmorphia

She said the pressure to live up to a specific image was “haunting.”
Life

‘Dead Weight: Essays on Hunger and Harm’ Is Our March SELF Well-Read Book Club Pick

Author Emmeline Clein explores the near impossibility of having a positive body image today.
Mental Health

5 Sneaky Ways Diet Culture Might Still Be Messing With You

Harmful messages about food and bodies are everywhere.
Mental Health

Try This 5-Minute Mental Exercise the Next Time You Feel Crappy About Your Body

It can remind you that restricting your food isn’t the answer.
Exposure therapy

How to Really, Actually Feel Better Naked

Insecurity is normal, but at a certain point, it can keep you from enjoying life to the fullest.
Food

Introducing SELF’s Diet Culture Detox Course!

New year, no diet! Are you with us?
Life

Ariana Madix on What It’s Like to Have an Eating Disorder on Reality TV

“I look back and I realize: Oh yeah, girl, this was bad.”
Mental health

How to Protect the Teens You Love From Diet Culture BS

You’ve gotta be willing to call out anti-fat bias when you see it.
Mental health

How to Get Help If You Think Your Eating Might Be Disordered

Whether or not you have a diagnosable condition, you deserve to feel better.
Mental health

3 Things to Do If You’re a Guy Struggling With Your Body Image

Your food or fitness routine shouldn’t make you feel like shit.
Self-reflection

How to Stop Comparing Your Current Body to Your Former One

It’s easy to romanticize the past, but we’re not meant to look the same our whole lives.
Life

What to Do If Summer Makes You Feel Shitty About Your Body

Practical advice from people who get it.
Eating Disorders

A Chatbot Replaced Workers at an Eating Disorder Helpline. It Went Horribly Wrong.

Tessa, a program used by the National Eating Disorders Association, gave potentially harmful weight-loss advice.