Irrationally Self-Conscious About Appearance
 

As I was grooming myself this morning, fixing my hair and applying makeup, I was frustrated that there is no beauty product to address the fact that I look like death warmed over. Once I apply lipstick, I look like death warmed over with lipstick. Even my skin and hair and eyes look unhealthy. And don't get me started about this freakishly bloated midsection.

I found myself worried and self-conscious at the idea of showing up for detox looking like a street person. I'm not a street person. I'm a capable, enthusiastic, sharp-as-a-tack real estate agent.

Worse yet, they want me there EARLY. Friends, it's hard for me to get anywhere anytime, but EARLY? No, no, no. I may or may not even manage to shower first.

Then reason paid me a visit. This team who will be working with me are part of an "addiction recovery center." They are not expecting Kim Kardashian. They're expecting to meet an addict. They've seen many and I'm sure they know what we look like.

Yes, yes... I know this is a dumb post.

No it isn't a dumb post and I can relate.
They will be more concerned about your health.
I remember the first time I stopped drinking I went to my GP for a check up.
She asked me to return in a month's time for a review.
After a month of not drinking, eating proper meals and going for walks, she looked at me and said "oh good. You are looking much better now".
So just give it time and good luck x

I was pale, bloated, hair dry & lifeless, nails all broken - sad & haunted expression. I looked completely different a few weeks later. You will too, SIS.

They are there to get you back to health and not to judge your appearance. :)

Thanks, fellow New Yorker. Yeah, I know this to be true. Illness makes folks look awful. I looked dreadful when I was battling cancer, too. I complain about the bloating now, but bald, jaundiced, and 98 lbs wasn't so hot, either!

Good health is the bedrock of good looks!

You'll be amazed at how fast that bloat will go away
with no booze and proper food and exercise.

I suggest joining a gym--there's a nice one in Syracuse
I used to belong to that actually had a steam room which I loved.
I don't recall the name, but you need a gym with so much snow.

When I decided to stop drinking years later (in another town)
I joined a Crossfit gym and went 3-4 times a week.
I was a serious flabby wheezing mess in my husband's tank tops
and Converse tennis shoes, but I kept going and eating Paleo.
Anyhow, after several months I lost 40 pounds of bloat and
went from a size 12-14 jeans (bloat room) down to a 7.

I won't deny that vanity wasn't a helpful factory for my recovery,
because quite frankly it was.
Use whatever works SinS :)

Good luck on your detox--
If you can taper for as long as you have, you can certainly handle this

LOL, I think the reason I'm looking forward to detox is that I've had it up to "here" with tapering.

Wow. Very comparable bloats we had -- 3 sizes??! I'm on the short side. My normal size is 5/6, and my bloat size is 11. Of course, I insist on wearing 7/8 out of vanity and the result is that I've blown the a** out of like five pairs of jeans.

C'mon now. Stop making me laugh when I'm trying to be appropriately depressed, LOL!:lmao

I'm sure they have seen people who looked a lot worse than you do SiS. You have been tapering off so you are not going to look as you usually do.
Also just think about how good you are going to look afterwards.

Best of luck.

When I graduated to daily drinking, I was either drinking a 5th of vodka or 12 tall cans of beer. an extra couple thousand calories I'm sure. I gained 40 pounds within the year and was a bloated mess. Because it was so gradual, I really didn't notice, and since I was drunk most of the time, I didn't really care about my appearance.

Looking back at pictures, I am amazed how I could let my self go like that yet not notice. Maybe it's because I am a guy and was in a serious relationship at the time but I'm still baffled by my lack of self awareness.

LOL, SIS I thought I was the only one that did that , I'm still turning my 7's into 11's, you should see me stretching them before I put them on, looks like I'm trying to destroy them, ha ha. :) There's no way I'm buying bigger jeans!