I hate my body. I know it’s not cool to admit that. At 13, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease — two autoimmune conditions that impact the thyroid. For almost my whole life, I have been exhausted. I’ve had frequent stomach issues, joint pain and brain fog.
I just want, desperately, to have a healthy, well-functioning body. I want to not have pain.
And yet, my chronic autoimmune condition, invisible to most people but a daily part of my life, has given me insights about my body and my relationship to the world around me. It led me to a healing diet where the focus is on eating foods to nourish my body.
I may want my body to be able to do more, but I can still do a lot with it. I can surround myself with people who make me feel good about myself.
No matter what our bodies are like, most of us have problems with our own bodies. What is something that helps you move toward self-compassion and away from self-hatred?
This message is an excerpt from “How do I love my body” by Jenna Pulkowski in the June 2019 issue of Café.
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