Fixating on Your Appearance Is an Addiction—But You Can Overcome It
Ask Yourself: How Often Do You Do These Things?
Check how you look in every mirror or window you pass?
Adjust your clothing to ensure "flaws" are covered?
Measure what you eat based on whether it will make you gain weight?
Worry about "looking good" when meeting people?
Wonder whether people are judging your body?
Step on the scale regularly?
Look at your body and notice its flaws?
Criticize how you look in photos?
If you find yourself doing these things often or most of the time, you may be addicted to fixating on your appearance.
The Hidden Addiction: Body Fixation
This habitual way of being wouldn’t be a problem if it made you happy. But constantly obsessing over how you look is exhausting, stressful, and emotionally draining.
At its core, addiction is when the body memorizes a certain way of feeling. In the case of body fixation, your body has become addicted to feeling worried, insecure, or not good enough.
This explains why you might think, I believe others can be beautiful at any size, but not me. You may intellectually understand that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, yet still feel unworthy yourself.
When your body is used to negativity, feeling good can actually feel uncomfortable—even disruptive. Your body craves its usual dose of insecurity or fear, so it feeds you thoughts like I’ll never feel okay about my body or others can accept themselves, but not me. And just like that, you’re back in the cycle of self-criticism—exactly where your body is used to being.
Breaking Free from Body Fixation
The good news? Once you recognize body fixation as an addiction, you can take steps to overcome it.
1. Recognize That It’s a Habit
Fixating on your appearance isn’t who you are—it’s just a habitual way of thinking. When you become more aware of behaviors like body checking, you create an opportunity to choose differently.
2. Embrace Discomfort as a Sign of Change
Breaking any addiction feels uncomfortable at first. That discomfort isn’t a sign that you’re doing something wrong—it’s proof that transformation is happening!
Remind yourself:
✅ This feeling can’t hurt me.
✅ It will pass.
✅ I’m doing an amazing job recognizing my habits and shifting them.
3. Train Your Body to Crave Positivity
Since your body is wired to seek what it’s familiar with, you can retrain it to crave uplifting thoughts and supportive behaviors instead. By consciously engaging in habits that build you up rather than tear you down, you shift your entire experience of self-worth.
And that is an addiction worth cultivating.
Need Support on This Journey?
Overcoming body fixation isn’t something you have to do alone. If you're ready to break free and create a more loving, confident relationship with yourself, join my Body Acceptance and Beyond Conversations or explore Private Coaching for personalized guidance. Together, we can help you break the cycle and embrace true self-acceptance.