What to do when you can’t stand looking in the mirror

Can’t stand looking in the mirror? Or do you avoid mirrors completely?

In this post, I’m exploring what you can do if you can’t stand looking in the mirror.

Specifically, I’m sharing:

• The reason why you find looking in the mirror so hard.
• How avoiding the mirror might be making you feel worse about your body.
• 3 strategies to help you make friends with the mirror and get a more balanced view of your body.

Listen or read below:

Can’t stand looking in the mirror?

When I first start working with a client, she’ll often say, “I can’t stand looking in the mirror” and that includes any reflective surfaces like windows or screens.

The fear of looking in the mirror can be so great, that some women avoid looking altogether.

So, if you’re struggling to look in the mirror, or you can’t stand the reflection looking back at you, what can you do?

I’ve got a few tips to help you make friends with the mirror and get a more realistic view of your body:

Don’t avoid the mirror

In my experience, avoiding the mirror isn’t the best strategy.  Clients tell me they avoid looking in the mirror because they can’t bear the negative thoughts that come up.

But avoidance has an unfortunate consequence – you become less used to seeing yourself.  And your brain will happily supply an image of what it would like your body to look like instead.  So, when you do catch a glimpse of yourself, you’ll notice a difference between your expectation and reality, which can create even more negative thoughts.

Think of it this way, does avoiding doing anything make that ‘thing’ less scary?  Usually, no!  The more you do anything that you fear, the easier it gets over time.

When you regularly see yourself in the mirror, you get used to it.  And, when you can make friends with the mirror, it’s even better.

Make friends with the mirror

For most women, looking in the mirror means focusing on perceived flaws and berating what you see.  To make the experience easier, you need a different approach.

Decide to use your time in front of the mirror to get to know your body and to appreciate it.

Rather than critiquing every part of your body, use your mirror time to articulate what you like about yourself and your body.

For example, what do you value about yourself as a person?  What are you grateful to your body for?  Say these things out loud while looking in the mirror.

Make this a regular daily practice where you say at least 5 things that you value about yourself and your body.

View your body as a whole

Thanks to marketing tactics, women tend to micro focus on different parts of their bodies when they look in the mirror.

So, you might focus on the pores of your skin, how wrinkled your neck is or how big your belly is.  The reason you do this is because you were taught to by advertising messages.  For every supposed flaw, there is a product to fix it!

But what if you saw your body as a whole?  Each body is unique and creates a perfect whole – it isn’t a random collection of body parts.

When you look in the mirror, try seeing your body as a whole.  When you do this, you’re less likely to micro focus on individual parts.

So, there you have it, three strategies to help you make friends with the mirror.

When you can’t stand looking in the mirror, I know it’s tough.  But it is possible to make friends with the mirror so that it doesn’t become an experience you dread, so give these strategies a try!

If you’re looking for more tips to help you feel more comfortable in your body, grab a copy of my FREE Guide: 4 Simple Strategies To Boost Your Body Confidence NOW.