'I can't accept the way I look...'

I am 23 and just cannot accept the way I look. I feel physically repulsed by myself when I look in the mirror or see photographs of myself

Dear Diana,
I am 23 and just cannot accept the way I look. I feel physically repulsed by myself when I look in the mirror or see photographs of myself. It's consuming my life. I cannot accept that I will never look like the beautiful people I see in films and magazines and then I feel terrible for obsessing over something so trivial. I try to tell myself I'm being silly, but then I go overboard splurging on beauty products. I spend a good amount at spas and beauty parlours every month. My mother keeps berating me for wasting money on all this. I am dusky and extremely average looking. I want to dress like the film stars do. My pals tell me I am a drama queen and some of them even tell me that I need to see a psychiatrist. I have also thought about doing stuff like skin peeling. Am I going overboard?
— Riteeka


Illustration/Amit Bandre 

Dear Riteeka,
Your pals are right, you certainly need help. You have an OCD for looking good and dressing up. It is enough to drive anyone up the wall, no wonder your mother constantly chides you. Stop living in your dream world and learn to accept yourself the way you are. Everyone likes to dress up and look good, but you are taking things too far. Stop obsessing about your features and looking at the mirror every now and then. There are people who are vain, but you are going beyond all limits. The movie stars are paid a bomb to look how they appear. Remember that is their profession. The producer of a film pays for the costumes and styling of the stars in the movies. Instead of aping anyone, why not create your own style? Each person is unique so there is no need to fret over looks. Just be yourself.

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