[kindheartedxo]

I was just wondering I have been going threw a lot lately and I have a lot of problems ln my life and it makes me want to do absolutely nothing but stay home and eat and sleep . (sometimes not always eat) So I am wondering can stress and depression change your appearance on how you look ? Like your face , hair , body ? Make you look less attractive ? Because I feel that way and feel disgusted of myself and have lost all confidence . I feel ugly and not good looking anymore Please help me ... Need advice/opinions !?!? Would really mean a lot to me and would be VERY appreciated !! Thanks ! Xoxo

[Raindropvampire]

I do not believe that it drastically changes a person's appearance. I think it changes how we perceive ourselves. We are depressed so look in the mirror and pick apart every flaw we see and convince ourselves that we are hideous.

I have a friend that if she's happy then in her mind she's the sexiest most irresistible woman that's ever lived. When she's depressed everyone hates her and she's so ugly she should wear a paper bag on her head. Those perceptions are just in her head because when I look at her she looks the same.

[kindheartedxo]

@ Raindropvampire okay so its games the brain plays. It tricks us into believing that the more we think it ? As you said.

[Raindropvampire]

That is my belief and what I have observed on my own. I also know that there have been times that I've felt like total depressed crap and KNEW without a doubt I looked horrible. Then had hubby compliment me and got hit on when we went out. So despite how I felt and what I knew I truly couldn't have looked the way I thought I did.

I really think that it's a way for depression to continue it's cycle. We get depressed, think we are unattractive, feel even worse about ourselves, get more depressed, feel worse ad nauseam.

^ i agree, it changes how we look at ourselves. however it can also change our hygiene and habits too; e.g. not removing makeup = breakouts, greasy hair, dark shadows under eyes from not sleeping, gaining weight from binge eating... which generally just makes us feel more crappy about ourselves.

[lucami]

So I am wondering can stress and depression change your appearance on how you look ?

yeah it does. well maybe not depression/stress per se, but lack of sleep, oversleeping, not eating well, etc it all affects body a lot, and skin looks worse, you may have dark circles under eyes etc.