There's a lot of body hating going on these days.

It seems to be more commonly girls but there's a lot of guys that do it too, don't be mistaken.

Body hating doesn't have a clear cut definition and it changes from person to person, but it usually follows a fairly common set of rules. It's often when a person focuses on one particular thing about their physical appearance that they don't like and then repeatedly voice their dislike in their thoughts (and sometimes speech). Be it weight, body shape, a feature of the face, a physical disfigurement or anything else, body hate is a damaging experience that always lowers self-esteem and self-confidence.

Can body hate be stopped? It doesn't often feel like it when you're body hating, but yes, it can.

Let's go through a few ways you can try and reduce/stop your body hate.

Focusing on the Positive

If you have something you like about your body or personality, focus on that. Try and put as much effort and attention into that.

Sticky Reminders

Whenever you get a compliment, note it down. Later, or whenever you feel comfortable, copy it onto a post-it note and stick it onto your mirror. Over time, you'll have an array of different compliments from people that all counter what you see. Remember - your eyes are not telling the truth, but other people are.

Identifying a Cause

Identifying a cause of your body hate can be tricky sometimes, so it's something you can work on over time. If that boy in primary school is the reason you don't like your skin, banish him from your thoughts.

Next time you catch yourself body hating on your skin, try telling it - telling that boy, for example - that it's wrong and it isn't welcome in your mind. The more you fight the negative thoughts, the weaker they'll get with time.

If it feels like you're lying to yourself, it doesn't matter - your thoughts are lying to you. They only seem true because they've been reinforcing themselves over time.