Negative Body Image and Autism

I think these things often come as extremes with autism. There are those that really aren't bothered by their appearance at all. And there are people who are very susceptible to things like body dsymorphia.

I don't think I have any issues with body dysmorphia but I am extremely body conscious. I wear clothes that cover as much of my body as possible. If it's very hot and I resort to wearing shorts I am very self conscious about it. I will not change in front of people or anything like that and I won't go swimming as I don't like wearing swimming costumes.

I don't know whether I would always have been like this or whether it is a result of years of bullying. 

Puberty didn't help me as a child. I had quite bad acne on my chest and back which isn't a great look for a teenage girl. I don't know whether this was what triggered my extreme self consciousness.

Me too re the clothes. My usual attire is jeggings, a jumper and dark coloured trainers. I prefer the winter as it allows me to dress this way. In the summer it’s a t-shirt instead of a jumper. I do occasionally wear a dress in the summer if the mood takes me or if it’s so ridiculously hot that I can’t handle wearing anything more than a dress! I do sometimes like getting dressed up if I have somewhere nice to go in the evening. I don’t do shorts though. It’s not a body image thing, I just don’t feel comfortable having everything on show. I can’t get changed in front of people either, though someone really needs to send my daughter’s that memo (I am always getting burst in on when I’m trying to get dressed!). I had acne in my early teens too but I don’t think that’s the reason that I don’t like showing too much flesh, I just like to keep my body private.

Me too re the clothes. My usual attire is jeggings, a jumper and dark coloured trainers. I prefer the winter as it allows me to dress this way. In the summer it’s a t-shirt instead of a jumper. I do occasionally wear a dress in the summer if the mood takes me or if it’s so ridiculously hot that I can’t handle wearing anything more than a dress! I do sometimes like getting dressed up if I have somewhere nice to go in the evening. I don’t do shorts though. It’s not a body image thing, I just don’t feel comfortable having everything on show. I can’t get changed in front of people either, though someone really needs to send my daughter’s that memo (I am always getting burst in on when I’m trying to get dressed!). I had acne in my early teens too but I don’t think that’s the reason that I don’t like showing too much flesh, I just like to keep my body private.

I don't think I'm particularly dysmorphic, think I'm more inclined to ignore my appearance and be oblivious. I put on a lot of weight for a few years when I gave up smoking and didn't like that - but as soon as I'm not actually looking in a mirror I forget all about it even then - and I always tend to think I look fine - even if I'm 4 stone overweight and look like a sack of potatoes in reality. Eventually I lost the weight whilst I was ill which was handy as I suspect there's no chance I'd ever diet successfully. When I was young, I couldn't relate my mirror image to myself at all - it seemed entirely like a third party - I probably still feel like that. I have very little sense of having any exterior at all. I dress to mirror my surroundings usually, people complain that I 'change' all the time - actually I'm really stable in my self-presentation, what they mean is that my clothes will reflect my current job or, when I was younger, some social identity I was 'trying on for size' before getting bored/disillusioned and moving on. Or just what was on special offer last time I needed clothes. I tend to buy 6 identical or near identical garments at the same time. I only wear black, grey, or blue clothes so I don't have to separate laundry or worry about what matches. Left to my own devices I like close-fitting stretchy stuff as I don't really like clothes at all and so like stuff that sort of models around my body and gives unnoticeably as I move as much as possible. My skin is really sensitive and I can't stand anything but smooth, breathable fibres near my skin. I can't stand anything loose that flaps about getting caught on door handles etc or jewellery I have to remember to take off for the shower or which clatters against keyboards. I've tried wearing both women's and men's clothing, I find each generally uncomfortable in its own way. My feet are too big for women's shoes so I generally wear men's shoes. The past few years, I wear stretchy knitted tunics with bamboo or cotton leggings in winter and loose-but-fitted cotton or silk tunics in summer with leggings. This is respectable enough for work but comfy enough for home so saves having to think about it ever. I break out into hiking kit if I'm hiking or camping. When I was young, I was thought to have a style, now I just want to be unnoticeable.

Hoodies are my favourite item of clothing. I like to wear my hood up. Even inside. I think it's like a comfort. I can hide under it too. I don't really like being seen out in public when I'm on my own (no idea why) and so I tend to go everywhere with my hood up. Definitely prefer winter for these reasons. But I am really sensitive to the cold so for that reason I hate winter. I wish I could hibernate.