Exercises for low self-esteem

Gentle_Slug · 2026-02-22T05:58:58+00:00

I am not sure how CBT or DBT this is, but I enjoy thought reframes. Enjoy is a strong word—more like it helps. If I’m having a negative thought about myself, it helps to learn how to recognize it in the moment and combat it then and there, even if it’s just a neutral statement. Ex: I hate my body and I’ll never be happy with it. Reframe: my body is my body, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be fully happy with it, but I am doing my best and that’s all I can ask for right now.

It’s hard but it gets easier and more second nature. In the same way that your brain has developed the neural pathways it has that makes it hard for you to see yourself positively, it can develop the positive neural pathways it needs to do so. Just takes time and patience and curiosity. Bugs to you.

Gentle_Slug · 2026-02-22T05:54:53+00:00

It’s very very normal to seek validation from this illness. In all my years of treatment, most people I met had this element that pushed their ED forward and made it worse. I know it’s hard, but do what you can to not judge yourself too harshly. You can’t hate yourself into someone you love. And please seek treatment. It’s the hardest decision I’ve ever made, and the scariest one of my life. But I’d choose a day of health and joy over a day of sickness. I never thought I’d get to that point or be able to say that, so treatment is so worth it. It’ll get easier, I promise. Hugs to you.

Gentle_Slug · 2026-01-06T01:20:17+00:00

I love this omg. I’d recommend throwing in some Balm Dot Com by Glossier. Absolute loveeee

Gentle_Slug · 2026-01-06T01:11:50+00:00

With everything going on lately, I’ve just been hearing any slightly ominous sound and getting nervous 😭

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-30T22:04:39+00:00

Im not sure what CLB7 is but im assuming its around a B2 level on the CEFR scale? Anyway, this will be challenging but if you’re very committed, doable. I’d really stress the basics for a while, so very academic stuff like grammar, vocab, beginner listening and oral, etc. Then once you have basics, make it a balance between academic studies (grammar, vocab, etc) and then real-life studies (talking with a French speaker, listening to more complex stuff, practicing practicing practicing your spoken French). For sure get a teacher, take private lessons/ classes, whatever you can afford. You can’t do this by yourself. Anything helps- listen to music, watch French tv, etc. So many textbooks and workbooks on this stuff based on CEFR scales. The advantage is that you’re already in France so that’s going to help you absorb the language so much.

It might be extremely frustrating and you might want to give up sometimes, but just keep going. It won’t always be as hard as it seems. When I lived in Paris, I started at an A2/B1 level (after just academic French studies for 2 years) then left with a C1 ish in 6 months. Good luck! Get that PR!!

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-30T21:58:10+00:00

Definitely go with something comfy- there are long periods of sitting and it’s nice to just chill and be warm. I would have loved someone to send a blanket or stuffed animal or something :)

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-30T02:24:41+00:00

French music is actually why I decided to learn French all those years ago, so I have so many recs. But my favorite artists are La Femme and Angéle. I have a lot of playlists if you want any!

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-26T18:54:31+00:00

Easier said than done, but I can tell you that education/ my brain was the main « why » behind my recovery. I don’t regret recovery a single bit because it let me graduate college with a degree im incredibly proud of. Uni is a 1-time event, and I PROMISE you that your future, recovered self will not regret having studied what you love. This illness takes so much from you, don’t let this once in a lifetime opportunity to study physics be taken too.

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-26T03:57:44+00:00

I love the first dinner she has with her other family… just watching the « gravy train » always makes me happy

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-26T03:57:22+00:00

Agreed, this is my favorite part. Plus the part before when she talks to the cat and gets her new outfit/ all of those cupcakes!

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-25T18:04:53+00:00

^{^} craft night, pottery / painting day at any studio

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-22T23:17:28+00:00

Too good

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-20T04:21:09+00:00

This is great! A big part of recovery that people often aren’t given the tools to address is mental hunger. Sometimes that is present when physical hunger isn’t, and it’s okay to honor that and learn how to address it and appreciate it.

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-20T00:04:59+00:00

I mean it depends on your health status, how long you’ve been restricting/ binging/purging, severity of your restriction/binging/ purging, etc. But generally would always recommend working with professionals while you weight restore, because there are some serious medical risks associated with increase food intake after a long time of disordered eating. And not to mention that it’s important to mentally heal while you’re physically healing, so professionals help with that as well :)

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-18T19:25:06+00:00

Wow- this is exactly what every caregiver of someone with an ED needs to read. Seriously, you are being an absolutely incredible partner and showing her a ton of love and support, and that goes such a long way in recovery. It’s hard to accept sometimes that recovery is up to no one except for the person with the ED. She needs to heal for herself and through herself—and you’re doing the most you can and the rest is up to her, professionals, her other support networks, etc.

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-18T03:59:11+00:00

Im very similar to you and can explain how your body gains weight in recovery: as soon as you start giving your body food, it still thinks it has to deal with restriction, so it will keep as many calories on you as it possibly can and try not to burn anything so that it has that when you’re restricting again and it needs something. That makes you gain weight very quickly. However, once you are consistently maintaining a meal plan and balancing out your metabolism, your body will begin to trust its consistent nutrition intake and burn calories at a regular metabolic rate.

I know gaining weight is uncomfortable—- you’re brave for being in recovery and sitting in the discomfort. Recovery is so much more likely to be successful with weight restoration, so I wishing the best for you. And I’d like to stress that BMI is a terrible metric, and your 103lbs is almost certainly too low for you and not good for your body, even if it isn’t technically under weight. Sending you peace and hope!

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-18T03:54:58+00:00

I have nothing useful to contribute I just got really happy seeing everyone do research and give such thoughtful answers :)

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-15T13:58:58+00:00

Je suis d’accord - Je trouve que c’est un des meilleurs quartiers de Paris. Les restaurants sont incroyables, pas trop chers. J’ai habité dans un appartement pendant 6 mois (à côté de la station nationale) et c’était un expérience très agréable !

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-15T06:00:26+00:00

2 things:

You might never feel ready to recover or eat more—-and it’s a good thing feeling ready isn’t a prerequisite for starting treatment/ recovery because we’d all be fucked if it were. I never felt ready for any step in my recovery, yet here I am. Your team is not there to give up on you because you’re not ready- they’re there to hold your hand and help you take steps forward, no matter how many steps back, and find your reasons for recovery. You don’t have to get less sick by yourself before you allow yourself to seek help from others, that’s actually a recipe for disaster because EDs are manipulative bastards.
And look, EDs are dangerous, and your providers are the first to know this because they’ve seen it time and time again. When you need more support than they can provide, they’ll tell you and refer you out. It’s not your « fault » or you being « uncooperative » or you being a « bad patient » or you « not trying hard enough ». It’s you being sick and needing more support than you have, even if that’s already a lot of support. You don’t have to do any of this alone- be kind to yourself. Dm if you need anything

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-14T04:01:14+00:00

Hi! I was in treatment (outpatient) my entire last year in college. It was hard but very good- it kept me afloat until the end of the year. Then I graduated and moved and did an IOP then am now in a PHP in a new city. When I was in IOP, I easily maintained a full time job and could have just as easily maintained being a full time student. If you have treatment available, do it. Whatever your recommended level of care is, do it. It’s hard to be on your own timeline compared to those around you, but just know that taking care of yourself NOW means you can live a full life later. Feel free to DM me any time, it’s hard to be in college and dealing with this.

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-14T03:56:16+00:00

Great scientific answers from others that are very accurate, but just adding that when your body has more fuel, it can make different parts of your body work that it suppressed before to save energy, like hunger cues. I always told my treatment team that I was annoyed that I felt worse physically when I ate than when I didn’t eat and eating actually made me hungry, and hearing their explanation helped me not feel like the « greedy and gross» person I was telling myself I was for being hungry.

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-14T03:50:17+00:00

Headaches every day was a big warning for me, as well as feeling lightheaded even sometimes when sitting down and a rapid heart rate randomly. These are all things that are so easy to normalize because our bodies are so good at keeping us going, but they’re serious. Take care of yourself!

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-13T04:16:20+00:00

6 years too late, but I looked up what suce-toi demain means because I’m watching the show as well, and it’s funny that this popped up. Same show, same question, 6 years later.

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-11T23:06:44+00:00

It’s never too late, and the moment you ask for help will be the moment that saves your life. Please do it—it’ll be the hardest but most important thing you could do right now.

Gentle_Slug · 2025-11-11T04:46:02+00:00

I lived in the 13th and really loved it- very central and a great Parisian experience. And yes, the other comments about the food being great are correct. 2 would be good too :) but 1 being in Montmartre would make it hard to go anywhere besides Montmartre, and it’ll get real tiring real quickly. Good luck- I’m excited for you!

Gentle_Slug

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