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I'm unhappy about myself or my body

Too short?  Too tall?  Nose too big?  Don’t feel attractive or likeable?

Body image or self-esteem issues are very common; most young people will go through times when they feel unhappy with their looks or themselves as a person.

How's your self-esteem?  Take a quiz.

Find out more

Read more about body-image and self-esteem by following the links.

Here are a few more tips to improve your self-esteem.

Read more on how one young person, David, overcame his body image issues.

Talk to someone you know and trust

Talking to someone about your thoughts and feelings can be very helpful.  It feels good to offload and the other person may offer you some good advice, or help you find the right support.  Here are some great tips to help you talk to someone you trust.

Get professional support

If your body-image or self-esteem issues become severe and lead to other problems such as depression, anxiety or self-harm, you may need professional help.

If this is true for you, then talk to someone at school, or to your GP, about making a referral to Merton's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).  You can also search this directory for help with other concerns such as depression or anxiety.

More help and support

The Samaritans are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Call free on 116 123.

Information on You & Your Body is available on the Childline website, or you can call them on 0800 1111 for support.

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