I am new here

[Ironmaiden3122]

Hello everybody.  I have been meaning to join this place for awhile now and finally had the courage to do so.  Maybe my story is common or maybe not, I am not sure.  This issue started when I was about 13 and had a falling out with all of my friends and ended up spending all my at home watching tv and eating bad foods because I had no friends and nothing to do.  I noticed the man boobs and then followed by the love handles.  So while I was still able to live a normal high school life and had friends and little issues, I still had to be careful of the shirts I wore and could not dress how I wanted.  this has continued throughout my life and I have learned to live with it, but looking back it has severely damaged my quality of life.  The self consiousness, the buying shirts I can't wear because of the material not being thick enough, and not being able to go swimming or the beach or do the things everybody else does.  A lifetime of low self confidence and worrying what others think and cringing when I look in the mirror.  Now that I am getting older, I feel like I can't just ignore this anymore and am thinking about surgery options.  But joining this forum is a huge step for me.  I am in tears just typing this because I have never been able to even talk about this with anybody and have felt so alone for so many years and decades.  I didn't know there were others out there like me.  Anyways, that is the basics of my story.  thanks for listening 

[WPW717]

Many like you
Many have gotten here via other paths 

Welcome aboard, lots to learn from lots of different people.

Read on …

[LukeC]

Welcome

[Parity]

  Welcome Ironmaiden.  Life is hard when society builds boxes that they deem the standard and acceptable. Many don't fit in the box by no fault of their own.  The outsiders.  They shame those outsiders and look at them as odd and not acceptable.  This is wrong.  I feel shame is given but we don't have to accept it.  Many time ones physical shape is out of ones control.  Other times it's driven by events happening around them.  Everyone has to say to themselves that not everyone is educated in all maters.  They don't understand the why one is over weigh or as a man developed breast, you pick the issue.  It's their problem if they don't want to understand.  I, we, YOU must learn we are unique and special people.  

  I feel it took a lot of courage to openly say how you feel.  A huge step forward.  Good for you!  

  I hope you learn that your not alone and many of us here have learned how to live with it and live a healthy life in spite of having breast. The biggest step is accepting yourself.  Then what others say and think will not matter.

  To shame, look at disparagingly, mock and ridicule is easy.  It takes someone with strength, courage and backbone to chin up and live. 

Best to ya mate.  Chin up,keep talking and reading.  Your not the only one dealing with appearance issues.   I love me and others despite their appearance. Someone with good character is who I like to chum with.

Parity