Do you take care to look presentable and nice?

[Ronin]

I care, I just fail.

& Severe body dysphoria. I rarely feel in my skin / well in what I'm wearing. The closest I get to feeling myself is some sort of an uniform, because it reminds me of times everyone was wearing it / it didn't matter as much as what the hell I was up to doing, and doing it right. All around I prefer to focus on acts & purpose than looks & presentation, as thinking those over drives me bonkers.

 

[Deadman]

The closest I get to feeling myself is some sort of an uniform

Hmmm. Interesting. That may be exactly what I'm doing too.

 

[Changing4Best]

I've never had to wear a uniform that I recall. I never really thought about how it might make one feel. Thanks for sharing your experiences, folks.

 

[Deleted member 37085]

Trying to not concentrate as much on my appearance, rather than my attitude of gratitude and trying to keep this in alignment. Also, am learning that beauty is an inside job. I cut my magnificent long hair (after some hair loss due to '16 colon issues) and now I've cut my hair into a cute short bob, and it fits my lifestyle which I try to maintain a calm, serene, and healthier one.

The Velveteen Rabbit is my favorite children's book aside from Winnie The Poo for this book talks about growing older, etc. and what is more important, yes. Thanks @SheilaKathy for your post. Jade.

 

[Deleted member 541]

Yes! Although I am a jeans and tee shirt person, I always have on clean clothes, makeup and hair is done. I believe that by keeping up with my appearance that it helps with my emotional self. Look ok, feel ok. Look like shit, feel like shit!

 

[Changing4Best]

Yup, jeans and a T-shirt and a sweater for me, as I am cold natured. Also, I feel it is important to change my cloths every day, because I have a bad habit of sleeping in them and then wearing them the next day too, if I don't watch myself. So I think it is good to have variety in the way I look day to day.

 

[Lionheart]

Clean and comfortable are my usual choices for clothing, I will dress up a bit if the occasion calls for it, but dressy-casual is as far as I go with it. I try to make a neat, well-kempt appearance most of the time but, there are days when I just "slum" it too.

so I guess my answer is a yes, most of the time.

 

[MrMoonlight]

Recently I started "loving myself" (heard someone use that expression) by showering every morning and dressing well. Embarrassing to say but I have been in a bad place for some time and have been trying to make some changes in my life. Guess this was my first step...and for me is making me feel just a tiny bit better.

 

[woundedmind]

I have Body Dysmorphic Disorder in addition to my CPTSD and a variety of other things mental and physical, which seem to stem from the prolonged fear response and related adrenaline release may have caused constant inflammation in my body, which possibly led to a lot of what's going wrong with me.

Long story short, my grooming habits have gone from fairly normal to extremely minimal. I don't think anything as far as grooming will create any positive result in how people treat me or in being desireable for a relationship; the only thing I think it can create is more attention for potential sexual abuse by people that I would never welcome such attention from. I purposefully gained a lot of weight, which with my medical problems and medication I take, I haven't been able to lose by much except inadvertently by having high blood sugar and losing weight through loss of muscle mass as my body burns through muscle instead of the sugar in my blood. I live in a facility for disabled veterans and a homeless look is not unusual and thus rarely remarked on.

 

[Deleted member 37474]

The more I feel a mess on the inside, the more "put together" I will look. Kind of a structure during chaos sort of thing. Most therapy appointments... I look fixed up. (Still just in jeans/shirt).

Comfort is very important to me.
I have never been one to wear a lot of make up. Aim for natural. I look 10 years younger than I am according to T. Since the teenagers that I work with compliment me, maybe I am influenced by them on some things like shoes or hair. Or maybe I have been so stuck in my trauma this year that I am mentally presenting as age 19. Who knows?

When I feel good on the inside, my hair is more of a messy up do. Much different than the put together me that my T sees.

 

[Deleted member 41318]

Nope. Stopped caring. I'm a crazy old man in the woods. I have no problem looking like one.

Used to....so many insults to injury later, or whatever the reason, I don't buy five blade shavers, the bath area is stark without
unneeded accessories, and I prefer not to have to keep the area for hygiene scrubbed. So, while folks might take acceptation to my hair or farmers tan....I'm ok with it. Granted this is in older age.

 

[RandyMac]

There are times when I can't look at myself in a mirror, for fear of seeing that stranger.
I mostly dress for comfort and warmth.
I used to enjoy being spiffy, now I often don't care.