Don't look in the mirror because you won't like what you see.

Don't look in the mirror, I hate what's staring back at me.

Don't look in the mirror! They all say you look fine.

Don't look in the mirror, you know they lied last time.

Take a selfie, "Damn, I look great!"

Don't look in the mirror, though, you'll be filled with self-hate.

Cut out soda, work your ass off at the gym until you pass out.

No more sweets, no more carbs. This will help, right?

Down 38 pounds? That's great!

A week later, up six, what the hell?

Working and trying and dieting and depriving.

I thought it'd all help, but here I am gaining weight again.

Don't look in the mirror, because you won't like what you see.

Don't look in the mirror, I hate what's staring back at me.

Don't look in the mirror...

Just don't.

Body image is something that's I've struggled with for so many years, stemming from being bullied in middle school. I've had days where I look in the mirror and think I look great - outfit fits me well today, hair looks good, makeup on point. Then there're the bad days... The shirt that looked great last week makes me look like a whale today. The jeans that fit in all the right places make me look like I have thunder thighs and makes my ass look flat. My hair won't do what I want... Mascara is all clumpy and I know I have to work out today so wearing makeup is pointless. I have those days where I change my outfit four or five times so I feel like I look decent, and even then, "decent" is being used loosely.

Everyone says that I look fine, I look good, and some even go so far as to tell me I am beautiful or gorgeous. It really makes my day and I smile and say thank you, but deep down in the back of my mind that little voice reminds me, "They're lying, how could anyone ever find you attractive?" and I'm right back to where I began.

Body image issues aren't something to mess with. When someone, girl or guy (yes - it isn't just girls) freaks out about how they look, or stands in front of the mirror and bawls their eyes out because no matter what they do they'll never meet society's beauty standards and fear they'll never be beautiful to themselves, don't tell them that they're overreacting. Don't say, "Oh, God, stop it." Don't take it lightly. Ever.

If you're reading this and you have body image issues just like me, if there's anything to take out of this, you are beautiful. Take it from somebody who struggles just like you.