woodnorwegian Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 (edited) I've been obsessed with the idea that I may have cankles. In the film "Shallow Hal", the character explains it: — Hey, all l’m saying is she’s got cankles, for God’s sake. What? Cankles! She’s got no ankles. It’s like the calf merged with the foot, cut out the middleman. Every time I walk by my reflection in a window, etc., I can't help but stop and scrutinize my ankles. I keep on thinking they blend in with my calf. Cankles are when there is no clear demarcation between the ankles and the calves (when the ankles are basically same thickness as the calves). One day I was just walking in the mall, and when I saw my reflection in a window, I immediately zoned in my ankles, and could not get it out of my head that I had cankles, so I went and bought a new pair of shoes, thinking they would make a difference, but I'm still obsessing over it. Check out my avatar and let me know if I'm right. Edited May 22, 2010 by woodnorwegian
Ronni_W Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 There's actually only one way to answer this question for yourself. Get a measuring tape (the soft kind that tailors use) and just measure down around where you think your calves should end and your ankles should begin. Measure three or four different areas. If there's any difference in any of the measurements, you do NOT have "cankles"
Author woodnorwegian Posted May 22, 2010 Author Posted May 22, 2010 I did measure myself, and I guess I don't, but when I look in the mirror, I can't help but see that my ankles and calves as the same size.
sb129 Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 You definitely do not have cankles. Your calf is shapely and your ankle is narrow. Stop worrying.
Ronni_W Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 I did measure myself, and I guess I don't, but when I look in the mirror, I can't help but see that my ankles and calves as the same size. It's obviously some weird optical illusion, then. Do you mind if I ask how you're making it okay to be arguing with actual measurements? I mean, intellectually, how is that happening? OTOH. If your eyes REALLY can't detect the difference, then maybe you'd want to consider getting them checked just to be sure that everything's fine?
Author woodnorwegian Posted May 22, 2010 Author Posted May 22, 2010 (edited) It's obviously some weird optical illusion, then. Do you mind if I ask how you're making it okay to be arguing with actual measurements? I mean, intellectually, how is that happening? OTOH. If your eyes REALLY can't detect the difference, then maybe you'd want to consider getting them checked just to be sure that everything's fine? I think maybe I'm staring at and scrutinizing myself too much. You know when you repeat a word enough times, it starts to sound weird and foreign to your ears, or when you stare at your face long enough, you begin to strangely become detached from yourself, until looking at yourself is like looking at a stranger, and everything is distorted? I think that's what's happening with me. It's not just my ankles, but sometimes, I'll look at myself and think I have huge thighs, or I'll look at photos of myself and think, "wow, I have a gut, I need to lose weight" when everyone tells me how thin I am. Does this sound absolutely nuts? Edited May 22, 2010 by woodnorwegian
mickleb Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 I think maybe I'm staring at and scrutinizing myself too much. Correct. x
Belle Vie Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 Judging by this and your other post, my guess is that you suffer from some form of body dysmorphic disorder. No matter how much others on this forum tell you that you are NOT ugly and that you do NOT have "cankles" (which you aren't, and you don't), you continue to believe otherwise. Not only do you NOT have cankles, but your ankles are quite slim (you have the ankles that someone who actually had cankles would WANT). However, you won't believe us because you are determined to find fault with your appearance and because you are seeing yourself through psychologically distorted eyes. I also would guess that you probably need the positive feedback from this forum to continually make yourself feel better. But then, you slip back into negative thoughts and come back to the forum for more positive reinforcement. You need the help of a therapist to help you see yourself as you really are, rather than through the false perceptions you now have of yourself. I truly feel for you, and I hope that you can conquer these misperceptions and see yourself as you really are. Please realize that you aren't seeing yourself properly, and seek help. I wish you the best...good luck.
Ronni_W Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 Does this sound absolutely nuts? No, it doesn't. (That's kind of like a person who just broke a bone asking if it sounds nuts that they're saying they're in pain. It's not "nuts", it's normal for that condition ) I would strongly urge you to take Belle Vie's post very seriously, and consult with a psychotherapist...preferably one who specializes in helping others regain an accurate body image. In the meantime, you may want to utilize the free resources at self-esteem-experts and RecreateYourLife, both .com Please do take care of your self-esteem and your psychological health. Hugs, and very best of luck.
FitChick Posted May 23, 2010 Posted May 23, 2010 In the meantime, you may want to utilize the free resources at... RecreateYourLife... .com Were you aware of it already or from my posts? Just curious. It would be nice to know that someone got something useful out of my posts! I've been recommending this website and the Lefkoe Method to people on the forums because it totally changed my life and the lives of many people I know. Even people famous for their own transformational therapies rave about this. My only regret, upon experiencing how quickly I got great results was that I had spent decades being unhappy because this technique hadn't been invented yet. Not to mention all the time and money I wasted on conventional talk therapy.
Ronni_W Posted May 27, 2010 Posted May 27, 2010 Were you aware of it already or from my posts? Just curious. It would be nice to know that someone got something useful out of my posts! I'm sure many people do find much useful in your posts! Like, right now -- your caring about that uplifted and encouraged me I would guess that it was one of your posts that sent me to RecreateYourLife -- I'm sorry that I don't recall for sure...but it pro'ly had to be yours. It was a week, maybe two ago (if that helps.) And you'll be happy to know that I've suggested it to others...in real life, I mean. So...you're doing fine works and being of good service. Thanks for that -- you are much appreciated.
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