Dear Nick:

You are welcome. My thoughts and suggestions: no use trying to not think about your body and the teasing incidents and whatever other thoughts you have, after all, this is why you termed them “intrusive thoughts”- intrusive means unwelcomed and uninvited.

Instead, of disinviting those thoughts, invite other thoughts into your awareness. As I suggested, looking at yourself in the mirror or looking at your arm (which you used to cover because of the perceived fault of it), think new thoughts that are true to reality, thoughts that are appreciative of your body/ arm, for example, how your skin, being darker, protects you from the harm of intense sun, and how your not so tall stature makes it easier on your heart, and how your body overall serves you, takes you places, how good it feels when it feels good. A mindful (slow, attentive, patient) physical activity like yoga and tai chi can help you FEEL your body in new ways and get a new appreciation for it.

New thoughts and practices can help take the focus away from these intrusive thoughts. Meditation is fine, but since your issues are with your physical body, a mindful physical practice will be better.

Overall, to deal with anxiety, focus best you can on the here-and-now. When you are troubled by something you cannot change, something that already happened, or something that could happen but you cannot prevent, think to yourself: there will always be problems. And so, one problem at a time. I will deal with the problem here-and-now, and take breaks from it to relax.

And post anytime you have more thoughts and feelings on the topic, as I may have more as well.

anita