If you have concerns about your body image then you are just the same as nearly everyone else before they tried Naturism. You are certainly not the first to be worried about your body shape or size or the way that you look in general; nor will you be the last. I hope that I will be able to put your mind at rest with the following information.
I have been a Naturist for a long time; YBN has many members that are completely new to both Naturism and being naked in a social setting. Prior to coming to a Naturist setting many people worry about their shapes and sizes, religions and creed, any marks or scars that they may have on their body, tattoos, their menstrual cycles, disabilities, and whole host of other things! However; when it comes to the crunch of making their step into 'public' nudity they all have absolutely nothing to worry about.
Naturism is a great way to feel accepted and to become comfortable with your own body; most members have found that by coming to Naturist events both their overall confidence and their positivity towards their own body image has increased. Naturists are very accepting people; they see people for who they are and not what they look like. It’s not about what ‘brand’ or ‘badge’ you are wearing; it is all about you as a person.
Rest assured though, you are not alone with your initial concerns! After all; the majority of us have felt those same concerns and had those same anxieties. Like most new things; the thought of trying something often creates much more anxiety than at the actual experience itself!!
If at all when you are at an event you feel self-conscious then you are more than welcome to put something on or around you, in order to make you feel more comfortable. No-one will ever force you to take your clothes off! Naturism is all about comfort and being happy.
I hope that this helps and if you have any further questions about this or YBN or just Naturism in general please do not hesitate to ask.
Daryl
BN Youth Officer (YBN)
