I suspect that most everyone is neurotic about their looks to some degree and just hiding it. Until just recently, I couldn't leave the house without full face make-up on. From the age of twelve until about a year ago, I would never leave the house without a minimum of four different types of make-up applied to my face. I even wore make-up while camping much to the derision of my camp-mates, yet still I persisted. If I ever had to leave the house without make-up (say, I woke up late), I would be so self-conscious that I would cower if I was spotted by someone I knew and I would avoid people. I couldn't hold a relaxed conversation because I was so self-conscious. A few days ago, I was walking home and I realized that I hadn't worn make-up all day and, more importantly, I hadn't thought about it all day. In fact, I couldn't remember the last time I thought about it. This may sound goofy and incredibly vain, but it wasn't really that. I was self-conscious because I couldn't see myself as presentable to other people without it. I believed that I was downright ugly without the mask. I couldn't see myself the way that others saw me. I still can't. Yet, I never, ever talked to anyone about it until recently, util I wasn't so self-conscious of my looks anymore. It would have made me feel to vulnerable to discuss it.

You lost me with the X and Y stuff.

I'm glad that you're pleased with certain aspects of your body. For me it took [a number of years that will not be disclosed*].

*appearance isn't the only thing I'm self-conscious about!