It’s a strange feeling when your body suddenly doesn’t feel like your own. One day your legs feel too long, your stomach too round, or your chest too small. Everything works fine, yet something feels “off.” This is incredibly common — almost everyone going through puberty feels foreign in their body at times.

During the teen years, your body changes faster than your brain can adjust. Hormones drive growth, weight shifts, skin and hair changes, and how your body stores fat and muscle. Meanwhile, your brain is rewiring itself — especially the parts that control self-image. That’s why you might feel uncomfortable or insecure even when nothing is actually wrong.

Your body isn’t a finished project — it’s growing, finding its rhythm, becoming yours. That means how you look and how you feel about yourself will shift over time. It’s easy to start comparing, especially when social media shows endless “perfect” bodies. But most bodies look like yours: changing, uncertain sometimes, but strong and alive.

If the feeling of your body being “wrong” starts to take over — if you avoid mirrors, food, or activities you once enjoyed — talk to someone. It doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. It means you deserve support to reconnect with yourself.

Alma’s tips:

Think of your body as a friend, not a project. It works hard every single day to let you move, laugh, sleep, and live. Say thank you to it sometimes. Try asking, “How do I feel?” instead of “How do I look?” Your body isn’t your enemy — it’s your home, even on the days it feels unfamiliar to live in it.