Is it normal to wear a coat all the time?

42% Normal

I'm 18, go to college. And when I'm out, I always have to wear a coat, even if it's a boiling hot day or I'm indoors. It's like a mental block. I just can't take it off.

Is it normal to feel like this? I've been doing it for years now, and there are very few people I feel comfortable with getting down to just a layer or two of clothing.

Covering up is like a security thing for me. I'm really self conscious otherwise.

Is it normal? And how do I beak out of this?

I'm worried the people I know at college will say something if I start changing my habits now. As well as comment on my body, since they're not the nicest of people, and I'm definitely not the most stunning girl..

Voting Results

42% Normal

Based on 243 votes (103 yes)

Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!

[ Report Post ]

Comments ( 32 )

SuperBenzid

10 years ago

I genuinely feel for you, I can understand what it must be like living with this insecurity.

One suggestion I have is go for a walk while wearing sunglasses and without the coat. Many people in similar situations find that wearing sunglasses helps them make steps to rid themselves of these kind of issues. Start small just go for walks at first and then when you're ready take the next step.

Comment Hidden ( show )

5

5
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  10 years ago
  
  There are times I can make myself walk around without my coat on, but only when I'm miles away where nobody who I know would be there, and as long as there's not many young persons around as well. I think it just stems from being bullied in the past in school, so I'm only really affected so much when I'm around my hometown where it all happened or around similar kinds of people to those that made my life a misery. And there are people in my life who I have to see on a day to day basis that I know would still have the audacity to say things if they found a reason to.
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
  - RomeoDeMontague
    
    10 years ago
    
    Well lots of kids wear sweaters and coats all the time if that helps. I know that I use to even when it was hot. I think sometimes I just was too lazy to take it off. However I am sure there is nothing to be afraid of. Love you for you. Once you do that a lot of others are probably going to appreciate you to.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
lovefatsuitgirls

7 years ago

Starting in 6th grade I noticed girls sometimes kept their coat on indoors like during class or something...when all fully zipped up I always thought it was beautiful, like they were uniquely warm and safe. :)

Comment Hidden ( show )

1

1
CoLLie94

10 years ago

I don't wear a coat all day but I can relate to not fitting in. When I was in 6th grade I moved from a small town in the mountains to a city near the beach. In the small town girls were nice and they didnt care how they looked, they wore old sneakers, jeans, and shirts. No one was isolated because of how they looked. But when I started my new school the girls were mean and laughed at how I dressed so I kept to myself but still tried to wear cooler clothes and style my hair like all the other girls, that style didn't fit me so it didn't help popularity wise. I struggled through middle school. the summer before 9th grade I decided that highschool was going to be better. I stopped trying to be what I wasn't, I wore my hair curly instead of straight like everyone else and wore jeans and shirts that I was comfortable in instead of short dresses and tight tops. High school was better because I was comfortable with myslef , i had a group of friends who had similar intrests as me and even had a couple boyfriends. The mean girls from middle school were still there but i didn't bother them and they didn't bother me. so do the same thing for college, find clothes your comfortable in and try and shed the jacket and make a couple close friends who like the aame things as you. Dont care about the mean girls they are too worried about themselves and if they're rude you will have friend to back you up.

Comment Hidden ( show )

1

1
JuneB

10 years ago

I did that with a hoodie in high school. I just liked the feeling of something wrapped around me. I don't know, I grew out of it...still like the feeling, but I don't need to wear a hoodie all day every day. I think it's normal enough.

Comment Hidden ( show )

1

1
Avant-Garde

10 years ago

Yes. It is like a security blanket. Do you happen to be very thin? People who are very thin tend to have a tendency of being colder than people who weigh more. There have been times where the heat outside was boiling yet, I was chilly and wore some type of jacket or thick hooded sweatshirt. I have gotten incredulous comments and annoying questions as a result of this.

Comment Hidden ( show )

1

1
- DiamondGirl
  
  10 years ago
  
  That's not true i'm not very thin, and I get chills quite often. Sometimes I have to take two hot baths just to stay warm.
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
  - Avant-Garde
    
    10 years ago
    
    This was a statement by an expert that I read about some years ago. It does make sense when you think about it. A person who is heavier has more fat and the fat keeps them warmer. It serves the same actions as blubber on a whale. Of course, there are other factors that can affect the way a person feels temperature.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
  - Anonymous Post Author
    
    10 years ago
    
    I don't think it's true at all really. It's more about blood circulation than anything.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  10 years ago
  
  I am quite thin, yes. Actually I often have to use that as an excuse when people poke comments at me for why I'm wearing a coat on such a hot day.
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
handsignals

10 years ago

Even when you take a shower, go swimming have sex ect.

Comment Hidden ( show )

1

1
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  10 years ago
  
  No, showering with a coat on would be silly. I used to love swimming, but I don't do it anymore. Again- due to insecurities. I've reluctantly opened up to partners I thought I could trust in the past, been treated like shit, and convinced myself it's down to there being something wrong with me. Don't think I'll be doing that again anytime soon.
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
  - handsignals
    
    10 years ago
    
    So it's not about you wearing a coat, you have body issues?
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      10 years ago
      
      I guess so. I certainly don't go around wearing a coat all the time because I enjoy being hot and uncomfortable, that's for sure.
      
      Comment Hidden ( show )
      
      0
      
      0
- Shroot
  
  10 years ago
  
  Does she sound like someone who has sex?
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  -2
  
  -2
robbieforgotpw

9 years ago

I like powerdumping

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
Cherrybombpieee

10 years ago

I was like that back in school the jacket was like a safety blanket it made me feel like i was able to walk with it i never took it off

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
Shelbs

10 years ago

At first I thought OCD? Then I read the bit about an insecurity.

I used to have a ton of insecurities because I was sooo skinny and so I wore baggy pants to hide my skinny legs. And the ironic thing is that I eventually developed an eating disorder. I don't know when it exactly happened, but sometime towards the end of high school I was just like "You know what? screw it!" I just got tiered of being so insecure about so many things. And so I began my journey of changing my mindset. With that came a change in what I wore and how I carried myself. It was a decision that I made to love myself instead of hate myself. It took years before the small things I did to improve my self-esteem made an impact and became permanent. But it never would have happened had I not decided to do something about it. You'll have to make a decision one day that you're just going to throw it all away and start fresh. If you don't come to that conclusion then it will just slowly eat away at you. And don't worry about what the other kids think about your new style. Wear something different one day to fight your negative mindset, and keep doing it. In the beginning it will feel like a battle between you and apart of your mind. But eventually that part of your mind will begin to fade. And when you look back those days will just be a distant memory. Work on yourself while you're young so that you don't look back and regret not doing it sooner.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
lemoncity

10 years ago

One of my close friends wears her jacket or coat with the hood up whenever she can, and she's thin also. Since it's winter time though it doesn't look weird if she feels like leaving it on all day. Also when I was in middle school I would try to always wear long sleeves because I thought I would 'die' if people saw that I had a bit of hair on my arms. I was also bullied pretty bad in high school even though I had some friends there. I have therapy now and it's fun.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
DiamondGirl

10 years ago

Bullshit, you don't have to b stunning, Who gives a shit what a bunch of assholes think! Unless you have scars or burns all over, theres no reason to wear it. What ever u r it's too goddamm bad if they don't like it. Don't let other people control your life! Im sure there bodies are not perfect and even if they r then there must b something else wrong with them! Look Closer!

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  10 years ago
  
  In this society, it certainly feels like you have to. Big boobs, thin thighs, flat stomach, hairless skin, great ass, the list goes on. It's what's expected of women these days. The pressure is enormous.
  
  I'm far from the ideal perception the media bombards us with. I know most people are as well. But I'm just all around ugly looking. There's not one single thing I like about myself.
  
  I wish I could just go out there and be myself, stand up for myself. But in the past I've had every comment you can think of slung at me, and it makes it very difficult to defend yourself sometimes with all these going around in your head. I normally end up just bursting into tears if I put myself in that position- it's much easier to hide away and not have to deal with it.
  
  I don't have scars all over, but I do have them quite bad on my upper thighs and upper arms and shoulders, and a few on my stomach, as well as a few on my wrist (luckily most of them on my wrist have faded though) where I used to cut. It makes it difficult sometimes to find other clothes to wear, but it could be a lot worse.
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  1
  
  1
  - megadriver
    
    10 years ago
    
    I feel for you. I'm a guy and I hate the standard the media forces on men and women! TV producers can kiss my cock!
    Back on topic!
    Don't think that! I bet you any money that you are a lovely beautiful person, that is just insecure, cause of crappy friends/ classmates/ >insert generic people here<. Most times, the girl that thinks she is ugly, is amongst the prettiest, but just doesn't know it.
    Don't think of what people think of you. You are free to do whatever you want. Why bind yourself like that?!
    You are making your own "prison" with the coat thing.
    You got time to enjoy the things life has to offer and please don't cut yourself. You seem to be an intelligent person, given the fact of how many times you have replied and the information in the reply/ poll.
    And tell me. What good will isolating yourself do? You will feel worse.
    Why should you suffer and cry, while others laugh and cheer? You shouldn't! It's rubbish! You are as good, if not better, than all of your collegues and friends.
    
    Truth be told: Noone is perfect. Those friends and classmates of yours aren't all superstars and models. Are they? No, they are not. I bet my teeth on it! I used to feel somewhat insecure too. I was overweight back in school. I was the strongest in my class, but still, the boys would make fun and the girls would avoid me. I was that fat kid that sat in the first row and talked about cars to his, then, only best friend. I did not let that bring me down in the long run. One day I said: "Screw this. I am not going to ruin my life, cause of other people". I dealt with that insecurity. I found a way to get the girls to like me and the boys to look up to me. Humor on the ladies. I know a lot of jokes. Girls like to laugh, they did and found that I am a guy with a nice personality. And the boys? Gym challenge. Who can lift the most. I can, befriended most of them. That changed my life. Lost weight after time and things really started rolling. 12th grade, I was at the top of the class, friend with nearly everyone, a date to prom with the coolest and prettiest girl. Now I am in the university with very good friends that I can rely on and even love. Going on trips, party at friends place every weekend, helping a mate start his car on a cold morning (His doesn't start, mine does XD) and saving up for xenon headlights for my car. Now I have a bit of a beer belly, but hey... These are the effects of Germany on a person's immage right XD.
    You can do that same thing (not the xenon headlighs, doubt you need those, or drinking large quantities of booze with frieds, watching Rambo II)! Enjoy life again!
    
    Take that coat off, do what you are good at. Make new friends. What do you like to do? You like reading? Go make friends with people that like reading stuff. Like hiking? Go on a hike. Hikers are some of the nicest people I've ever met... Have a hobby. You like carving wood. Do it. You can even make a profit. You are what you want to be.
    
    Ok, I've gone on for quite some time now, time to end this comment.
    
    I would give you a big hug 'ya know?
    I wish you the best.
    Take care love.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    3
    
    3
    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      10 years ago
      
      Just thank you. ; - ;
      
      It's really so lovely seeing all of these supportive comments I've been getting here, and knowing that not everyone is going to want to try to hurt me in someway.
      
      There /are/ good people out there. I think I just need to find them- make some real friends who will stick by my side and give me a boost when I'm feeling down, not push me spiraling down even further.
      
      I do just wish I just had someone to give me a big cuddle sometimes and just tell me that everything will be okay... But until then, I guess I'll just have to see this through on my own.
      
      It's inspiring reading your story as well and seeing how you managed to turn your life around. You're very strong and brave, and I hope I'll be able to be like that one day. Thank you.. Please take care and carry on enjoying life, you deserve it.
      
      Comment Hidden ( show )
      
      1
      
      1
  - RoseIsabella
    
    10 years ago
    
    Oh Sugar, please don't cut yourself! If you're a very thin person that might be a contributing factor to feeling cold all the time. Also people who have an under active thyroid glad tend get quite cold. The stereotype for those with hypothyroidism is to be overweight but I have met lean people with that issue too. Another symptom of a thyroid problem would be sore, stiff muscles as well as thinning hair on the eye eyebrows. I'm not a doctor so take my suggestions with a grain of salt and please don't hesitate to get yourself checked out.
    
    One last thing maybe you're using your coat as transitional object to comfort yourself which is why I mentioned security blankets and Teddy bears in my earlier comment.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      10 years ago
      
      Oh don't worry both of you. I stopped self-harming for the most part over a year ago now. I try not to think about it too much or even let the idea into slip into my head, but I don't think I'm in too much danger of starting again. It was just a coping mechanism at the time that allowed me to just shut everything else out. But really? Okay it takes some of reality away for a few minutes, but it only get's worse afterwards. It's really not worth it all the grief it brings and I realize that now.
      
      I'm sure one day I'll find a way to be happy with myself and comfortable in my own skin. I've tried talking to a councilor in college a few months back, but ended up just shutting down completely, nothing but tears and just not being able to say much. I think I just need the right people in my life to support me and give me confidence that I can be myself and to defend that.
      
      Comment Hidden ( show )
      
      0
      
      0
  - DiamondGirl
    
    10 years ago
    
    I feel very sad for u that you would cut yourself! That's horrible. I can relate to the part about hiding away, though that's beacause that's the easiest thing to do.I have done that myself just because I gained a couple of pounds. Haven't u ever seen some of the Celebs wives they're ugly as sin. So there must b something their husbands like about them. You have to keep fighting or there's no point in going on. Believe me I look like a Freak, I have Tattoos, Purple Hair, and all that matters is that I like it, not them. When I was younger I cared what other people thought like u do. But not anymore, Life does not go on forever. Dermablend would cover your scars. It's not that expensive. Just Fuck everyone. Live your life, Many people have tried to bring me down and control me. But you can't let them! If I can do it U can too.
    Someone once told me. Act as if! u get me. If anyone says anything to you, say so what, or just completely ignore them. They'll stop. I'm sure you don't look that bad. But don't compare yourself to airbrushed women in magazines. They're fake! All u need is one person on your side, then life will seem much less of a battle. I don't want to go into my whole life story but believe I had it tough. and still do. In some areas. I am older, and hopefully wiser. And Please don't cut. it makes me very sad.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
RoseIsabella

10 years ago

Baby, you need a security blanket or a teddy bear.

Comment Hidden ( show )

-2

-2
- robbieforgotpw
  
  9 years ago
  
  OP should wear the coat during the summer in Phoenix when it's 115
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  2
  
  2
  - RoseIsabella
    
    9 years ago
    
    In July it can get up to 117° here in Las Vegas.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    1
    
    1
- shuggy-chan
  
  10 years ago
  
  Or a shuggah bear
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  2
  
  2
  - RoseIsabella
    
    9 years ago
    
    Yeah Shuggs!
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0

Are You Normal?

Is it normal to wear a coat all the time?