Mischa Barton Has Big Self-Esteem Issues !!

Mischa Barton`s personal demons not only included a DUI arrest, relationship breakups and a hospitalization at a psychiatric ward – the actress also struggled with a fluctuating weight and body image.

"She has big self-esteem issues. … She hates her legs," says a source close to Barton. "She isn`t comfortable with her body. It`s been a big source of stress and self-hate."

Speculation about 23-year-old actress`s weight and nasty comments from tabloids and blogs also fueled insecurity.

"She had a big problem with those photos of her cellulite. … She didn`t like it," says another source. "That just was something that contributed to her spiraling but she didn`t do much to fix it because of her partying."

While another friend tells PEOPLE the photos upset the former O.C. star – "[She was] more pissed off than hurt and she complained a lot about that" – she didn`t let them get "to her too much. … I never saw her diet."

But when photos showed a thinner Barton, she took to her blog and spoke out about the "crazy press," telling fans that she`s "happier and healthier than ever so there`s no need to worry about me."

"Just be happy and secure with yourself," she wrote on her Web site. "Don`t let other people`s perceptions of you dictate the way you live your life."

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