Body image issues involve feeling unsatisfied with your physical appearance. While everyone’s path to body positivity is unique, there are many ways to improve negative feelings and gain more confidence.
A negative self-image (akabody image issues) means a person feels like their body isn’t good enough. But obvi, that definition is pretty basic. Symptoms can range from being a bit bummed about your bod to feeling totally overwhelmed byself-doubt.
Here’s a deeper dive into what itreallymeans to have body insecurity. We also have a rundown of the best ways to cope, possible causes, and symptoms to look out for.
Signs and symptoms of body image issues
Body insecurity symptoms can varya lotfrom person to person. But there are some typical ones to look out for. You might have body image issues if you:
How do I get rid of body image issues?
Chances are you won’t be able to solve your body image issues overnight. For most people, it takes a lot of time, effort, andself-care. Here are five tips to help you on your journey.
1. Spend less time on social media
Influencersaren’t the only ones who push unrealistic beauty standards.
Studiesshow media as a whole can influence a person’s perception of what a typical, healthy body should look like. It’s also super easy to compare yourself to the random everyday people you see during adoomscrollingsesh.
Try to take a break from social media. And remember, most of what you see on social media is an idealized version of a person’s life. It’s not reality.
2. Block the haters
Anyone who is making you feel badly about yourself doesnotdeserve to have you in their life. So attempt to cut out the people who trigger your body image issues. Of course, this is easier said than done.
You can’t always avoidtoxic people, especially if they’re part of your social circle. It can also be hella hard to stand up to certain family members orco-workers. If that’s the case, there are still constructive ways to deal with them.
Here are some tips:
3. Try therapy
If therapy is an option for you, you might consider tryingcognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which has beenshownto improve the symptoms of negative body image.
CBTcan help you identify negative thought patterns and replace them with positive ones. It can also help you get to the root of your feelings, and that can be very healing.
4. Try medication
Ain’t no shame in the meds game! According toresearch from 2008, some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (aka SSRIs) may be prescribed to treat body image issues.
But keep in mind that meds aren’t for everyone. You should have an honest chat with a healthcare professional about your symptoms. They can let you know which medications or other treatments will work best for your unique needs.
5. Get regular physical activity
Working out helps your body and mind in lots of wonderful ways.
A regularworkout routinecanimprove self-esteem, and cardio can help pump up the volume onendorphin production, which can boost your mood.
In fact, a2019 research reviewfound that aerobic exercise can have an antidepressant effect.
What causes body image issues?
Again, body images issues aren’t a one-size-fits-all situation. But there are some common components that can play a part.
Negative body imagecan be triggered by:
Negative body image can also be a symptom ofbody dysmorphic disorder (BDD). This is a mental health condition that involves being overly focused on perceived flaws in your appearance. Ittypically happensin adolescence but can def affect adults too.
Who is most likely to be affected by body image?
Anyonecan experience a negative self-image at any point in their life.
However, it might be more common in those who identify asLGBTQIA+. According to theNational Eating Disorders Association, some people inLGBTQ+communities are at a greater risk ofdisordered eatingand negative body image.
Additionally, someresearchsuggests that those who are assigned male at birth are socially conditioned to cope with body insecurity better than those who are assigned female at birth. But we need a lot more research to understand this.
Can image issues lead to health problems?
Yep. Having a negative body image isassociatedwith various other health concerns. Studies show those who have a poor self-image might be at an increased risk of:
Body image issues are very common and extremely complex. They can stem from childhood trauma, unrealistic beauty standards, and personal views of what an attractive body should look like.
While body insecurity can affect each person differently, there are some common signs, such as feeling unworthy, unsatisfied, or unfulfilled because of the way you look.
Some folks may also take extreme measures to hit a certain body weight or spend an excessive amount of time worrying about their appearance.
Developing a better body image tends to take a lot ofself-care. Here are some tips that may help:
And remember, you’re absolutely beautiful just the way you are ❤️.
