Body image and confidence should be taken as seriously as any other medical case study both physiologically and psychologically. The way we perceive our physical body can have a direct impact on our mental state and if that perception constantly stays negative it can result in disaster.
By Team Savant
Image: Szabolcs Toth
In the UK alone, 13% of adults surveyed revealed that they had entertained suicidal thoughts based on negative body image. In addition to this, unhealthy practices such as eating disorders, anxiety and stress accompany a poor body image which ultimately leads to very low quality of life.
Exposure to unattainable celebrity bodies and photoshopped models compounds the negative feelings associated with a poor body image for both men and women while social media has also been found to play a key role as people are misled, bullied or trolled.
Personal body perception is itself classed as a psychological disorder that requires treatment and there are some techniques that you can implement for a more positive view of yourself, including:
Augmentation
Affirmation
Exercise
While controversial, augmentation is a genuinely accepted treatment for improving body confidence while strong affirmation of oneself is beneficial for the body, mind and spirit and exercise is an excellent long-term strategy for overall physical and mental health.
A Genuine Consideration
Physical augmentation is a controversial subject in many countries, and it should be. While it has been shown to result in very positive and life-changing alterations for many people, augmentation should be thought of as a last resort. Reshaping or resizing of the breasts for example (information available here) in women can cause long-lasting positive mental effects as well as alleviate genuine medical conditions associated with small or large breasts.
However, every case is different and psychological evaluation should come before any type of augmentation. In some cases, augmentation can mean more than simple cosmetic restructuring for self-affirmation. Injuries relating to severe trauma for example, such as serious facial scarring, loss of a limb or even breast cancer make the case for augmentation clear should a person wish it.
You Are Unique and Beautiful
Serious mental conditions such as body dysmorphia, where a person views themselves as disfigured, ugly or not pertaining to the standard that they regard as beautiful can stem from poor body image and negative associations with an individual’s perception of themselves and from those around them. This particular illness is commonly caused by low self-esteem and loss of confidence with depression and anxiety brought on by peer bullying, familial abuse or fear of isolation.
Once external influences have been addressed and removed then you can begin to affirm your confidence in yourself. All but the most prolific narcissists will have qualities about themselves that they do not like whether inward or outward, so you are not alone in not liking either yourself or a part of your body. But you do need to love yourself.
A great method is to concentrate on what you like and accentuate it. For example, if you like your hair, try new styles and find one you love and be kind to yourself either through healthy living, creating a good environment or meeting new people who accept you for who you are.
A Tried And Tested Method
You may have heard this a thousand times before but you should exercise to feel better. Exercising is an absolutely proven technique for a better mind as well as a better body and the negative feelings associated with a poor body image such as depression and anxiety can be alleviated by regularly running, cycling or other intense workouts.
When you exercise, your central nervous system will release two hormones known as dopamine and serotonin directly from the brain stem. These are the body’s natural chemicals that enhance your feeling of wellbeing such as when eating your favourite food, finishing a good day’s work or watching your favourite movie. A deficiency in these chemicals is linked to people who suffer from depression so promoting them as naturally as possible is encouraged.
The obvious benefit of exercising is that it will also keep you in shape and when you begin to see the improvements being made to your physical body, you will undoubtedly feel improvements to the mind. Exercise will only serve to reaffirm your positive body image and help you on your path to loving yourself once more, for the amazing person that you are.