The Body Image Problem
What defines the line between looking good and feeling good looking?
Confidence. This is the answer. We are ingrained with multimedia messages berating us to look a certain way, so much so that many articles have been written on the subject. Self-esteem tends to get moulded in this argument, around how to be the person on the screens we have and how to be okay without being like them.
If it is not the screens that showcase this, then the people in our relationships reinforce it because of the screens. The clients I have had the privilege of seeing seem to support me in this. Be it people or electronic devices, the body image problem is a notable one to grapple with.
The body image problem persists to invade the hearts and minds of society today. This is especially true for the young and able. From teenagers to young adults, I have been witness to several cases where weight, body shape and exterior parts have been expressed with deep disgust.
Clients have been overwhelmed by their own physical appearance, which affects their mental perception of others and themselves drastically. One common pattern of the body image problem is the compulsive act of comparison. Consistently measuring up to others destroys confidence and shatters self-identity.
Suddenly, they render themselves into a submissive struggle for existence. They lose their focus on meaning and have no capacity for purpose, not even ones they had before. They succumb to this cycle of abusive thoughts and emotions. They become their worst enemy, and best critic.
The lack of confidence drives the lack of ambition to do something about it, and that pushes confidence lower in return. What is getting done here revolves around actively trying to appease the anxiety that springs from this cycle. The deep anxiety permeates the person, sending them into states of panic actions.
Binging, purging, skin-picking and starving are just some of the behaviours I will mention. It is painful to see, and worst to experience. The despairing thing about it is that the anxiety is only temporarily gone when this happens. It will return because it is not the main issue here. The body image problem is more than panic actions and the anxiety that creates it.
The missing piece to this is the longing to be accepted, to be ultimately cared for and cared about. We desire compassionate connection and live to gain it using whatever means necessary sometimes. The fact that we search for this within by attacking body image is evidence of how we were not shown healthy love during essential periods of time.
Childhood and upbringing are often culprits here, with meaningful security established through caregiver relationships. However, the body image problem can also derive from traumatic relationships with others outside of that too. All that to say, this simply occurs when someone hurts enough in a relationship and associates that with their bodies.
If you are going through this, it does not have to continue. Please reach out or get in touch with us. We will be ready to support you and overcome it together.
