Body Image Meaning and Challenges
What is Body Image?
Body image is often a sensitive and tender topic. We spend our whole lives in one body, and that gives us a great deal of time to think about it. The formal definition of body image is the perception and beliefs one has about their physical appearance. Body image is formed through internal and external influences over the course of a person’s life, and it is likely to change many times.
There are four factors that contribute to each person’s body image:
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Perception - how a person sees their own body
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Affective - how a person feels about how they look
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Cognitive - the thoughts and beliefs a person has about their body
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Behavioral - what a person does relative to how they perceive, feel, and think about their body
This makes body image a deeply personal topic, so it’s very important to understand an individual’s own perspective without making any assumptions or generalizations. Everyone has a body image that is unique to their life experience, physical health, mental health, cultural influences, interpersonal influences, visual media consumption, personal values and priorities, and more. That makes this a highly subjective topic, so it’s very important to understand an individual’s own perspective without making any assumptions or generalizations.
What a person sees, feels, and thinks about their body is going on internally in a way that they might not even be fully conscious of at any given time. Therefore, a friend, family member, coach, or medical professional can easily miss the signs that someone is struggling with body image.
Common Body Image Challenges
Everyone develops a body image based on countless influences. These influences include the language used within their families and social relationships, cultural or societal expectations, the media and content they consume, their interests and activities, their natural shape and body type, history of trauma or abuse, and their physical health.
An unhealthy body image can be adapted over time by many different factors. Although the following list is not at all exhaustive, it includes many of the more common reasons someone may be uncomfortable with how their body looks.
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Children, teens, and adults who consume an overwhelming amount of idealistic body content may feel that their own bodies could never look like that. This content might be about fitness, fashion, modeling, or social media influencing. The pictures and videos portray an ideal that the consumer wants for themselves.
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Athletes may become focused on their muscle-to-fat ratio or having a specific body shape in order to perform at their best. They might blame their body for any athletic deficiencies they perceive.
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People who grow up in a home where dieting, exercising, fashion, or other body topics are talked about often may assign moral value to how their body fits those expectations.
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People who are physically or sexually abused, who have a medical condition, or who have gone through physical trauma might internalize self-blame for what happened, and take this out on their body in various ways.
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Adolescents who are uncomfortable with how their body changes during puberty may go from having a very neutral body image to a very negative one in a relatively short time.
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People who have experienced significant physical change, whether desired or involuntary, can find it challenging to accept their body as it looks now.
Recognizing the Signs that Someone has an Unhealthy Body Image
There are many ways to have a healthy body image. Because body image and self-esteem are very closely linked, it’s understandable that when someone is struggling with their body image, they may also have low confidence or a low view of themselves. Therefore, an unhealthy body image can lead someone to engage in unhealthy behaviors and habits.
There is no perfect clue that someone is struggling with their body image, but there are many signs that mean someone could benefit from professional support, such as:
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Obsessing about body measurements, weight, and BMI
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Constantly comparing themselves to peers, celebrities, or content creators
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Preoccupation with their size, shape, or certain features and checking the mirror often
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Always turning the conversation to topics of looks and physical features
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Excessive fitness routine
An unhealthy body image can be a symptom of an eating disorder, or it may be a precursor to one. It may also be a symptom of other mental health disorders such as depression or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
If you are concerned that your body image is taking over your life, or you are a parent who is concerned about these symptoms in your child, please reach out for support. Recovered and Restored Eating Disorder Therapy Center offers comprehensive and compassionate treatment for mental health issues surrounding body image.
Treatment Options for Restoring a Healthy Body Image
The goal of therapy as it relates to body image is to reach neutrality and acceptance. Our entire team embraces the principles of Health at Every Size (HAES), which measures health individually. Rather than relying on looks, size, weight, or shape, HAES empowers people to view their bodies as one part of a whole healthy self.
Treatment will depend on co-occurring struggles that may be relevant to a client’s unhealthy body image. We will gently assess each client individually and develop a comprehensive treatment plan that is focused on their unique circumstances. Our therapies and services include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): We help clients identify distorted thoughts and behaviors so that they may be challenged. Clients will be supported in developing healthier thoughts and behaviors around body image.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): We will guide clients to coping skills that address their overwhelming thoughts and beliefs around body image.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): We will help clients develop strategies to focus on thoughts that promote acceptance of their bodies as they are right now.
Family Therapy: Whether the family system is focused on body image, or families are looking to participate in one member’s recovery from unhealthy body image, therapy can provide a supportive environment for communication and healing.
Body Image Support Regardless of Diagnosis
Therapy is not restricted to only individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. In fact, therapy from a qualified and knowledgeable professional is often beneficial for preventing a disorder. Anyone who is experiencing discomfort or distress in their personal body image is encouraged to reach out for support. You are worthy of making peace with your body. Your body is your home.
No matter where any one person is in their journey, compassionate help is available. You don’t need to wait until your negative body image feels impossible to change. We are here right now for you - you are definitely not alone!
Online Therapy for Restoring Your Healthy Body Image in Multiple States
Recovered and Restored provides online therapy services for anyone struggling with body image in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. All of our highly qualified and compassionate therapists and coaches are here to provide a safe and judgment-free environment for clients who want to start recovering from intrusive thoughts and unhelpful behaviors.
We work with each client to determine the scope of their individual needs, and we develop a treatment plan that is designed to meet them exactly where they are. If unhealthy body image is being impacted or influenced by past trauma, abuse, maternal mental health, athletic goals, eating disorders, or other mental health disorders, we will address those matters within the treatment plan.
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Accepting New Clients for Virtual Therapy Sessions
There is no need to wait for help and support in reclaiming a healthy body image. We are accepting new clients in Pennslyvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut, South Carolina, and Florida so that you can begin your journey to recovery as soon as you are ready.
Remember, you are not alone. Healing your relationship with your body is possible. Reach out, and we will be right there with you as you learn to accept and respect your body.