Negative body image has so many tragic outcomes. Body image affects all aspects of life. Mental health, self-esteem, essentially all the things that play a part in our overall health. So when we have poor body image, it affects all these aspects of our lives and creates a vicious cycle. Mental illnesses, which lead to eating disorders, which unfortunately could lead to much worse. In the U.S., roughly 8,000,000 people have an eating disorder. That makes up 3 percent of the U.S. total population. I don’t think that the general person really understands what it’s like to have poor body image. Anyone suffering with these outcomes of negative body image feels completely misunderstood and helpless. I’m going to speak for them.
Obviously, everyone has insecurities. There’s something we all wish we could change about ourselves, but to someone who suffers from a mental illness or has an eating disorder because of their poor body image, it isn’t just an insecurity, it becomes their focus. I’m going to do my best at describing how it truly is. Someone who suffers from the effects of poor body image doesn’t have the same mindset that others do. They will be way more affected by media, society’s ‘ideal bodies’ or ‘ideal looks’ for women or men, comments about their looks, etc. They can’t brush it off or forget about it like others may be able to do, but instead, it sticks with them. That’s what they focus on. They focus on everything they aren’t or don’t have, or think they don’t have. And to the people who say that it’s in their control, you, unfortunately, don’t understand what goes on in their minds or how their minds work, but I’ll do my best to explain.
It may be annoying, hearing someone constantly complain about themselves, about every picture you take with them or hearing them constantly comparing themselves to other women/men, but to them, that’s truly and genuinely how they feel. It’s not for attention or for compliments, because you could probably tell them that they’re the most perfect human in the world and they will still not believe it because THEY don’t believe it themselves. But instead of getting annoyed and impatient with them, honestly, please just try to understand that this is the way that they deal with it. These are their true and raw feelings towards themselves. They obviously want to believe compliments, they obviously want to believe that someone else’s beauty doesn’t diminish theirs, but it, unfortunately, isn’t that easy, at all.
It breaks my heart seeing so many people feel so negatively about themselves because of events that may have happened to them in their lives or because of society and its constant changing of the ‘perfect’ person. I feel so deeply for you and understand you more than you know, and I hope the people that suffer from these problems know that they’re not alone and that there are others just like them. People who actually understand the things that they feel that they can never seem to explain or describe, people who actually understand that they aren’t craving attention. But something that needs to be realized is that you cannot let these thoughts about yourself affect your happiness. You will only end up sabotaging your own happiness.
If you feel like anything I’m describing, this is what I have to say. Though you feel hopeless and sometimes even just lost, you cannot let it intrude on situations that could end up making you happy. These feelings about yourself are your opinion, but in reality, others may not even notice any of it. And if you let any of these things affect your happiness, you need to address it. You could miss out on so many opportunities that could benefit you, that could make you truly and genuinely happy. I know it’s hard and you want to just let the thoughts control you like you always have, but it will keep you from so many things that you need to experience in life.
Every human being should feel like the most amazing person in the world. Never better than anyone else, but they should be able to wake up and feel like they mean something and are worth something. No matter what they look like or the flaws that they have or may think they have, the person you are inside is what truly matters. And I know it’s hard to not focus on your looks, but at least always remember that it’s who you are as a person that determines your true and genuine beauty. To help with this, I’m going to share a few steps that could help improve poor body image. To help people realize that they’re more than what the media is telling them or what others may be telling them or making them believe about themselves.
- Realize that the goal of society isn’t to make their ideals seem normal or achievable, the goal is to make people believe that what they’re glorifying is better than anyone who isn’t at those standards. Be aware that the girls or guys that you wish you looked like, are photoshopped, edited, contoured, etc. No magazine is going to put a normal person on their cover, because they don’t want everyone to feel special. It’s to make their models/celebrities seem like they’re above everyone else or make them seem perfect — and perfect doesn’t exist.
- All the time that’s spent worrying about your looks, weight, calories, etc., do something to help others. Donate to the less fortunate, volunteer, set up food drives, toy drives, etc. It will take your mind off the negative thoughts, but you’re also making someone else’s day, or even making a huge impact on their lives.
- Try focusing on something other than your looks. I know it’s difficult, but even the attempt will mean something. Look at yourself as an entire being. Don’t focus only on your appearance. Focus on your mind, your personality, how you treat others or what you do for others, for yourself. The kind of person you are is what truly determines your beauty and worth. I can’t stress this enough.
- Surround yourself with people who understand you and want to help you. Not people who are going to call you annoying or stupid because of how you feel about yourself.
My main goal of this is to speak for the ones who struggle with body image, but to also let you all know that you’re more than what you look like. If you’re an amazing human being, does it really matter how much you weigh? If you treat everyone with respect and kindness, does your appearance affect that at all? I know it’s hard to think this way, because these negative thoughts about ourselves literally control how we perceive ourselves, but who you are as a human being is what is truly important. Your mental illness, your eating disorder, those things don’t and never will define you. You are above it all and need to remind yourself of it, and often. I hope this helps someone. Stay kind, to others and yourselves.
