Body Image

What do people think about body image?

Mental representation or Perception of a person what they have their body structure, beauty, body language, and feelings that result from that representation. A person’s feelings are influenced by either their self-determined criteria or socially or environmental norms. These feelings can be positive, negative, or both. The negative feelings can range from mild to severe body-hatred, and poor body image. A person’s body image strongly influences their behavior, confidence, self-esteem, and mood. Females are more affected than males and more in the urban population.

Few people’s physical looks are the primary criteria for their mental peace. In the modern era, few industries started showing Hour Glass Figure Phenomenon and broad shoulders of females & ectomorphic look of males and started selling cosmetics, sports materials for being thin rather than healthier. These thoughts have a great impact on the general population and the person started running behind this perfect figure. Those who have such kind of body, beauty, look considered as perfect and become role models of modern society. The multimedia advertisement has given a push to such kind of thoughts and behavior. People started expecting more and more visitor’s likes, shares, and comments after posting such pictures on social media.

What are the reasons to boost body image in few people?

Stressful life, unemployment, competitive success, histrionic personality, being bullied, relationship problems like breakups, separation, and divorce can precipitate behavior that leads to body image consciousness.

Physical, emotional, sexual, or other types of abuse have a big role to precipitate such feelings.

How it affects personal, social, and professional life?

Apart from physical symptoms, psychological and emotional symptoms are very common. This distorted mental image about body or organs leads to eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia Nervosa, mood disorders, anxiety, depression, body dysmorphic disorder, delusional disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder. They hesitate to attend social function; remain isolated, this also has a great impact on academics or career, relationship satisfaction, and overall quality of life. Some of them perceive a flaw in their organ’s size, shape, and placements like nose, ear, breasts, legs, and tummy however, this perceived flaw is not even noticeable to others. Excessive concern about being fat or overweight, frequently measuring their weight and repetitively seeing mirrors, refuse to eat and lying about meal intake, over-exercising, obsession with food, and their components. Very sensitive to criticism, remain irritated, have frequent mood changes, sexual and emotional deprivation.  Self-injurious behavior is very commonly seen among these people. Views oneself as unattractive, even ugly, focuses excessive attention on a minor flaw in appearance, is never satisfied with the appearance, needs reassurance about body image are common symptoms. They have fears that people will watch the supposed deformity and so they try to hide the perceived flaw with makeup or clothes. Sometimes they also take unnecessary cosmetic surgery or procedures.

A  psychologist will help to acknowledge your problems will discuss those in detail. They will reduce your suffering from eating disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and other psychological illness. It will help to reduce your anxiety, restlessness, panic attacks, repetitive behaviors, sleep disturbances, negative emotions, suicidal thoughts, and other depressive symptoms if any. Therapy also helps to improve associated physical problems like weight loss, menstrual problems, hormonal problems, unnecessary surgical procedures. Treatment helps to restore personal, professional, family, and sexual life.

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How UDGAM will help?

People always try hard to get out of this. They try their best to keep them anxiety-free, try to feel positive emotions but sometimes fail to rectify issues? Team UDAGM, the clinical psychologist expert in counseling, will be your real friend and will help to manage your problems diligently.

How you manage? A lesson from a psychologist.

• Acknowledge the principle reason. Start work on the precipitating factors as above mentioned.
• Don’t hide the truth. Discuss your problems with your close friend. Build a support system.
• Exercises, meditation, yoga are helpful. Build a better habit.
• Stop comparing yourself to others. Focus on what you have the power to change.
• Be confident, nobody’s perfect. Accept Your Body, Don’t body-shame yourself.
• Like Your Body, find things to like about your looks, focus on what your body can do.
• Take Care of Your Body, Eat healthy foods. Get good sleep. Be active every day. Keep to a healthy weigh
• Psychiatric consultation, antidepressants, anxiety medicines are very helpful.
• Psychological help: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is considered an effective form of therapy for eating disorders, depression, anxiety, body dysmorphic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder. It helps an individual to see the relations between their thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. CBT can shed light on our dysfunctional thought patterns and negative attitudes and beliefs system that lead to body image problems.