How would you rate your body image dissatisfaction? Do you tend to beat yourself up about the way you look? Perhaps there is some area of your body that you think is a problem. Because of this imperfection, you assume that other people are looking at it and judging it. Maybe you even engage in fewer activities with others.

We see the perfect body image all over billboards, the Internet, magazines, social media, movies, etc. Images of the ideal standard of beauty everywhere. Because of this, people compare themselves to these models and of course fall short. Then again, how many of us has someone to do our hair and makeup on a regular basis? We have no one to airbrush us either. These factors can all lead to body image dissatisfaction.

There are many aspects of body image that perhaps you never even thought about. Here are some common ways in which your negative body image may impact you and what you can do about it. These categories come from The Body Image Workbook by Cash.

How you evaluate your body

This refers to the area(s) of your body that you are either like or dislike. Is it the way you look overall? Do you complain about certain aspects of your face, or your hair? Some people don’t like a specific part of their body such as their arms, legs, face, stomach, weight or level of muscularity.

I’ve had women say they couldn’t date because they were too heavy. Also I’ve had male clients say they couldn’t date because they were not muscular enough. Look around, a large percentage of Americans fall in the overweight category. Many of them are in a relationship. Most men are not built like the Hulk. Interestingly being too muscular is a turnoff for many women.

Body image dissatisfaction thoughts

What thoughts come to your head when you are thinking about the way you look? Are you beating yourself up and wondering why you never look good? Do you tell yourself that others are better looking than you? Some people think that no one could ever love them because of the way they look. Do you feel people are judging your flaw?

When you look around, are there people that look like you that are in a relationship? Remember, we all come in different shapes and sizes. Most couples out there don’t fall in the beautiful and perfect category.

How stressful is your body image

Do certain emotions come up when you think of your body such as anxiety, disgust, shame, or feeling like you just don’t measure up? Some of these emotions may arise as you look at yourself in the mirror. Are there other situations that evoke theses feelings such as when you are with other people? For some people it might happen if they weigh themselves or if they are in a bad mood. Maybe it occurs if you are with someone you perceive as beautiful. Other times it may happen if someone is talking about dieting or his or her own body image dissatisfaction.

Remember, most people are not perfect and have some area of their body that they don’t care for. A goal is to learn to accept some of these areas that we cannot change due to genetics or age.

The importance of appearance

This category is about your belief system and how important physical appearance is to you.

Is your day ruined because of your looks? Does it put you in a bad mood if you don’t like what you see in the mirror, or a number on the scale? Some people compare themselves to others or think that the way they look has a big impact on their life.

An interesting study way done. Using makeup, they painted a scar on the face of a subject in the study. The subjects then had a conversation with another participant and were told how they felt about their scar and the impact it had. The subjects said that the other people were staring at their scar and thinking negatively about it. Yet, what they didn’t tell the subjects was that they actually removed the scar prior to the conversation. Interesting how your thoughts can influence how you feel.

How you cope with your body image dissatisfaction

Do you tend to take too much time to try to change your looks? Perhaps you try to get reassurance from others that you look OK. Some people won’t look in a mirror because they don’t like what they see. Others may withdraw from certain interactions or social events so they won’t have to deal with it.

Some positive ways to cope is to think about the things you like about your body. Most people have an area that they find attractive such as eyes, hair, or smile. Also remind yourself that your negative thinking won’t last long. You might be in a bad mood so you take it out on your body. Also remind yourself that there are times you think you look good. Not much changes in our body on a daily basis. Don’t forget that someone out there thinks you are attractive. You just might not realize it.

Quality of life

How does your body impact your quality of life? Do you feel inadequate as a man or a woman because of  the way you perceive your body image? Maybe it impacts the way you interact with others. Does it affect your relationships with friends or family members? Some people are not happy with life because of the way they look. For others it impacts intimacy. They don’t want to be seen or be intimate because of the way they look. Maybe it impacts your self-confidence.

Think about the people you care about. Do you think negatively about them because they may not be the most attractive person? My guess is that you find them attractive in some way shape or form because they haven wonderful qualities-none that have to do with body image. You like/love them for who they are as a person, not the way they look.

As you can see, having a negative body image can impact people in very different ways. If body image dissatisfaction is something you struggle with, please give me a call at 713-304-6554 and we can work on ways to improve it.

Take care,

Debbie