According to Thomas Cash, Ph.D.  a body image guru, there are 10 assumptions that people with poor body image believe. These come from his Body Image Workbook, 2nd edition.

  1. Physically attractive people have it all. This message is spread throughout the media. This is a false message. If we are paying attention, these beautiful people and celebrities are not any happier than the rest of us. They all struggle with something-divorce, affairs, addictions, and mental illness.
  2. My self worth as a person depends on how I look. This assumption ignores the many qualities you have as an individual. Ask your closest friend what he or she loves about you. I’m sure there will be many qualities. None have to do with looks.
  3. I should always do whatever I can to look my best. There is nothing wrong with wearing clothes that accentuate the things you like or wearing makeup. Most people do these things. This only becomes problematic if you obsess about it and it takes you an excessive amount of time to get ready.
  4. The first thing that people will notice about me is what’s wrong with my appearance. Realistically most people will not notice what you are worried about. Think about how you felt as a teenager when you had a pimple on your face. You were sure everyone was staring at it throughout the day. Now look back, do you remember who had pimples or didn’t (unless it was severe acne)?
  5. If people knew how I really look, they would probably like me less. Is this really true? The people who are your friends will like you whether you look great, or are in jeans and a t-shirt with no makeup.
  6. By managing my physical appearance, I can control my social and emotional life. Your life is what you make it. If you are happy or content, the way you look will not impact your feelings. Most likely you are feeling bad about other things and using your body as an outlet.
  7. My appearance is responsible for much of what has happened to me in my life. Your life events are separate from your looks. Most of the things that happen to you have to do with you or random happenings-not your appearance.
  8. If I could look just as I wish, my life would be much happier. If you are looking for something to make you happy, you will never be happy. When I work with clients with eating disorders, they assume if they are a certain weight, they will be happy. What happens is, when they got to that weight, they feel the same as they did the day before. A certain weight, or looks will not make you happy. If it does, it will be short lived.
  9. My culture’s messages make it impossible for me to be satisfied with my appearance. This is the myth in society. No one really looks like those pictures in the magazines. They are air brushed and photo shopped. Realistically, there will always be people more attractive than you, and people who are less attractive.
  10. The only way I could ever accept my looks would be to change my looks. Most women do wear makeup, which is a way to hide some of their flaws. Many men and women, who have surgery to change something, are still not totally satisfied. Focus on the things that you do like about your looks, vs. the things you don’t.

If body image or eating disorders are something you struggle with, contact me at 713-304-6554

Take care,

Debbie Grammas, Ph.D.