BODY IMAGE - STRUGGLES FOR WOMEN AND MEN




I have never been skinny, I have never been obese. I have never been unhealthy, I have always been healthy. I spend considerable amounts of time comparing myself to other women, I have spent considerable amounts of time uncomfortable in my own skin. I avoid mirrors, wear oversized clothing, never go clothes shopping, always shop online, count calories, crash and binge, pay for a gym membership but am too self conscious to actually go, haven't gone swimming in 3 years, can't weigh myself for the fear of the number/s that show. It may sound like I am complaining or making up excuses, but it is a genuine struggle that I have faced since a very young age. It is an emotionally exhausting, vicious cycle that has been on repeat.


But, I have come to the realisation that I am so much more than my weight or my body shape. It has only been a few short months since I started to shine a positive light into my relationship with myself and my body, but I wanted write about this sensitive topic because it is something that both men and woman face on a day to day basis. I do not have an eating disorder so it would be unfair to come from that particular standpoint, but I do believe that I can provide some encouraging insight into the inner-workings of our body, mind and soul - and how an understanding of this dynamic can significantly impact our relationship with ourselves.


There is a great number of situations that you could find yourself in that diminish your self-esteem, which contributes to a long-term negative relationship with yourself. I want to draw focus to just a hand-full that anyone could, or have already, experience in their life time. I also want to offer some counterintuitive advice that could help immensely, and may evoke a proactive response from anyone who reads this piece of writing. Also, I will be formatting this blog post in a way that gives men and women an equal amount of representation.


Women - Toxic Relationships and Social Media



According to Eating Disorders Victoria, 35% of Australian females (11-24 years old) are unhappy with their appearance. To put it quite simply, this figure isn't good enough. I feel as though women are being left to their own devices when attempting to navigate societal and culture pressures surrounding body image - and then it more often than not results in extreme circumstances.
I am going to provide you, the reader, with some management tools that will help you combat any instigation of a negative relationship with your own body.

Toxic Relationships

Whether it be early or late in life, we all have been involved in a friendship or relationship where we felt belittled or insecure. This is what is commonly known as a toxic relationship. The company we keep plays a massive role in how we view ourselves as a person and how we view our physical appearance. The more time you spend with a toxic friend or partner, the more your sense of self diminishes - you may end up feeling worse after an interaction with them, or even a memory could trigger negativity.

For adults, there is a 'loop' one falls into where they excuse the persons behaviour and derogatory comments, and believes that a better version of this particular person is always possible - this is where it can become difficult to cut ties because a false expectation is established. If I have learnt anything from cutting ties from a toxic friend, it is that you can still hope for the best for this particular person but you do not have to be apart of the process. It is easier said than done, but once this is realised and you remove yourself from the 'loop', your sense of self starts to grow healthily through non-toxic relationships.

Now that I have written a brief spiel about what a toxic relationship is, I will draw your attention to some management tools you can use when someone is making you feel bad about your body image. It isn't a good feeling when someone we think is a friend makes remarks about our weight, clothing size, what we eat, how much we eat, etc.

I spent several years in a friendship where I was labelled as 'big boned' or 'a little bit bigger', where whenever I ate "oh my god, that is so much" or "we have a little miss piggy over here". It was little comments like that which built up over time and soon a little voice was created in the back of my mind. It has taken me almost 2 years to somewhat 'block out' this voice. This isn't to say that I don't hear it at times because I do, but I have learnt how to replace it with more realistic and positive thinking patterns. Here are some of my management tools when encountering a toxic person (and dealing with the aftermath). I hope you can apply this to your life because no one should ever feel ashamed of the skin they are in.


1. Recognising Toxicity



It is exceptionally confronting and incredibly necessary to let go of any relationships that are contributing to the deterioration of your self-esteem. In order to do this, you have to recognise any signs of toxicity which can be difficult when you are stuck in a 'loop' or in denial of any mistreatment - however, subconsciously you are already aware. Some common signs of a toxic relationship are:
  • You have increased stress and anxiety levels 
    • You may feel the need to be at someone's constant beck and call, even when you want to say no. The feeling of obligation soon turns into greater anxiety/stress.
  • You are put down often
    • A friend/partner may not insult you directly but will use an undermining tone. The person will most likely use sarcasm to make comments about you or your life in order to feed their ego (e.g. your weight, how much/little you eat). 
  • You are not met half way 
    • This is a big one. It is important that when you are in a relationship/friendship that you both feel as though you are winning. It doesn't mean that you should keep score of who does what but it just means that you maintain a mindfulness surrounding this concept. If the person has a tendency to disregard your effort or make up excuses, it is a signpost for toxicity. 
  • You have differing values
    • You know what is important to you - friends, family, study, work etc. - and if your friend/partner challenges this, you will feel toxic and not in alignment with your values. 
  • Passive agression 
    • Generally, if you are in a toxic relationship/friendship with someone, you will tend to feel an underlying frustration towards them. This is because of the signs listed above and then some. They will also feel a frustration but because of different reasons (jealousy, ego, narcissism) and so naturally you both will avoid confrontation and conflict. This is unhealthy and isn't a part of a healthy relationship/friendship. 
2. You are in Control  

Speaking from personal experience, I have been in a number of toxic friendships where I was left feeling extremely insecure and unhappy with myself and my body. A significant friendship I had for several years has had the most impact on me and how I ended up viewing myself. I dissociated from this friendship almost 2 years ago but I still do find it impacting me in some ways. Believe me, I have come a long way since then and I do see myself in a positive light most of the time - although, I have come up with some management tools for when I am in that negative headspace or that 'friend's' voice creeps in.  

    • Surround yourself with what inspires you - when you feel inspired, you feel good about yourself. Whether it be surrounding yourself with healthy relationships with friends and family, or putting affirmations up on the walls in your house. In moments where negativity is starting to seep in to your mind, negate it with inspiration from things that make your soul happy.
    • Remind yourself of the journey you embody - the body you have will never be the same as anyone else's, it is yours for the rest of your life. When you take time to remind yourself of what you have overcome so far, this notion becomes paramount. Your body has carried you through the most trying and wonderful times of your life. When I remind myself of this, any thought of comparison evaporates because if not for the difficult and amazing times of my life, I would not be the person I am today.
    • Keep your mind occupied with something productive - for me, reading a book or learning something new gives me a sense of achievement and revelation. An idle mind can encourage the negative thought patterns, but you have the ability to create structured ways of thinking. In moments where you are reminded of toxicity, find productive things to keep your mind engaged. 
    • Maintain a balanced diet - this goes hand in hand with viewing your body positively. If you remain mindful and aware of what you are putting into your body, then you are the one in control. When the little comments that were thrown your way start to come to mind, just remind yourself that you are in control not the voice of that 'friend' - plus, fuelling your body with nutritious food will inevitably make you feel confident in your own skin. 
3. Rebuild 

Sometimes when you are first out of a toxic relationship/friendship, your mind is out of sync with your body. This is a perfect time to start rebuilding. When I say rebuild I mean that you start to restore how you view yourself emotionally and physically. Quite often your mind will start racing with negative thoughts that are driven by the remarks made towards you in the past, but I am here to tell you how to combat this way of thinking when it occurs by rebuilding. 

Make time for self-love - I touched on this in one of my recent instagram posts, and it certainly has contributed to my personal growth. It doesn't have to be something elaborate or luxurious, it could be something as simple as taking a walk or listening to your favourite artist. When you set aside time for yourself, you are nourishing your mind, body and soul. It does sound like a strange concept at first, but once we look after ourselves and invest that extra time, we are planting the seed for self-care and self-love.

Unfollow what makes you feel shit - When I first dissociated myself from the toxicity, I still followed the 'friend' on social media for months because "I just have to know what they are up to, what they are doing and how they are without me in their lives". Well, I soon realised that this made me feel terrible because comparison snuck into my mindset. I eventually hit unfriend and block, and haven't looked back since - the curiosity is still there at times but comparing my life to theirs is not. So, in this modern world it is important we prioritise what we view in our instagram and facebook feeds in a way that will motivate and inspire us. 

Affirm love - This requires you to look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself how great you actually are. It took me months to make this a habit, and yes it may look and feel weird but it reinforces how you view yourself. Self-affirmation is incredibly powerful and will help rebuild confidence. 

Meditation and Spiritual Enlightenment - These two notions have become a prominent part of my life these past 3-6 months. It takes commitment and routine, but it isn't hard work. When you become aware of your thoughts, you also recognise that not everything you think deserves energy. Meditating allows you to be present and still, to channel inner peace and self-acceptance. I found that guided meditation sessions with affirmations make me feel empowered and content with myself as I am - also, mantra meditation is just as powerful because focus is drawn to your breath which establishes a connectedness with your internal peace + happiness. Spiritual Enlightenment does not necessarily mean going to church every Sunday. It simply means, to me, that one accepts that there is a greater power than us and once we recognise this, we can become conscious. Consciousness means awareness, and awareness allows for being content in who we are. 

Social Media

It would be irresponsible not to talk about how social media dramatically impacts the way we view ourselves. Social media is a part of everyone's daily routine, whether we like to admit it or not. Women are infamous for obsessing over certain social media influencers and how they portray their highlight reel - especially other women and their body type, diet and exercise habits. I'll admit it, I am guilty of mindlessly scrolling through my instagram feed for considerable amounts of time and come out feeling pretty crappy - but, I have also learnt how to counteract any negative self-talk when it comes to comparing my body or life to someone else's. Here are my top 3 ways of doing just that: 


1. Unfollow anyone who makes you feel bad about yourself - If you are following numerous accounts that are portraying a perfect life or the 'perfect' body then you are going to feel shit about yourself when looking at their posts. What I want you to do is to take a few minutes to look through what accounts you are following on instagram/facebook/twitter and ask yourself if that is what motivates you, inspires you and makes you feel good inside. If you answer no, then click unfollow/delete/block. Once you do this, you will notice that you will only be seeing what benefits your wellbeing. If you like to write and read, like me, follow accounts that motivate you in that area. If you are in to fitness and beauty, follow accounts that offer a realistic and healthy approach to this area.

2. Take a break - I don't like the term 'digital detox' because in this day and age, it is nearly impossible to escape any form of digital technology. However, I do believe in putting your phone down and taking time to interact with the real world. If you see something or someone on social media and you become fixated on how bad they make you feel about yourself, then you are feeding a negative thinking pattern. Make a conscious effort to allocate time each day where you are not on your phone or social media, and spend time with your friends, family, colleagues - get out there and make the most of the parts of your life that are real and wholesome, that generate happiness and positivity in your life. 

3. Spread love and light - If you feel as though you are not seeing enough positive content on social media, then become the messenger of positivity for your followers. I have found that when I share something that I consider to be inspiring, productive or positive, I feel content within myself. Naturally, if you help just one person or inspire just one person, you will feel good about yourself. In terms of body image, you could share how you have overcome adversity or an unhealthy relationship with your body - this will inspire and motivate others who are going through a similar experience. 

Men - Bigger Isn't Better 

Men, I haven't forgotten about you. It is important that people recognise that struggles with body image are just as prevalent for men. Obviously I cannot speak from personal experience because I am not a man, but I do want to give men an equal representation for this great social issue. I'll be providing an insight into the varying factors that can influence the way males view themselves. Eating Disorders Victoria notes 28% of Australian males aged 11-24 are dissatisfied with their appearance. 
There is a great amount of research that surrounds girls/women and negative body image as well as eating disorders. Unfortunately, this has not been the case for boys/men. The University of Sydney  found males with body image issues and eating disorders are up to four times more likely to go undiagnosed than females. In fact, what males face is the opposite to what women do, but it just as self-destructive. Males who are influenced by negative body image face whats called muscle dysmorphic disorder (MDD) or bigorexia which is characterised by: (noted by Dr Lauren Muhlheim)
  • Maintaining an extreme exercise program.
  • Being obsessed with the idea of not being muscular or lean enough.
  • Giving up work obligations or social activities on a regular basis due to an obsessive need to maintain a workout and diet plan.
  • Constant mirror checking or avoiding the mirror all together.
  • Working out despite sickness or injury.
  • Excessive consumption of dietary supplements. 
  • Extreme levels of stress or anxiety if a workout is missed. 
MDD can be confused with body building which is a sub-culture maintained in society. However, this is dangerous because some males may feel ashamed or reluctant to seek help at times of extremity. The stigmatisation of mental illness or negative body image among men is a major contributing factor in lack of diagnoses. For a more uplifting take on stigma, I want to bring attention to a particular organisation in Australia who strive to assist in all areas regarding mental health and body image issues. 

The Butterfly Foundation (https://thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/) - 

  • Butterfly's National Helpline - 1800 33 4673 
Australia’s national eating disorders support service. Counsellors are experienced and professionally trained in supporting those affected by an eating disorder. They are well equipped to provide information and guidance on treatment options as well as referral pathways. Butterfly’s National Helpline ED HOPE is open Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm AEST (except public holidays).
  • Learning and Professional Training 
    • Butterfly have created workshops, presentations and resources for young people, professionals and parents address the factors influencing negative body image, disordered eating and the development of eating disorders. Since 2006, Butterfly Education has reached over 575,000+ young people and over 6,500 parents and professionals. 
  • Support Groups
    • Butterfly’s Online Support Groups create a safe and conversational space for people with eating disorders, body image issues or those caring for someone. 
  • Recovery Programs 
    • Butterfly offer a number of Recovery Programs for people that are currently experiencing an eating disorder and who need additional help. These programs also offer care and support for parents and family members caring for a loved one with an eating disorder. They provide guidance, tools and strategies to deal with eating disorders.
  • Treatment
    • Recovery from an eating disorder is possible. With willingness, motivation and specialised support participants have the opportunity to rediscover freedom from the domination of an eating disorder. Butterfly offers two intensive treatment programs; one for adolescents and one for adults. Links are provided that will lead you to a specific program. 

    Overcoming Negative Body Image

    Of course, there is a number of things that men can implement into their lives that can help them in times where they feel negatively about their body, which can prevent any extremities

    1. Accept What You Cannot Change - Your weight, height and appearance are all inborn characteristics just like the colour of your eyes or hair. Once you start to accept yourself as you are, you will begin to shift your focus to embracing yourself. Start to focus on how your body functions and helps you move through life instead of how it looks. 

    2. Make A Pact With Yourself - Promise yourself that you will fuel your body with wholesome and nutritious food that doesn't involve intense dieting or excessive consumption of dietary supplements - think of it as a way of self-respect. 

    3. Have A Reason for Exercising - Find a reason for exercising that doesn't involve thinking solely about changing your body shape. This could involve using exercise as a way of releasing stress, vitality and concentration. 

    4. Surround Yourself with Positive Company - If you are in a social circle that consists of other men belittling you or teasing you for your body shape/size, then it is time to reevaluate who you associate with. If you remove yourself from negative friendships then your mindset will start to become more productive and realistic. 

    5. Educate Yourself - It is important to educate yourself on the struggles surrounding body image because then you can remain mindful and aware of how to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself. There is a great amount of resources online that can provide information about negative body image and how to counteract it. There is also a great number of psychiatrists that specialise in body image related issues and are a valuable source of support and informative advice.  

    "Life is way too short to spend another day being at war with yourself" 

    If you made it to the end of this blog post, thank you. I think this is an important topic to discuss because it effects us all at least once in our lives. Please, be kind to yourself and you feel as though you need some guidance then do not be ashamed to reach out for help. 

    Until next time. 







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