Body Image Therapy San Diego, CA

“Poor body image” refers to an unrealistic view of how someone sees their body. Oftentimes, we are our own worst critic — meaning that usually others will not view our bodies the same way that we do if poor body image is present. Body image involves the way that a person sees themselves, and is often compared to the standards set in our modern society. Unfortunately, poor body image is not uncommon today due to the unrealistic standards that diet culture praises (i.e. excessive thinness, extreme dieting to reach a certain weight, etc.). However, the extent to which poor body image affects an individual may vary. Visit Eating Disorders Hope website for more information on negative body image causes , symptoms, and signs.

Maybe you have tried to overcome negative body image on your own without therapy. You may have tried different things to help stop these constant thoughts about food and your body. Perhaps you are feeling frustrated, fed up, or unsure why you can’t just feel “normal” around food or when you look in the mirror. Receiving therapeutic help can provide you with a different perspective and new set of skills that you may not have tried yet. I can also help you discover why these behaviors started in the first place, and how to effectively work through distressing feelings related to them. There is no shame in asking for help. I consider therapy to be like a “cheat code” in life in the way that it can help us heal and recover faster than we would have been able to on our own.

As stated above, poor body image is not uncommon today due to the unrealistic beauty standards that our modern society praises. However, there are also plenty of people that do not experience poor body image, and that do feel confident and comfortable in their skin. Just because it may be common for many people to feel self-conscious about their appearance, it does not necessarily mean that it’s normal. And most importantly, it does not have to be your version of “normal”. Even if others around you are dieting and/or may not feel great about their body image, you do not have to continue to struggle; you can still receive help and decide that you would like to take the steps towards both internal and external self-confidence.

Sometimes, poor body image shows up because we are experiencing overwhelming or distressing emotions, and our mind is looking for a distraction. Since the diet industry praises individuals for thinness and alludes to the promise that “life will be much better if you are thin”, people often use dieting as something to focus on and a goal to work towards. When you are focusing on your external image all day, it may temporarily distract you from emotions within that are difficult to manage. Though this may work in the short-term, it is not a long term solution to overall happiness and increased self-esteem; not to mention that dieting can be harmful both physically and psychologically. So poor body image may be arising from deep-rooted (conscious or unconscious) emotions that you have found difficult to manage, so your mind is looking for a distraction. Negative body image can also arise merely due to the unrealistic beauty standards that our society has today, and the pressure to feel like you “should” look a certain way. It can also arise from other reasons such as disordered eating, bullying or negative comments regarding your appearance from others, and more.

If you find it difficult to look in the mirror or at a photo of yourself without being critical and experiencing low self-esteem, you may be experiencing poor body image. If these thoughts are having a negative affect on your mood, relationships, or any other aspect of your overall life – it could be worth receiving help and relief for. Negative body image can feel awful, and you don’t have to figure it out how to heal from it all on your own.

Your friends and family may not understand your desire to give up the focus on food and your body by receiving therapy. Unfortunately in our society today, dieting tendencies and focus on our body is incredibly common. Just think about it — how many people do you know that were taught that it is normal to constantly be trying to lose weight or “improve” their body? This may be common, but it is not a part of having a normal and healthy relationship with food and your body — and most importantly, it does not have to be your normal. They may not understand at first, and that is okay. Not everyone needs to understand your desire for self-improvement. If you would like to welcome your family or significant other in for a therapy session (or multiple sessions) to help them understand, that is welcomed and encouraged.