Why is body image so important to talk about?|| I FEEL SOOOO ‘insert body bashing comment here’
We know there is no cause to an eating disorder. There are only things which make you vulnerable, so many of which are biological and we can’t change, but that doesn’t make anything set in stone.
One big factor in an eating disorder development is our relationship with our body: having positive body image can protect a vulnerable person for developing disordered eating.
Think about it, you wake up and all the sticky, uncomfortable emotions - which we all have - you aren’t able to verbally express. So they bounce back on something that IS tangible - your appearance.
You don’t know this. You think that your body is causing you this distress. Well, there’s a solution to that, right? Everywhere you look there’s a new set of rules that you can follow to change your body and make you happy.
It works, until it doesn’t. Your body fails you, perpetuating your dislike and disrespect to it. Sound familiar?
At best, negative body image will lessen your confidence. You might not put your hand up in class. You might think twice about applying for a job. You make decisions based on how to change your body, rather than from a place of taking care of your body.
At worst, this can spiral into disordered eating and a potential eating disorder.
Whilst you can’t change your biology, you can improve your risk factors like stress management, media exposure and body image.
Do you or someone you know struggle with food rules and poor body image? Email me ali@alisilver.co.uk ✨✨#eatingdisorderrecovery #mentalhealth #bodyneutrality ...
