By Christa Banister
Drive by any strip mall these days and you’ll notice a seemingly endless supply of beauty and wellness services. Beyond the usual mani-pedis and haircuts, there are shops for eyelash extensions, tanning, and waxing. Spas for eliminating wrinkles and performing various nips, tucks, and tweaks. Salons for professional blowouts that ensure silky smooth hair and cosmetic dentistry for a whiter, more perfect smile. And just to round things out, there’s also trendy new workout studios to help perfect your physique (barre class, anyone?).
While there’s certainly nothing wrong with wanting to look and feel your best, there’s increasing pressure in how we present ourselves to the world. Now that so much of our lives is documented on social media, unnecessary comparison, the quest for “perfection,” and negative body image can’t help but run rampant.
While there’s certainly nothing wrong with wanting to look and feel your best, there’s increasing pressure in how we present ourselves to the world
But is caring too much about how you look possible? If so, what effect does a preoccupation with personal appearance play on our mental health?
Cultivating a Healthy Body Image
Whether our analysis trends positive or negative, the National Eating Disorders Association defines body image as our attitudes, thoughts, and perceptions about our physical appearance.
While nobody, including A-list celebrities, feel confident about themselves every second of the day, people with a positive body image generally feel comfortable in their own skin. Even more importantly, they don’t equate how they look with their character or inherent value.
For those who struggle with negative body image, however, feelings of anxiety, shame, and self-consciousness often emerge when you look in the mirror. You find yourself caring too much about appearance and not sure what to do about it.
How you see yourself may even become distorted when you compare yourself to others. And considering how photographs can be manipulated with filters and strategic editing, the standards you’re judging yourself by aren’t even realistic.
So, how does someone cultivate a healthy body image when you’re regularly promised that the latest product, procedure, or workout is what’s separating you from looking and feeling like the best version of yourself? A few suggestions include:
- Surround yourself with people who love you for you and not what you look like.
- Embrace foods that are good for you, not to fit into a particular jeans size but because they make you feel healthy and strong.
- Move your body regularly in a way that’s fun and energizing and not for weight loss.
- Unfollow any social media account where body-shaming or unrealistic body ideals are featured.
- Limit your time on social media if you find yourself obsessively comparing yourself to others.
- Find a personal style that makes you feel comfortable and confident, so it doesn’t dominate your thoughts.
- Make a deliberate effort to avoid talking about your body or other people’s bodies in a negative way.
- Be proactive about identifying moments when you feel “less than” because of your body and determine the reason why.
- Consider a makeup-free day from time to time or choose function over fashion.
You’re So Vain? How to Know if This is You
We’re all familiar with the phrase that suggests we never get a second chance to make a first impression.
It’s when the discussion morphs from a desire to look good and project confidence into asking yourself the question, ‘Am I vain?’ that it becomes concerning.
Whether it’s a job interview, a date, or a solo travel excursion with a group of strangers, it’s normal to want to look your best. No one would ever accuse you of caring too much about how you look when you buy new clothes, get your nails done, or try a new teeth-whitening toothpaste that enhances your smile.
It’s when the discussion morphs from a desire to look good and project confidence into asking yourself the question, Am I vain? that it becomes concerning. It’s no longer just caring about your appearance but obsessing.
Maybe the fixation materializes in out-of-control spending on beauty products and cosmetic procedures you can’t really afford. Perhaps, it’s a laser focus on an aspect of your appearance that no one else notices (the size of your nose, faded acne scars, crooked bottom teeth, etc.).
Or it’s wanting to skip out on a fun experience or important life event because you can’t find anything to wear, or a perceived flaw renders you unable to leave the house.
Sometimes the obsession — and we’re not talking about the guy at the gym who stares in the mirror as he flexes — is an actual medical condition called body dysmorphic disorder.
What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
According to VeryWellHealth.com, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) (aka body dysmorphia) is “a mental health condition that involves an overwhelming preoccupation with one’s body and appearance.”
With up to 4% of the US population meeting the diagnostic criteria for BDD, the condition is listed in the same category as obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.
Statistics show how untreated BDD can lead to severe, life-changing consequences. Over 20% of people with body dysmorphia are unemployed. Another 20% are so distressed by how they look that they attempt suicide, according to research from the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery.
While some might dismiss these struggles as something someone will grow out of or get over in time, body dysmorphia is not a condition that should be overlooked. It’s so much more than simply not feeling attractive; it’s feeling unworthy.
We Care About You
If you or someone you love struggles with an unhealthy obsession with appearance or body dysmorphia, we are here to help. At The Meadows Malibu, our treatment is customized to meet your specific needs in a serene environment where your health and healing can be your main priority. Want to learn more? Don’t hesitate to reach out today.