subject spotlight
Therapy for body image issues
When we talk about “body image,” what we’re really exploring is how you see yourself and how you feel about your body, both in a day-to-day sense and more generally throughout your life. It’s more than just looking in the mirror and liking or disliking what you see. Body image is deeply connected to how you feel about who you are as a person, and it’s shaped by so many factors—your age, culture, gender identity, physical abilities, and even your experiences.
At its core, body image is a very personal and lived experience. You might notice that your perception of your body doesn’t always match the reality of how it looks or functions. And that’s okay. It’s common for our internal experience of our body to be influenced by things like societal expectations, media portrayals, and our own emotional state. Sometimes, it’s not just about how your body looks but how you feel inside your body, how connected or disconnected you are from it. Our bodies are often the battleground for much larger struggles—social pressures, cultural messages, political narratives, and even personal insecurities.
From a young age, many of us are bombarded with messages about how we “should” look. Media—whether it's TV, social platforms, or movies—often presents an idealized version of beauty that can be hard to live up to. And for some, this pressure feels even more intense because we’re shown these images repeatedly, making it easy to believe that there’s something wrong if we don’t match up.
This pressure isn’t limited to just one group of people. While young girls and women are often the focus when we talk about beauty standards, men are not immune to these societal pressures. The desire to fit a certain mold—whether it's having a certain body shape, weight, or facial features—can create an ongoing struggle with self-image.
What’s tricky is that many of the images we see, especially online, aren’t even real. They’ve been edited or filtered to show an unrealistic version of beauty. When you’re constantly comparing yourself to something that doesn’t even exist, it’s no wonder that body dissatisfaction is so widespread. This can lead to a range of mental health concerns, from low self-esteem and anxiety to depression and eating disorders.
The Role of Media and Beauty Standards
Low self-esteem is one of the most common effects of body image issues. When someone feels dissatisfied with their body, it can chip away at how they see themselves in other areas too. They may begin to avoid social situations, feel anxious about being judged, or become overly focused on their weight, diet, or exercise routines in an unhealthy way. The research tells us that this isn’t a small issue—many people, particularly teens and young adults, experience significant distress over their appearance, leading to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and even depression.
Body dissatisfaction also plays a huge role in the development of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. These disorders often stem from a distorted view of the body, where someone feels compelled to control their food intake or engage in harmful behaviors to change their appearance. It’s heartbreaking, but many young people today are willing to risk their health by skipping meals or avoiding medical care because they’re unhappy with their bodies.
Another mental health concern tied to body image is depression. There’s a strong connection between feeling dissatisfied with your body and experiencing depressive symptoms, particularly among young women. The emotional weight of constantly feeling like you don’t measure up can be overwhelming, leading to a sense of hopelessness. Similarly, anxiety—especially social anxiety—can stem from worries about how others perceive your appearance. This can result in what's known as social physique anxiety, where someone becomes overly concerned about being judged based on their body, leading them to avoid social gatherings or feel anxious in public settings.
How Beauty Standards Impact Mental Health
Social Isolation and Body Image
So, what can you do to protect your mental health in a world where beauty standards seem inescapable? There are a few strategies that can help. One important step is to be mindful of the media you consume. It’s okay to limit your exposure to social media or TV shows that make you feel bad about your appearance. Pay attention to how certain images make you feel, and remember that what you see online isn’t always an accurate reflection of reality.
Another useful approach is practicing positive self-talk. It might sound simple, but being kind to yourself and reframing negative thoughts about your body can be really powerful. Surround yourself with people who uplift you and be mindful of the language you use around your friends and family. Words matter, and how we talk about our own bodies, as well as others’, can shape the way we think and feel.
Finally, if you’re finding that body image concerns are starting to affect your daily life, it may be time to reach out for professional support. Therapy can offer a space to work through these feelings in a healthy, compassionate way.
Coping with the Mental Health Effects of Beauty Standards
We’ll work on cultivating an internal sense of self, where your body doesn’t hold all the responsibility for how alive or valuable you feel. You might find that it’s possible to experience both internal and external aliveness—feeling good inside yourself and being comfortable with how your body interacts with the world.
Part of this process is shifting the focus from how you look to how you feel in your body. It’s about moving from body hate, to body neutrality, and eventually, to a place of full acceptance. This isn’t something that happens overnight, but with time and patience, you can begin to see your body as a source of strength and connection, rather than something to criticize or control.
We’ll also explore how to heal the split between how you see yourself on the inside and how you experience your body on the outside. This is about creating a more cohesive sense of identity—one that isn’t defined by body image alone. Additionally, we can work on untangling perfectionism and the idea that your body needs to be constantly managed or perfected. You deserve to live fully in your body, enjoying the experience of being alive, rather than feeling like you’re constantly at war with yourself.
Ultimately, therapy offers a space to find meaning in the way your life has shaped your body. Whether it’s scars, wrinkles, stretch marks, or other signs of aging, these are all markers of a life lived. They tell a story, and part of the healing process is learning to appreciate that story as part of who you are.
In this space, we can also explore spiritual aspects ( for those who are interested ) of body acceptance, helping you to develop a spiritual identity that goes beyond the physical. As your therapist, I’m here to hold space for you as you navigate this journey. Together, we’ll work on creating an attitude of self-acceptance and body respect that can ripple out into all areas of your life.
