Inside: How Can You Overcome Negative Body Image? Collaborative post.
For years, many women have struggled with negative body image, with 61% of them being more likely to be unhappy with their bodies. There appears to be no end in sight and people believe that the media plays a significant role in how women view their bodies.
Meanwhile, for mothers, the pressure seems double because of the changes that happen during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. However, you will need to work on such issues to enjoy a high quality of life. Here are a few ways to do that.
- Focus on self-respect, appreciation and self-love
Statistics indicate that 8 out of 10 mothers are unhappy with their reflection in the mirror. Many are likely to scrutinise their image and find at least, three things they wished they could change. While many mothers identify with this reality, very few are able to talk themselves out of the negative self-perception.
The truth is, your body has gone through an immense transformation to have a baby and it will need time to recover.
This in no way seeks to downplay the problems many mothers experience with their new body image. On the other hand, it seeks to remind you about how you can choose to view your body. You can tune your attention to self-respect and self-love.
According to mental health experts, this allows you to see the positives even in the midst of negative self-perception. It is a habit you can adopt gradually until you can identify with those positive thoughts. Admittedly, the initial stages may be a bit of a struggle.
However, one tested technique is to identify a new thing to love about yourself each day. Before you know it, your subconscious mind will start to believe every positive thing you feed it with.
- Address it from a health or cosmetic perspective
Sometimes, you may feel like the only solution to your body image issues is seeking medical help. You can speak with your physician to know whether a medical solution or cosmetic procedure is appropriate. For instance, if you’ve always been sensitive about the appearance of your nose, a rhinoplasty may be considered.
When you choose a cosmetic procedure, ensure it is done by a qualified and licensed specialist with an excellent track record. The last thing you want is to aggravate an existing body image issue.
- Distance yourself from negative talk or face it head-on
Indeed, this sounds like a no-brainer. If you can distance yourself from anything that continually hurts you mentally and emotionally, there is hope for confidence building. You can start by paying attention to people close to you whose words and actions seem to target your body image.
Some people deliberately pass mean-spirited criticisms. Unfortunately, that can make you focus on your current image. However, some people may do it thinking they are trying to help and may not be aware that it hits you.
Depending on your temperament, you may overlook the comments and simply cut them off. Or you can talk to them about it and give them a chance to apologize and change. You always have the liberty to call out negative talk and do it without reservation.
By addressing anybody who seeks to make your body image a target, you take back the power they wield.