Our society’s beauty standards are one of the many things that promote and fuel body shaming. Many people face it. But our society’s beauty standard is toxic, and you don’t have to change a single thing about yourself to fit in. Like I said before, you aren’t the problem. You never were.
It’s important to take care of your health, both physically and mentally. This means making healthy choices about what you eat and how you exercise, as well as finding ways to reduce stress. For some, investing time in their hobbies, listening to music, and hanging out with people who support and understand them are some of the ways of reducing stress. You need to find something like that for yourself too. Remember to be kind to yourself, and don’t compare yourself to others. I understand that even when you try to stay positive about your body image, peoples’ opinions might bring you down. So addressing that is important. It can be difficult but having a conversation with your relatives and friends about body shaming and how it affects you is one way to start. You can be direct, provide examples, stay calm, and seek support if needed. Remember, you deserve to be treated with respect and kindness, and it’s important to set boundaries with those who don’t understand or refuse to change their behavior. You can also use the butterfly hug method as a way of checking in with yourself and your emotions. It simply means to hug yourself. When you are feeling stressed, anxious, or down, you can use the butterfly hug to ground yourself and reconnect with your body. It can help you to feel more present and in tune with your emotions. Another way to cope with body shaming is to surround yourself with positive influences. This can include friends and family members who support and accept you for who you are, as well as online communities of people with experiences similar to yours. Additionally, practicing self-care and self-compassion can be helpful in building a positive body image. Coping with body shaming and an eating disorder can be challenging, and if necessary, you need to seek some professional help. They can provide proper guidelines for dealing with your eating disorder and improving your self-esteem. Know that healing from body shaming and an eating disorder is a gradual process. It takes time but, with the right support, it’s possible.
