The journey to feeling better in your own skin
I believe that working on improving your body image is a key part of healing your relationship with food.
“You can’t hate yourself into a version you love”.
If you feel deep discomfort, disgust, or even hatred towards your body, it is difficult to treat your body with respect.
Body image goes beyond how we feel when we look in the mirror. I find it helpful to think about body image as the relationship between you and your body.
Think about an external relationship, such as a friendship you have with another. How would you describe it? (Warm, caring, funny, supportive, etc).
Now think about how you would describe the relationship between you and your body.
Are you frenemies? Full on enemies?
What are the vibes like?
Dark and gloomy? Cautious but optimistic?
I love to work on body image with clients through artistic expression. Try drawing what the relationship between you and your body feels like.
When trust is broken in the body image relationship, it is so so difficult to feel okay in your skin.
You can also start thinking about what you would need in order to rebuild trust within this relationship. There are no right or wrong answers here. The book Body Trust by Hilary Kinavey, MS, LPC, and Dana Sturtevant, MS, RD is a great resource for continuing your body image journey.
Rebuilding trust takes time and patience.
As with any relationship, like a marriage, there is no end goal or destination to reach where everything feels amazing and wonderful at all times. Everyone has bad body image days sometimes. Be gentle with yourself and remember that you are more than just your body.
