teen body image & eating struggles
counselling support in Edmonton & Sherwood Park
Struggling with negative body image is one of the most pervasive mental health concerns for teens today. A negative or unhealthy body image can contribute to low self-esteem and cause persistent anxiety; in extreme cases, it can interfere with daily well-being. Some teens will feel the need to wear baggy clothes to hide their appearance, while others will avoid going out or socializing in public. Some signs of an unhealthy body image include:
Feelings about one’s body that interfere with school or relationships
Taking extreme measures to avoid seeing one’s body
Compulsively checking and rechecking one’s body — either weighing, measuring body parts, pinching one’s skin, or examining oneself in the mirror over and over again
Feeling the need to apply a heavy layer of makeup when going out in public
Using hats to cover one’s hair or baggy clothing to hide one’s body
Plucking, shaving, or waxing away hair excessively
Using harsh or unkind language to describe one’s body
Eating very little, or eating a lot in a short period of time
Experiencing powerful negative emotions when thinking about one’s body
Experiencing poor body image can be deeply painful for teens. Fortunately, there are a variety of well-researched strategies that can assist in improving these feelings, and allow teens to cultivate a healthier relationship with their body!
Dealing with a negative body image is difficult; your teen does not need to suffer alone.