Body Misperception & Gain Body Positivity

Looking in the mirror can show you wrinkles, freckles, birth marks, dark circles, eyebags, and more natural body changes. Yet, if you have an eating disorder, anorexia, bulimia, or other disorders; It can be difficult to look in the mirror or wear certain clothing because of body image issues. Also, when you see all the natural body changes, you might have body misperception and self-criticism. Nonetheless, letting go of your expectations and negative thoughts of your body image can be challenging. To gain body positivity, one must focus on letting go of body misperceptions. 

Body misperceptions such as body size, shape, and weight do not match your actual measurements. Thinking and believing that one’s physical size, weight, and shape needs improvement for fitting in a social group at school or at work. Often neglecting one’s health because of losing excessive weight or gaining extra weight to fit in can put you at risk of having severe anxiety issues, depression, or behavioral disorders. Bad comments, harsh criticism, and bad jokes towards one’s body can make one self-isolate and have misperceptions of oneself. Lastly, it can make it challenging to socialize during vacations because of wearing swimwear and certain revealing clothes.

Having bad experiences in the past can make it difficult to connect with others especially if you are feeling inadequate about your body. There are days or weeks that you might be asking yourself questions about why you cannot look like the person you want to be. Other times you might feel good about how your body looks and feels with certain clothing. Not managing those emotions can often make you feel obsessed with your body appearance. Yet this can lead to body dysmorphia and other body disorders. 

Body positivity can be helpful but also incorporating professional therapy regarding body image, self-image, and tackling misperceptions is one recommendation. Also, limiting your time with toxic family members, toxic friends, and toxic acquaintances. Another recommendation is to avoid too many hours on social media, comparisons with celebrities, and comparisons with your old high school classmates. To gain body positivity, one must identify negative thoughts and see one’s body image as one of a kind. Lastly, avoiding toxic romantic relationships from dates that make comparisons with you and with their ex.

Misperceptions must be managed with a professional therapist, supportive friends, and supportive family members. Often comparisons of one’s body with other family members can cause body distress, especially during the holidays. Other times those comparisons can make you feel uncomfortable, nervous, and not look forward to spending time with family members that do body comparisons. Therefore, ignoring those bad comments from family, friends, and acquaintances can make you feel worse. Finally, develop body positivity for reducing body misperceptions which will permit you to feel good about yourself and love your body. 

Practicing gratitude, self-acceptance, and self-appreciation is necessary for managing emotions that are causing your misperceptions. Often finding the cause of your misperceptions can be useful for you and your therapist. Overcoming misperceptions is possible but it takes gradual steps. Positive self-talk, positive affirmations, and replacing negative words towards yourself is another step to take to reduce your misperceptions. Do not focus on all your imperfections and what people have told you. 

Self-determination, self-awareness, self-love, and self-care can help you improve your self-confidence and improve your perceptions about yourself. Be realistic and without expectations of becoming a specific size number especially if you feel pressured to lose weight without health reasons. Always consult with your primary doctor before losing weight because it can affect your overall health especially if you do not need to lose weight. Sometimes spending less time with toxic people and changing your social media can diminish some of your misperceptions. Gaining body positivity can be achieved with acceptance, gratitude, and inner love for yourself.

Look at yourself in the mirror less but do describe yourself with kind words. Avoid an increase of tension between toxic family, toxic friends, and toxic acquaintances. If possible, distance yourself from people who have hurt you and speak badly about your body. Practice affirmations with body gratitude to manage mental distress. Review your clothing and evaluate your emotions with certain clothing. 

Be aware of your emotions when toxic people surround you. Communicate your misperceptions with your primary physician and a therapist. No matter how you feel about your body, do be aware of your thoughts and reflect on changing your misperceptions. Keeping a journal is helpful and taking pictures of yourself and having an enjoyable time with supportive family and friends. Here are websites about misperceptions and body positivity. 

 

 

How to Build Body Acceptance-Psychology Today:

How to Build Body Acceptance | Psychology Today

How to Accept Your Body: 5 Tips-Psych Central:

How to Accept Your Body: 5 Tips | Psych Central

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