Self-affirmation is speaking positivity to yourself. It is an excellent tool to get rid of the negative feelings you may have about yourself or your physical appearance. There are certain things you cannot change: Like the nose, hips, or the big feet you inherited from your family. Look in the mirror and say, “I am uniquely made and a masterpiece!” Do this every day till you really believe what you are affirming. This will help build your self-esteem. There are certain things you can change. For example: If you ‘feel’ or are overweight, look at your body and say, “I am still beautiful, even if I am working towards my ideal body weight.” The important thing is not to forget to work on your body weight. It takes being consistent in modifying your lifestyle to regular physical activity and healthier eating options. Dressing in the right styles for your body type also helps to build a positive body image.
Extreme negative thoughts about yourself and your body image can lead to abnormal thoughts and behaviour which can lead to serious Eating Disorders. These come with significantly impaired physical health or psychosocial functioning. ‘Feeling’ overweight when you have an ideal weight and the intense fear of gaining weight can lead to abnormal food restrictions or starving yourself. This disorder is called Anorexia Nervosa. On the other end of the spectrum, Bulimia Nervosa is a disorder which starts when a person feels that they cannot stop eating or have lack of control on how much they eat. They end up binge eating and then obsess about getting rid of the food they ate by: Self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics (medication that increase the amount of water and salt expelled from the body), other medications, fasting or excessive exercise. Eating disorders have implications on physical health. Recurrent, inappropriate behaviours can lead to acute need for hospitalization because of dehydration from electrolyte imbalances. It’s also important to note long term effects such as Osteoporosis and increased risk of sustaining fractures. Eating disorders come with and increased suicidal risk. Let’s be vigilant and seek help when we ourselves, our friends or family members are struggling with this.
