When we have low self-esteem that's where a lot of these negative beliefs about our appearance can Come from. Body dysmorphic disorder is characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with our perceived flaws and it often leads to distress and Impairment in our daily functioning because we are so caught up in these small things that we see as imperfect.
Recently I've been feeling, as the episode title says, ugly. My relationship with my body and sense of 'attractiveness' has always been complicated and in the past few months, certain events and experiences have only exacerbated a lot of the insecurities I've had since childhood. So I wanted to talk about it, because I know I'm not the only one. Our 20s involve a lot of self growth, coming into our own identity and reframing our mindset on appearance and our relationships with our bodies. So what are some of the reasons why we feel 'ugly', how does that experience impact our emotional and mental wellbeing, what is the influence of societally held beauty standards and how we can escape this narrative that our looks are the extend of our worth to society. We talk about all of that and more in today's episode. Listen now.
If you need further information, resources or assistance please refer to the following services:
Australia - The Butterfly Foundation
https://butterfly.org.au/get-support/helpline/
USA - National Eating Disorders Association
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
UK - Beat Eating Disorders
https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Canada - National Eating Disorder Information Centre
https://nedic.ca
Worldwide - https://www.verywellmind.com/leading-eating-disorder-charities-and-organizations-4145389
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