If You Struggle With Body Image Issues, Watch this

According to a survey from the Be Real Campaign, about 1 in 3 young people report that they are highly concerned about their body image. At a young age, many of us internalize beauty standards from society. These standards can often contribute to having a negative body image, and are made even more prominent by our age of social media. Here are a few signs you struggle with body image.

Disclaimer: The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content in this video is for general information purposes only, and does not replace a consultation with a doctor or health professional.

Script Writer: Max Feng
Script Editor: Brie Cerniglia
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
Animator: Chantal Van Rensburg
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

References:

[romanticallyimparedroach]

Honestly for me, instead of excessively checking myself in like a mirror, I have always avoided it because I just become really unmotivated

[endlesswonderland]

0:23 Obsessive body checking
1:18 Obsessing over food and exercise
2:18 Your body image and mood are correlated
3:06 You camouflage
3:51 You compare your body to others online
4:40 There's always something to "fix"

Wow, I was just bouncing between "I'm not perfect" and "there's no such perfection to be" while comparing myself with literally strangers on online...feeling extremely uncomfortable and helpless. Most of the Psych2go videos pop up at the most synchronised moments...in my case.
Imma vent a "bit". Honestly, I can be easily considered pretty. I never experienced any criticism, insults or harsh opinions regarding my appearance. I never cared about how I was, but now, dunno if the hormones play a part, I got this terrible insecurity about "beauty". I never knew there were so many things behind this single word, "appearence". I keep trying to conclude what beauty and perfection are while CLEARLY KNOWING what they are. I keep feeling inferior whenever I see a pretty person, be it my bias. I keep getting triggered by the way people praise them, like my stomach churns. Not like I think they are ugly, I just cannot love their beauty with pure heart like in the past, no matter how I try to appreciate and accept them, somewhere I feel a needle poke on my insecurity which creates anger, sadness and helplessness. I feel guilty. But I know there is no reason to feel guilty. I try to shield myself from those triggering positive comments but it is only an escape mechanism, I know it only makes me fake myself again, ignoring my insecure side.

I often vent in comment section because when I read and analyze it again, I notice many things I didn't before, it helps me in further understanding and accepting myself. I'm glad platforms like this one exist where I can voice out my opinions and feelings.

[purple_veins]

I have suffered from negative body image from age of 12 which continues well into adulthood. My mind literally keeps chanting "what's the point of living when you are not pretty?". The worst part is that you do realize that judging yourself based on your appearance is wrong but you can't get this annoying feeling out of your head. I sometimes feel like only beautiful people are the ones leading happy lives. I mean isn't it correlated in most cases? Like when you're confident about your appearance you do everything with confidence hence, succeed in them. But when you're already conscious about every single part of your body, you can't do a thing with confidence hence you miss opportunities that can make your life better because you isolate yourself and are ashamed to go out in public because when you do go out, you see that everyone in the world is pretty but you!!

[bonkboy]

I’ve been a subscriber for a year now and it’s nice to see there are some channels trying to help the world, this channel has helped me many times in the past

[tjable]

I think people need to remember we were all created differently and embrace that. Be thankful for your unique qualities. If a person loves & cares about you, they will accept you for who you are.

[taraskye]

I'm 42, and still have horrible body image. I have my whole life. My advice to younger people reading my comment....please seek help while you're young. Speak to someone about how you feel. Don't carry it with you for life.

[brookegilbert]

Your videos have helped me through all of my tough times! I have a bipolar, manipulative mother who shames me for my body image and this really helps! I love you sooo much

[SirSkippyMan]

Body image is something I have struggled with for quite a while. I have often found myself hating myself for certain aspects of my appearance, such as facial features, muscle mass, and even my haircut. Earlier this summer, I suffered from malnutrition as a result of not absorbing enough nutrients, due to obsessively fasting in order to lose weight. I also suffered from shinsplints, muscle tears, and even a stress fracture due to over-exercising. Even though I've often been told that I'm a handsome guy, I just couldn't help but notice every flaw I have. It's mentally painful to experience, and it's one of the things that had contributed to my overall struggle with (probable) depression these past two years. If you struggle with body image, know that you are handsome/beautiful in your own way, and that you were made special. Don't let anyone take that joy away from you.

[AshantiH]

I’ve struggled with being skinny my whole life. It wasn’t a big deal for me when I was younger but as I got older, I started comparing my body to others. And it has only gotten worse for me. Lately, it’s really been bothering me. Especially being in a relationship with a narcissist a few years ago and praising another girl for being thick knowing I have issues with gaining weight due to my fast metabolism. And that made me feel worse about myself. Thinking that I wasn’t good enough if I wasn’t thick. It felt like guys liked the girls in school who were thicker and didn’t give a second thought to me when I’m much more than my body type. And I also have issues when people talk about my weight. Even if it was a joke, I’m not laughing. I find it offensive and triggering due self loathing of my body. But I’m working on it. ❤

[rjm_]

00:25: Obsessive body checking
1:21: Obsessing over food and exercise
2:18: Your body image and mood are correlated
3:06: You camouflage
3:50: You compare your body to others online
4:44: Theres always something to “fix”

[seathealchemyst]

The last point is the only one that REALLY hits me, especially with acne. Every time I look in the mirror I get frustrated and start poking at acne blemishes on my face and shoulders, but I also find myself incredibly ashamed of the outbreaks on my back, and I am very uncomfortable with being shirtless for this reason alone

[socheata]

Yeah, Thank you Psych2go. It Really Helped and yes we’ve all had times! 💙🙏🇺🇸🇰🇭🖤👍🏻💗🦔

[sw.]

I’m so stressed living in a place where people care so much about appearance. I’ve been chubby around teenage life which made me got isolated for several years in high school. Such bad feeling still bugs me now even if I’m adult adult now. I lost some weight and learned how to dress myself prettier few years ago, but when I gain back a weight I just feel so depressed and so annoyed. I just can’t get rid of the feeling. Like you don’t deserve happiness if you don’t look great, if anyone understand what I mean😢

[Lvmyself_]

I'm in depression past 5 month ..and there is no one who can help me. day by day I'm dying. pls pray for me

[clairebaldwin]

Society creates and sells beauty that is unsustainable as well as impossible to achieve. Time to celebrate differences and the beauty that makes us individual and maybe to flounce our so called flaws 🤔🤞

[SeanCambel_]

As a person who has a skinny body, I always remember the phases:
"The wind can blow you away because you're too thin"
"Can't you afford foods? Poor you"
"You're a body with just bones and skin"
"You look like a hanger with your clothes"
"You're too weak to carry that"
It really affected the way I see myself. Even though I know I shouldn't bother listening to their opinions, but it really hurts me until now. That's why I'm too conscious about what should I wear and I always do home workouts. I feel like I should be muscular to be appreciated. To everyone of us who's struggling with these, I hope we can overcome our fears and be able to appreciate ourselves, no matter what others say.

[evangeline]

1. Obsessive body checking
2. Obsessing over food and exercise
3. Your body image and mood are correlated
4. You camouflage
5. You compare your body to others online
6. There’s always something to ‘fix’
Thank you Psych2go for amazing content :)

[mokshigala]

I've struggled with body issues for a year now. Some of my relative had told me before that my thighs and hips are bit big... Though I'm very well aware of it, but her words just hurt me alot. I started jogging for more than 2-3 hrs in the morning. Thinking that I might lose some calories, but the more I tired myself, the more I ate. Instead of losing weight I gained it... Recently I've been feeling very jealous of best friend, because she has a perfectly toned body, she is quite beautiful and she has pretty hair. And whatever she wears it looks good on her. When I'm with her, she gets all the attention, while I'm just standing there like I'm not visible. She is everything I'm insecure about and I've just started hating her a lil bit😞 I feel so terrible when I look in the mirror. I pray for everyone who is going through body issues💗

[sarabozic]

thank you so much for making these videos. they really help me. i was badly bullied in high school and i still have some consequences and issues from then like huge anxiety, depression, bad relationship with food and stuggle with body image for sure. i was constantly checking myself in the mirrror to see if there were any changes, i was careful with what i put in my mouth and counted calories. also i was working out every day for an hour but with wrong method. it was so tiring. now im atttending my master classes and its slowly getting better. thanks to you i also realised who my true friends are and who are fake and i cut off all negativity.

[nataliemakanaka]

I really love how they always try to help people with their confidence im a 13 year old and struggling with low self esteem and this channel really helped so im really grateful