Take a moment to imagine yourself having sex. How do you feel? How do you see yourself? Now, if you weren’t already, imagine having sex completely naked in a well-lit room. How do you feel now? Your answer, most likely, is a reflection of your body image- your thoughts, feelings, judgments, and beliefs about your body.
Read MoreWhat would you say if a friend told you that every morning, you need to stop by their house before work, so they can look at you, assess whether or not you look fat, and tell you how you should feel about yourself for the rest of the day?
Crazy, right? Who would agree to such a thing!?
Every morning, millions of Americans do almost exactly this. They get out of bed and go directly to the bathroom scale, where a set of numbers will determine how confident, attractive, and successful they feel that day.
Read MoreYou know that feeling when you step outside and realize, finally, the weather is starting to get warmer? The shift from winter into spring and summer feels hopeful in many ways. Finally, activities like hiking, biking, going on long walks, and lounging by the pool will soon be possible again. Warmer weather also means less clothing. If body image is something you struggle with, this fact alone might be enough to turn that feeling of hopefulness into one of dread.
Read MoreWomxn and makeup have a complicated relationship. For some, it is an art. A luxury that one treats herself to. Even an indulgence. For others, a necessary evil. Something imposed upon them by society. Some reject it altogether, and others could take it or leave it.
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As the City of Chicago continues to open up, many are still concerned about their health in the midst of the Coronavirus-19 pandemic. Sure, you can protect yourself by wearing a mask and washing your hands regularly, but what if you wish to avoid going out altogether unless absolutely necessary? There is no shame in that! Everybody has a different level of comfortability when it comes to reentering the world, and many would rather wait for a vaccine.
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The sinking feeling of shame- everybody knows it. Unlike guilt, which is focused on regretted behavior, shame is the deeper belief that there is something wrong with you. According to Brene Brown, shame researcher and viral Ted Talk speaker, guilt sounds like, “I’m sorry; I made a mistake,” while shame condemns, “I’m sorry; I am a mistake.”
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Eating disorder recovery is one of the most rewarding, yet difficult, journeys upon which a person can embark. As if it isn’t challenging enough, those in recovery must now navigate its waters while being stuck inside their homes in quarantine, preventing the spread of COVID-19, or Coronavirus. Eating disorders, like most other mental health issues, thrive in isolation. Throw in a dose of fear, restricted movement, and grocery store chaos, and you have what seems to be the perfect breeding ground for eating disorder thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. But what if mandated social distancing could be looked at as an opportunity to go further in recovery than ever before?
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